Are you planning a trip to the South Caucasus and wondering how to apply for an Azerbaijan visa? Read my post below.
Introduction to Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan, a country at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, is a land of contrasts where ancient history meets modernity. Bordered by the Caspian Sea, it boasts a rich cultural heritage influenced by Persian, Turkish, and Russian civilizations. Known as the “Land of Fire,” Azerbaijan’s diverse landscapes range from the arid Caspian coast to the lush Caucasus Mountains. The capital, Baku, is famed for its futuristic skyline and medieval old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Type of Visa Required for Azerbaijan
e-Visa: The Azerbaijan eVisa is a single-entry electronic visa, issued electronically, for 98 eligible countries, issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For short stays, most travellers can apply for an e-Visa online.
Sticker Visa: For longer stays, work, study, or other specific purposes, you may need to apply for a sticker visa through an embassy.”
This post deals with the e-visa process.
Travellers from most countries can apply for an e-Visa for Azerbaijan online. It’s crucial to use the official e-Visa portal as there are many unofficial and/or fake websites that purport to do this.
How to apply for an Azerbaijan visa
Visit the official Azerbaijan e-Visa portal. Click on Application.
The single-entry visa application page will appear, as there is no multiple-entry option. Select your nationality and passport type and enter the verification code. Click Continue.
The next screen will ask you for the purpose of your visit (the first option is Tourism), the consideration period (how urgently you need your visa), the validity period of your visa once it is issued and the fee payable. Click Continue and accept the terms and conditions to continue.
Complete the application form by entering your personal details, passport information, and travel details. You will be asked for the address of your accommodation in Azerbaijan and a copy of your passport as well. Do read the guidelines provided at the top of this page in order to ensure that you don’t make a mistake.
If you’re applying for more people in your group, click on ‘Add a new person’ and follow the same process. Otherwise, click on ‘Complete Application’.” You will be taken to the payment page and will receive an email confirmation thereafter. The fee is typically around $20-$25 USD, plus a service fee.
The processing time is usually 3 business days, after which you’ll receive an email to say that your e-visa is ready. We applied on a Friday afternoon and received our e-visas on a Monday afternoon.
Download the visa using the link in the email and print it out as you will most likely be asked to produce it.
Read on to see why we were almost not allowed to board our flight despite having e-visas.
Very Important
When you receive your visa, be it a normal visa or an e-visa, check the information on the visas to confirm that it is correct. And this includes ALL the information. We learned this the hard way when we discovered an error on one of our visas, which was only detected at the airport.
At the check-in counter, we were asked for our passports and visas. The lady at the counter looked at mine and my sons and gave them back to us. Then she looked at my husband’s and asked if he had another passport as the passport numbers didn’t match. Apparently the last 2 digits of the passport number had been transposed as someone had manually entered them when issuing our e-visas.
The lady called her supervisor. He said that my husband couldn’t fly as his visa was invalid. We protested, asking why we should lose our ticket money if it was their fault. The supervisor eventually went to speak to the Emirates manager. She phoned the Azerbaijan representative in Dubai and asked them if we could fly. Then we had to get permission from FlyDubai as our second flight was a codeshare between them and Emirates.
It wasn’t looking good and we thought that we were going to be sent home. Our trip would have been over before it began. But to our great relief we were eventually told that we were allowed to board with a special clearance code which the Emirates manager had to note on our booking.
Flame Towers
Why you should ensure that you are using the official site
This ensures that you are applying directly with the Azerbaijani government and eliminates the risk of dealing with fraudulent websites or third-party services that might not be trustworthy.
On the official site, you’ll pay the exact visa fee with no hidden charges. Third-party services often charge extra fees for processing, sometimes without clearly explaining these costs.
The official website is directly linked to the government’s processing system, ensuring quicker turnaround times. Some third-party sites might have delays, as they act as intermediaries.
When you apply through the official portal, you can track your application status in real-time, ensuring that you’re informed of any updates or issues immediately.
The official website adheres to strict data protection protocols, safeguarding your personal and financial information. Using unofficial sites may put your data at risk of being compromised.
There are many fake websites designed to look like the official portal. These sites might take your money without providing any service; or worse, they could steal your personal information. Using the official site eliminates the risk of scams.
Sara Essop is a travel blogger and writer based in South Africa. She writes about family travel and experiences around the world. Although she has been to 49 countries thus far, she especially loves showcasing her beautiful country and is a certified South Africa Specialist.
