Published: 4 September 2026 | Last reviewed: 4 September 2026
The Azerbaijan eVisa is an electronic travel authorisation issued as a PDF with a QR code, valid for 90 days and permitting a maximum stay of 30 days. British passport holders and citizens of most countries must apply online through the ASAN Visa system before travelling to Azerbaijan in 2026.
Standard processing takes 3 working days, while urgent applications are approved within 3 hours regardless of weekends or holidays. The government fee is USD 30 for standard and USD 61 for urgent processing. You cannot obtain this visa on arrival; you must secure it before your trip.
The eVisa is a single-entry document linked to your passport. It permits entry only through designated airports, and land border entry is not permitted.
What Is the Azerbaijan eVisa and How Does the ASAN System Work?
The Azerbaijan eVisa is a fully digital document: a PDF with a QR code, linked to your passport, permitting single entry only. It replaces the traditional sticker visa for short-term tourism and business visits.
How the ASAN Visa System Works
The Azerbaijan eVisa is issued through the ASAN Visa system. ASAN stands for the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, a platform launched in January 2017. ASAN serves as the centralised digital platform processing all eVisa applications, integrating passport data, payment, and immigration databases. According to the evisa.gov.az portal, VFS Global acts as the authorised partner for this system, operating the portal at azerbaijan.vfsevisa.com.
Who Needs an Azerbaijan eVisa in 2026?
The Azerbaijan eVisa is required for citizens of most countries, including the United Kingdom. Azerbaijan does not offer a visa on arrival for most nationalities, meaning eligible travellers must secure their Azerbaijan eVisa online before departure. A specific group of nationalities may enter without a visa under varying conditions.
| Country | Stay Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-Exempt Countries (90-day tier) | ||
| Albania, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan | 90 days | Limit of 90 days within a 180-day period applies to some nationalities. Russia limited to 90 days within 1 calendar year. |
| Maldives, Morocco, United Arab Emirates | 90 days | Maldives exemption implemented 29 April 2026. |
| Visa-Exempt Countries (30-day tier, temporary measures expiring 2027) | ||
| Bahrain, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Macau, Oman, Saudi Arabia | 30 days | Temporary measures valid until February 2027. |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina, Singapore | 30 days | Temporary measures valid until August 2027. |
| Japan, South Korea | 30 days | Temporary measures valid until July 2027. |
| China | 30 days | Max 90 days within a 180-day period. |
| Qatar | 30 days | Temporary measure implemented in November 2021. |
Do UK Citizens Need an Azerbaijan eVisa?
British passport holders must obtain an Azerbaijan eVisa before travel: the UK is not on the visa-exempt list. According to the evisa.gov.az portal and the Embassy of Azerbaijan in London, the Azerbaijan eVisa requires your passport to be valid for at least 3 months beyond the eVisa expiry date, not the 6-month minimum commonly advised for UK travellers.
The government fee is charged in USD; your UK bank converts the amount at their exchange rate. Budget approximately £24-£25 for the standard USD 30 fee at September 2026 rates. Azerbaijan operates on UTC+4 year-round with no daylight saving, so urgent 3-hour processing requested from the UK late afternoon may complete the same calendar day.
If your Azerbaijan eVisa is refused, you cannot reapply online immediately: you must contact the Embassy of Azerbaijan in London for guidance before booking flights.
What UK Applicants Often Get Wrong
- Assuming the UK 6-month passport validity rule applies. Azerbaijan enforces 3 months beyond eVisa expiry, which is shorter but must be calculated from the visa’s end date, not your travel date.
- Overlooking time-zone overlap for urgent processing. Azerbaijan is 4 hours ahead of BST, 3 hours ahead of GMT.
How to Apply for an Azerbaijan eVisa: Step by Step
The Azerbaijan eVisa application involves three steps: complete the online form, pay the fee, and download your approved eVisa PDF.
Application
Submit the form at evisa.gov.az, providing personal information and answering health and security questions.
Payment
Pay the government visa fee using Visa or Mastercard in USD.
Download
Save and print your eVisa PDF, which is sent to your registered email.
Required documents include front and back colour scanned copies of your passport, which must be valid for at least 3 months beyond eVisa expiry. You also need a passport-type photograph on a white background taken within the last 6 months, a confirmed hotel voucher, and a physical address in Azerbaijan. Return flight tickets are optional. You can track your application status 24/7 using your passport number and date of birth. Standard processing takes 3 working days (Monday to Friday, excluding Azerbaijani public holidays), though most applications are processed within 1 business day.
Before you apply, have ready: passport valid 3 months past visa expiry, white-background photo taken within 6 months, hotel address in Azerbaijan, return flight booking (optional), and a Visa or Mastercard for USD payment.
eVisa Fees Explained
| Service | Processing Time | Government Fee | Validity | Max Stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard eVisa | 3 working days | USD 30 | 90 days | 30 days |
| Urgent / Priority eVisa | Within 3 hours | USD 61 | 90 days | 30 days |
eVisa vs. Traditional Visa: What’s the Difference?
The Azerbaijan eVisa is a type of visa delivered electronically, not a replacement for work or study visas that require embassy processing. It serves short-term tourism and business purposes only, permitting a maximum 30-day stay with single entry. For employment, study, or multiple entries, a traditional embassy visa is mandatory. For a detailed breakdown, see our comparison of the Azerbaijan eVisa, visa on arrival, and embassy visa.
| Feature | Azerbaijan eVisa | Traditional Embassy Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery method | Email PDF with QR code | Passport sticker |
| Processing location | Online (evisa.gov.az) | Azerbaijani diplomatic mission |
| Eligible nationalities | 100 eligible countries | All nationalities (subject to policy) |
| Multi-entry options | No, single entry only | Yes, available for business visas |
| Cost | USD 30 (Standard) | Varies by visa type |
| Processing time | 3 working days or 3 hours (Urgent) | Several weeks |
| When required | Tourism, short business trips | Work, study, long-term stays |
| Document requirements | Passport scan, photo, itinerary | Extensive supporting documents |
| Biometric requirements | None | Often required |
| Physical visit needed | No | Yes |
Azerbaijan issues several visa types: Tourist E-visa, Business E-visa, Business visa, Official visa, Transit E-visa, Transit visa, and Work visa. The Azerbaijan eVisa covers Tourist and Business E-visa categories, while the rest require an in-person embassy application.
eVisa Fees and Processing Times Explained
Urgent processing runs 24/7, including holidays and non-working days. Third-party intermediaries often quote longer timeframes of 3 to 5 working days for standard and 12 hours for urgent applications due to their internal intake buffers. Direct government processing baselines remain 3 working days and 3 hours. All fees are charged in USD at September 2026 exchange rates.
| Service | Processing Time | Government Fee | Validity | Max Stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard eVisa | 3 working days | USD 30 (approx. £24-£25) | 90 days | 30 days |
| Urgent / Priority eVisa | Within 3 hours | USD 61 (approx. £49-£50) | 90 days | 30 days |
Important Rules and Practical Warnings
The Azerbaijan eVisa is valid for entry at designated airports: Heydar Aliyev International Airport (Baku), Heydar Aliyev Airport, Gyandzha Airport, and Nakchivan International Airport. Land border entry with the Azerbaijan eVisa is not permitted, although land border exit is allowed.
Where Can You Enter Azerbaijan with an eVisa?
If you plan to cross a land border into Azerbaijan, you will need a traditional embassy visa instead of the Azerbaijan eVisa.
After You Arrive: 15-Day Registration Rule
Foreign nationals staying more than 15 days must register with the State Migration Service. Registration is free of charge, and hotels often register guests automatically. Citizens of Kazakhstan must register only after 30 days.
Important Warning: Entry After Visiting Nagorno-Karabakh
Passport stamps from Armenian border crossings into Nagorno-Karabakh without Azerbaijani government authorisation result in an automatic entry ban. If your passport contains such stamps, contact the Embassy of Azerbaijan in London before booking flights.
At the Airport: What to Have Ready at Border Control
Present your passport together with a printed copy of the eVisa PDF at border control. Have your return flight booking and hotel confirmation accessible on your phone.
Business eVisa: Additional Requirements
The Azerbaijan Business eVisa shares the same core parameters as the tourist version: single entry, 90-day validity, and a 30-day maximum stay. The government fee is USD 30 for standard processing (3 working days) or USD 61 for urgent processing (within 3 hours). Permitted purposes include attending meetings, conferences, seminars, settling estates, visiting business partners and suppliers, and negotiating and signing contracts. Applicants must refrain from any activity earning pay.
Required documents for the Azerbaijan eVisa business category include an invitation letter from the host company in Azerbaijan and supporting business and financial documents. The approved eVisa is delivered to an active email address as a PDF. For multiple-entry business travel, applicants must apply through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via a traditional embassy visa, as the eVisa does not support multiple entries.
Can I Extend My eVisa or Stay Longer in Azerbaijan?
The single-entry Azerbaijan eVisa has a hard 30-day maximum stay limit with no in-country extension mechanism. Travellers who wish to remain longer must either leave Azerbaijan, reapply online, and re-enter with a new eVisa, or apply for temporary residency through the State Migration Service before the current eVisa expires. Temporary residency requires different documentation and takes approximately 10 to 15 working days to process.
The Azerbaijan eVisa must be used for both entering and leaving the country. Exceeding the 30-day limit triggers statutory fines, potential deportation, and a ban on future entry. The exact fine amount is not published in the eVisa framework; check with the State Migration Service for current penalties. As a practical safeguard, set a calendar reminder for day 25 of your stay to allow time for departure or residency submission before expiry.
Application Rejections and Common Mistakes to Avoid
Most Azerbaijan eVisa rejections result from blurry document scans, incorrect photo specifications, or passport validity miscalculation.
- Unclear uploaded documents and photographs: low-resolution scans of passport pages or face images fail automated quality checks within the ASAN system.
- Non-compliance with photo specifications: photographs must have a white background and be taken within the last 6 months.
- Passport validity under 3 months: your passport must remain valid at least 3 months beyond the eVisa expiry date; applications with shorter validity are refused.
- Missing address in Azerbaijan: the physical location of your residence in Azerbaijan is a mandatory field; omitting it invalidates the submission.
- Dual nationality mismatch: the passport number used in the Azerbaijan eVisa application must match the passport presented at border control.
A refusal cannot be appealed online: the Embassy of Azerbaijan in London is the only route to resolve it. For detailed guidance, read our article on how to appeal an Azerbaijan eVisa rejection.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Azerbaijan eVisa
Do children need a separate Azerbaijan eVisa?
Yes, children must have their own separate Azerbaijan eVisa and a separate passport. They can no longer travel on a parent’s passport. The same government fee of USD 30 for standard or USD 61 for urgent processing applies. A birth certificate may be required for very young children, and both parents’ consent is needed if a child is travelling alone.
What happens if I overstay my Azerbaijan eVisa?
Overstaying carries fines, deportation, and a future entry ban. Check the State Migration Service for current penalties. Set a reminder for day 25.
What if my Azerbaijan eVisa is refused?
Common rejection reasons include blurry uploaded documents, incorrect photograph specifications, or passport validity miscalculations. If refused, you cannot reapply online. Visit the Embassy of Azerbaijan in London to resolve the issue and reapply through the diplomatic mission.
Can I extend my eVisa inside Azerbaijan?
No. The eVisa has a hard 30-day limit and cannot be extended in-country. Your only options are leaving and reapplying, or temporary residency via the State Migration Service (10 to 15 working days).
Can dual nationals apply for an Azerbaijan eVisa?
Yes, but you must use the same passport for the application and for travel. The passport number entered during the eVisa application must match the passport you present at border control. Entering a different passport number than the one presented at the border will result in denial of entry.
Do I need an eVisa to transit through Baku airport?
If you remain in the international transit area at Heydar Aliyev International Airport and do not clear immigration, you do not need an eVisa. However, if you booked separate tickets and need to collect and re-check luggage, you must clear immigration, which requires a valid eVisa.
How do I check my Azerbaijan eVisa status?
Check your status 24/7 on the evisa.gov.az portal using your passport number and date of birth.
Is a printed copy of the eVisa required at border control?
Yes, a physical printout of your eVisa PDF is strongly recommended. While the eVisa is linked to your passport, relying on a digital copy on your phone is risky. Have your printed eVisa PDF, your passport, return flight booking, and hotel confirmation ready for the border officer.
What payment methods are accepted for the Azerbaijan eVisa?
On the evisa.gov.az portal, the government fee is charged in USD and can be paid with a valid Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card. PayPal is only available through third-party intermediary services, not on the government portal. UK banks will convert the USD amount to GBP.
Can I enter Azerbaijan by land with an eVisa?
No. eVisa entry is permitted only at designated airports. Land border exit is allowed, but land border entry is not.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For visa processing, always refer to the evisa.gov.az portal. We are not affiliated with the Azerbaijani government.
