Azerbajdzjan

Översikt

Capital: Baku (pop. 2.432 million)
Population: 10,397,713 (2025 est.)
Religions: Muslim (predominantly Shia), Christian
Languages: Azerbaijani, Russian, Armenian
Time Zone: UTC+4
Driving side: Right
Calling code: +994
Electrical plug(s): Type C and Type F

Pengar

The local currency in Azerbaijan is Manats (AZN). As of 6 October 2026 100 AZN is equal to 58.82 USD. In addition to the local currency, EUR and USD may be accepted for payment in some places.

Currency exchange can be done at banks.

Travellers should be prepared to use credit or debit card payments in urban areas and cash in rural areas. Credit cards are accepted in upscale and/or tourist areas only. ATMs are available in most places.

Officially, all transactions must be conducted in local currency, although some businesses are happy to take US dollars and Euros.

Tipping is unusual, but can be done for exceptional service. For cabs, it is polite to round up the fare and give the change as a tip. Hotel porters may be tipped 5-10 manats. Tour guides also accept tips, generally around 5 manats.

El

The power supply in Azerbaijan is less than reliable. Electricity operates on 220V at 50Hz using plug type(s) C and F. The electricity grid can be unpredictable, so those travelling with laptops and mobile phones may want to bring surge protection equipment.

Pass

Most travellers will need a passport to enter Azerbaijan. The passport must be valid for at least six months after the date of arrival and have two blank pages.

Nationals of Türkiye can enter Azerbaijan with a valid ID.

Visum

Visa-free entry is available for certain travellers who qualify based on nationality and purpose of travel. A visa on arrival scheme is in place for select travellers, but often depends on nationality, purpose of travel and port of entry. All other travellers will need to obtain a visa from the nearest embassy or consulate or apply online (e-visa) prior to travel.

Entry visa requirements vary based on nationality, purpose of travel and other factors. Individual travellers are responsible for ensuring that they comply with all visa requirements, which should be confirmed with authorities at their destination prior to travel.

Visa Free Travel

Visa-free travel to Azerbaijan (30 days): Foreign nationals of select countries can enter Azerbaijan visa-free for up to 30 days.

Visa-free for HK and Macau passport holders: Hong Kong and Macau passport holders will be allowed to enter Azerbaijan without a visa for up to 30 days per entry and up to 3 times per year from 2 February to 2 February 2027.

Visa-free for nationals of Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait: Nationals of Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain will be allowed to enter Azerbaijan without a visa for up to 30 days per entry and up to 3 times per year from 15 February to 15 February 2027.

Visa-free for nationals of Singapore and Bosnia-Herzegovina: Nationals of Singapore and Bosnia-Herzegovina will be allowed to enter Azerbaijan without a visa for up to 30 days per entry and up to 3 times per year from 1 August to 1 August 2027.

Visa-free for nationals of South Korea and Japan: Nationals of South Korea and Japan will be allowed to enter Azerbaijan without a visa for up to 30 days per entry and up to 3 times per year from 1 July to 1 July 2027.

Visa-free travel to Azerbaijan (90 days): Foreign nationals from select countries can enter Azerbaijan visa-free for up to 90 days in a 365-day period.

e-Visas

E-visa (ASAN): Foreign nationals from select countries are eligible to apply for a single-entry E-visa for Azerbaijan valid for up to 30 days.

Visas on Arrival

Visa on arrival: Foreign nationals from select states can apply for a visa on arrival upon entry at international airports of Azerbaijan.

Only US citizens travelling on a New York – Baku flight can obtain a VoA at Heydar Aliyev International Airport. Holders of a resident visa in the UAE can obtain a VoA at international airports of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Visa on arrival (US nationals): US nationals travelling on flights between New York and Baku can apply for a visa on arrival upon entry at Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD/UBBB).

Visas

Entry Visa: Foreign nationals from select countries must obtain an entry visa to be able to enter Azerbaijan for up to 90 days. Depending on their nationality, travellers may also obtain a visa on arrival or an e-visa valid for up to 30 days, except for Singaporean nationals who may obtain a visa on arrival valid for up to 60 days.

Lokal resor

Overview

Overland transport infrastructure is often in disrepair and can make travel slow and hazardous. Travellers should avoid the Azerbaijan-Armenia border due to ongoing tensions and landmine hazards along the Nagorno-Karabakh region and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic exclave.

Travel Safety

Air Travel

Azerbaijan has three international airports, with Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD/UBBB) being most foreign nationals' principal entry point. Situated 25km (15.5 miles) outside Baku, it offers good connections and serves as the hub for national carrier Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), certified to meet internationally recognised safety standards. The other international airports in Nakhchivan (NAJ/UBBN) and Ganja (GJN/UBBG) offer flights to a limited number of destinations. On 5-9 March, Nakhchivan Airport was closed due to damage from suspected Iranian drone strikes amid ongoing regional conflict.

Heydar Aliyev International Airport comprises two terminals, one serving international destinations and the other a smaller number of domestic and international destinations. The airport is considered safe for travel, meeting the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards for operational safety.

As many flights from Western countries land in Baku during the night, taxis may be the only practical option. Airport staff will be able to direct you to an airport taxi, which are more expensive than regular taxis although you will not usually have to haggle over a price. Vehicles used are usually well maintained, although safety cannot be guaranteed on Azerbaijan’s busy and often neglected roads. Most major hotels have airport shuttles or cars which can be pre-booked to pick you up from the airport and transport you to your hotel for a set fee. AZAL will also provide taxi services upon request for passengers flying the airline. Alternatively, public buses depart from the arrivals hall to Downtown Baku, although this mode of transport is not recommended if you have heavy luggage. Petty theft has been known to periodically occur on public buses as well.

Airspace

Azerbaijan reportedly unilaterally closed airspace to Armenian flights on 19 September 2023. Aircraft operators were advised to avoid the Armenian airspace. According to reports, the country's authorities later cancelled the notice which closed its airspace on the border with Armenia, but most operators are still actively avoiding the border region and routing north via Georgian airspace instead.

Borders and Entry

Entry bans:

• Entry through Armenia, Georgia, Russia, and Iran via a land or sea border is limited until 06:00 local time (02:00 GMT) on 2 January 2027, excluding cargo transportation; travellers are allowed to cross land borders with the government's special permission.
• Travellers who have previously visited Nagorno-Karabakh without the permission of the Azerbaijani authorities could be refused entry to Azerbaijan.
• Azerbaijani authorities banned Iranian passport holders from entering the country.

Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict: In April 2023, Azerbaijan unilaterally established a military checkpoint on the Hakari River Bridge, effectively controlling and monitoring the flow along the Lachin Corridor.

Identification

Most travellers will need a passport to enter Azerbaijan. The passport must be valid for at least six months after the date of arrival and have two blank pages.
Travellers with passports where gender is indicated as "neutral" are not allowed entry. The country's laws on LGBTQ people are conservative, and overall social acceptance is low. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer travellers in Azerbaijan might face legal and social difficulties.

Travellers with an Armenian passport are likely to be refused entry or be denied a visa. Travellers with stamps on their passports from previous trips to Nagorno-Kabarakh may be denied access to Azerbaijan and even face legal consequences.

Exit

Azerbaijan maintains an exit ban at its land borders until 2 January 2027. Initially enacted as a COVID-19 measure, this restriction has since been extended continuously, with government statements now attributing the closure to security concerns. Exiting the country is permitted only via air or special charter flights, via sea and through transit traffic.

Road Travel

Traffic moves on the right. Speed limits vary widely depending on signage, but generally, speed limits are 50kph (18 mph) in urban areas, 90kph (55 mph) in rural areas and 110kph (68 mph) on highways. As a general rule, there will be no roads designated with speed limits greater than 70kph (43 mph). Travellers should always stick to speed limits, as traffic police will be quick to pull over foreign nationals and demand bribes. Roads in Azerbaijan range greatly depending on the area. Rural roads are largely unpaved, and caution is advised during the winter months as roads are inconsistently cleared of snow and ice.

Statistics indicate that road accidents continue to rise. Adequate street lighting is often nonexistent, especially outside Baku. Driving during the night is therefore not recommended, especially in smaller towns, as many vehicles do not have proper headlights and can be difficult to spot even on clear nights. There is zero tolerance for drink driving in Azerbaijan, but you are nevertheless likely to encounter drivers who drink excessively and drive. Drivers rarely give way to pedestrians. The moment the light for pedestrians turns red, the traffic light for vehicles does the opposite. It is advisable to take note of how long the light has been green on a wide intersection before attempting to cross.

Caution is advised in the mountain regions, as maps can be misleading; supposed roads can turn out to be little more than dirt paths. The road leading to Lagich is challenging even in fair weather conditions and you should check the weather forecast before travelling.

Rail Travel

Trains are slow and infrequent, making them unsuitable for short journeys. On trains to Georgia, tipping the attendants on the train is a common way of ensuring that one is put in a good compartment with clean bed sheets. It should be noted that various incidents of theft and harassment of international travellers on the overnight train to and from Tbilisi have been reported. The slow speed of trains reduces the likelihood of a serious accident despite the ageing equipment.

Public Transport

The reliability of public transport is not guaranteed as infrastructure is insufficiently developed outside Baku, Quba and Lankaran.

Ferries and Boats: Caspian Sea ferries link Baku and Alat with Turkmenbashi in Turkmenistan and Aktau in Kazakhstan. These services are generally safe but not all vessels carry enough safety equipment for the number of passengers they carry. Service is also often irregular and timetables are rarely adhered to. Local ferries are much less safe. Never travel on a vessel that looks overloaded or poorly maintained.

Buses: Buses are an inexpensive way of travelling around Azerbaijan and are very frequent on most routes. Buses tend to depart when they have enough passengers in disregard of the posted schedules. Various incidents of theft and harassment have been reported by foreign nationals travelling on local buses or marshrutkas (mini-buses). Although Baku has recently received a new fleet of buses, safety may still be a concern as inadequately maintained, ageing vehicles operate on roads which suffer from high accident rates.

Outside the capital, buses usually depart from the main marketplace. In Baku, bus stations are often located next to the outer metro stations. Buses with air-conditioning are available on longer routes to Russia, Türkiye and Georgia, among other destinations. Even though they are quicker than trains and seem more comfortable, most passengers will likely be smoking inside these coaches.

Metro: Baku has an efficient and inexpensive metro system. Trains typically leave each station every two to three minutes and run from 06:00 to 01:00 local time daily. Although generally safe, there is a risk from petty theft at busy times. Always keep valuables in a secured or inside pocket.

Taxis: Taxis in Azerbaijan offer a comparatively safe and reliable means of transport. It is recommended to negotiate a fare before boarding a taxi. There are no reports that foreign nationals are specifically targeted for scams or robbery while riding in licensed taxis. Unlicensed taxis or private vehicles operating as taxis should be avoided. Always ensure the taxi has an ID badge on display, a licence plate with a blue background and a rooftop ‘TAXI’ sign. Several ride-hailing apps have recently been launched in the country.

Vehicle Hire: A hired vehicle with a driver is recommended for travel within Azerbaijan. Hiring a driver through a reputable agency is a safer option than self-driving as the local drivers have the benefit of familiarity with the country’s chaotic roads.

Movement Control Orders

Travel in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh region is severely impacted by the ongoing circumstances. The area is characterised by security risks, including a strong military presence and the potential for continued sporadic clashes between Azerbaijani forces and Armenian troops. Travellers seeking to enter Armenia will be turned away.