Azerbaijan
Country Specific Information
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July 21, 2011

COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Azerbaijan is a constitutional republic with a developing economy. Western-style amenities are found in the capital, Baku, but infrastructure and access to goods and services outside the city are less well developed. Read the Department of State’s Background Notes on Azerbaijan for additional information.

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SMART TRAVELER ENROLLMENT PROGRAM (STEP) / EMBASSY LOCATION: If you are going to live in or visit Azerbaijan, please take the time to inform the U.S. Embassy about your trip. If you enroll, we can keep you up to date with important safety and security announcements. Enrolling will also help your friends and family get in touch with you in an emergency. Here’s the link to the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program .

The U.S. Embassy is located at Azadlig Prospekt 83
tel. (994-12) 498-03-35, 36, or 37; (994-12) 490-66-71
Emergency after-hours telephone: (994-12) 498-03-35, 36, or 37
Facsimile: (994-12) 498-37-55
Email: Consular Baku
Website: US Embassy Baku, Azerbaijan

If you have registered with the embassy and are leaving Azerbaijan permanently, please check out by sending us an email.

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ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: FOR U.S. CITIZENS: You need a passport and a visa to enter Azerbaijan. Get your visa before you travel. With limited exceptions, (persons with invitations from high-ranking officials of the Government of Azerbaijan) you cannot get a visa at the airport, nor can you get a visa at the land borders with Georgia, Russia, Turkey, or Iran.

All the requests for any type of visa (except diplomatic and service) should be supported by an invitation from the receiving party in Azerbaijan, and confirmed by the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Details for each type of visa are available on the website of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Washington, DC. You can get single-entry visas (cost: 131 USD) by mail or in person from any Azerbaijani embassy or consulate. Double-entry, 90-day visas (cost: 131 USD) and one-year multiple-entry visas (cost: 250 USD) are also available through any Azerbaijani embassy, but require a letter of invitation from a contact in Azerbaijan. If you are going to travel in the region, you should request a one-year, multiple-entry visa.

According to Azerbaijani law, foreign nationals intending to remain in Azerbaijan for more than 30 days must register with local police within three days of their arrival. If this applies to you, go to the passport section of the local district police office and fill out an application form. The registration fee is AZN 9.90 (approximately 12 USD).

U.S. citizens of Armenian ancestry — or even those with Armenian last names – may have their visa applications denied by the Government of Azerbaijan on the grounds that their safety cannot be guaranteed.

A valid visa is required in order to depart Azerbaijan. If you are already in Azerbaijan, your visa applications, extensions, or renewals must be made at the State Migration Service of Azerbaijan, 202 Binagadi Highway, 3123 Block, Binagadi District, Baku; tel (994-12)562-56-23. For additional information, please contact theEmbassy of Azerbaijan, 2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008, tel. (202) 337-3500. You should make sure your visa and local identification card (if you are staying longer than 30 days) is current and valid. We recommend you carry a photocopy of your current passport and valid visa if you do not normally carry your passport as well. Visit the Embassy of Azerbaijanfor the most current visa information.

The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Azerbaijan.

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found onour website. For further information about customs regulations, please readour Customs Information page.

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THREATS TO SAFETY AND SECURITY: You should avoid travel to the region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding occupied areas, as well as regions along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian positions. Because of the existing state of hostilities, we cannot offer consular services to U.S. citizens in Nagorno-Karabakh. U.S. citizens of Armenian ancestry considering travel to Azerbaijan--you should remain particularly vigilant when visiting the country, as the Government of Azerbaijan has claimed it is unable to guarantee your safety.

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CRIME: Azerbaijan has seen a downward trend in the number of crimes committed against foreigners. Most of the crime in Baku is between Azerbaijani citizens, with burglary and assault being the most common crimes. 

Foreigners are at a greater risk in areas attracting large crowds or very isolated areas. While it is not common, beware of petty theft and assault against foreign citizens in Baku. Pick-pockets tend to frequent tourist sites, public transportation (especially minibuses), and pedestrian streets or large public squares where people congregate. Travelers should be mindful of their wallets, purses, and computer bags, as they make for tempting targets.

Avoid traveling alone at night. Late-night targeted attacks against lone males, while not common, are the most common crime against foreigners. These assaults usually involve alcohol, occur late at night and happen to males walking alone on city streets.

There have been several reports from individuals who have been victims of crimes occurring late at night in bars frequented by Westerners. The crime occurs when a male patron is approached by a young woman who asks the individual to buy her a drink; after buying the drink and talking for a while, the customer is presented with an exorbitant bill. When the customer protests, he is approached by several men, detained, and forced to pay full amount of the bill under threat of physical violence.

A number of Western women have reported incidents of unwanted male attention to include groping and other inappropriate behavior while walking on the streets alone. Travelers should remain alert when visiting tourist areas in Baku, such as Fountain Square and the Maiden’s Tower. Try to avoid traveling alone in these areas after nightfall.

There have been reports of vehicle break-ins at regional tourist sites outside Baku. Whenever possible, vehicles should be parked in guarded or controlled parking lots, and valuables should never be left in plain sight.

If you are a victim of crime, report it immediately to the local police and the U.S. Embassy. The Police Office of Crimes By and Against Foreigners has an English-speaking officer available at all times who may be reached at (994 12) 490-95-32 or, after hours, at 490-94-52.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal to bring back into the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

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VICTIMS OF CRIME: If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime abroad, you should contact the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. We can:

  • Replace a stolen passport;
  • Help you find appropriate medical care following violent crimes such as assault or rape; and
  • Put you in contact with the appropriate police authorities, and contact family members or friends.
  • Although the local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime, consular officers can help you understand the local criminal justice process and can direct you to local attorneys.

The local equivalents of the “911” emergency lines in Azerbaijan are: 101-Fire Brigade; 102-Police; 103-Ambulance; 104-Gas services; and 112-Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Please see our information on victims of crime, including possible victim compensation programs in the United States.

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CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Azerbaijan, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws, legal systems, and criminal penalties can be vastly different than our own. In some places you may be taken for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. In some places driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States; for instance, you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Azerbaijan, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know the local laws of your destination.

Azerbaijan’s security apparatus is sensitive to photography, so both professional and tourist photographers have been stopped for taking photographs of facilities that may not appear to be sensitive, including oil fields, buildings, and public squares. If police stop you for taking photographs, you should cooperate. If your photographic equipment is confiscated, you should contact the Embassy Consular Section to report the incident.

Azerbaijan is a signatory to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. If you are arrested in Azerbaijan, the authorities are required to notify the Embassy of your arrest, and to have communications from you forwarded to the Embassy.

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SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: The Republic of Azerbaijan has mostly a cash-only economy. Traveler’s checks and credit cards are accepted only in some hotels and a few restaurants and supermarkets.

Azerbaijani customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Azerbaijan of items such as firearms, religious materials, antiquities (including carpets), medications, and caviar, and any amount of currency over USD 1,000. Visitors who purchase carpets will generally require an export permit issued by the State Museum of Azerbaijan Carpet and Applied Art; many carpet-selling shops will obtain that permit for the buyer for a fee. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Washington for specific information regarding customs requirements.

Please see our Customs Information.

Accessibility: While in Azerbaijan, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what you find in the United States. Accessibility for those with disabilities, including stores, foot paths, road crossings, most tourists spots, and on public transportation is lacking throughout the country. There are no laws mandating access to public or other buildings, information, and communications for persons with disabilities.

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MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: A few Western-type medical clinics, the quality of which is comparable to those in Western countries, are operating in Baku; however, medical facilities outside the capital remain inadequate, unsanitary, and unsafe. There is often a shortage of basic medical supplies, including disposable needles and vaccines. Bring adequate amounts of prescription medicines for the duration of your visit, as pharmacies often do not carry all brands or doses.

You can find good information on vaccinations and other health precautions, on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC) website. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World Health Organization (WHO) website ,which also contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information .Tuberculosis (TB) is an increasingly serious health concern in Azerbaijan. For further information, please consult the CDC's information on TB.

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MEDICAL INSURANCE: You can’t assume your insurance will go with you when you travel. It’s very important to find out BEFORE you leave. You need to ask your insurance company two questions:

  • Does my policy apply when I’m out of the U.S.?
  • Will it cover emergencies like a trip to a foreign hospital or an evacuation?

In many places, doctors and hospitals still expect payment in cash at the time of service. Your regular U.S. health insurance may not cover doctors’ and hospital visits in other countries. If your policy doesn’t go with you when you travel, it’s a very good idea to take out another one for your trip. For more information, please see our medical insurance overseas page.

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TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in Azerbaijan, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. Fatalities from traffic accidents are high and continue to rise each year. The information below concerning Azerbaijan is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Azerbaijan is in the midst of a massive infrastructure re-building project, with virtually every major highway under construction at this time. The original roads are poorly constructed and poorly lighted. Although the newer sections of the road system are a marked improvement, the unfinished sections remain dangerous due to the lack of proper construction and hazard signage. 

Driving hazards such as open manholes, debris, sinkholes, and potholes are common in Baku. Most drivers do not pay attention to traffic regulations, signals, lane markings, pedestrians, or other drivers. Drivers often travel at extremely high speeds, and accidents are frequent and often serious. Driving in Baku should be considered extremely hazardous. Outside the city, even where roads are present, conditions are similar. Roads are often in poor repair and unlighted, and lack lane markings, traffic signs, and warnings. Many rural roads are largely unpaved.  

Throughout Azerbaijan, traffic police inconsistently enforce traffic laws and routine traffic stops are common. If stopped, drivers should have all required documents with them including your passport or local registration documents, driver’s license, vehicle registration documents, and proof of insurance.

Taxis in Baku are not metered, so visitors should be sure to negotiate the fare before entering a taxi. Asking for reasonable fare is expected and appropriate. Although the City of Baku has invested in new buses, public transportation throughout remainder of the country remains overcrowded and poorly maintained. Incidents of theft and harassment have been reported by Westerners traveling on small buses known locally as “marshrutkas.” 

Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. Also, we suggest that you visit the website of the Azerbaijan Ministry of Transport.

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AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Azerbaijan, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the government of Azerbaijan’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page. Travelers on regional airlines in the Caucasus may experience prolonged delays and sudden cancellations of flights. In addition to frequent delays, flights are often overcrowded, with passengers without seats standing in the aisle along with excess unsecured cabin luggage. Even basic safety features such as seat belts are sometimes missing. Air travel to Azerbaijan on international carriers via Europe is typically more reliable.

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CHILDREN’S ISSUES: Please see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on inter-country adoption and international parental child abduction.

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This replaces the Country Specific Information sheet for Azerbaijan dated October 9, 2010, to update all sections.

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