Azerbaijan to simplify issuing visas due to European Games

Azerbaijan will simplify issuing visas in connection with holding the European Games. Foreign citizens can get a single entry visa for 30 days in subdivisions of the consular department of the foreign ministry, located at international airports 10 days before the Baku 2015 European Games and until the last day of them being held.

"To submit an application form for a visa, an application form can be obtained on the plane or at the airport. A foreigner or a stateless person permanently residing abroad must have a passport that is valid for at least three months from the date of the return or an identification card. Two photos (3x4 cm on a white background) must also be submitted. Aside from that, it will be sufficient to present a ticket to the Baku 2015 European Games or a printed document confirming the purchase of a ticket. The visa duty must be paid upon arrival, at the airport. The duty rates were defined by Azerbaijan’s ‘Law on State Duty'. Under the requirements of this law, the amount of the state duties has been placed on tables in visible places at airports having international status.

Information on the state duty has also been placed on internet websites of the Foreign Ministry and embassies and general consulates of Azerbaijan accredited abroad,” spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan, Hikmet Hajiyev, said.

He also said that the following airports in Azerbaijan have international status: Heydar Aliyev International Airport, Ganja International Airport, Nakhchivan International Airport, Gabala International Airport, Zagatala International Airport and Lankaran International Airport.

Foreigners and stateless persons permanently residing abroad, who have been accredited in the prescribed manner, can visit Azerbaijan and leave the country by presenting the passport or other documents for crossing the border and the accreditation card within a period of 60 days before the start of the First European Games and 30 days after their completion.

According to Hajiyev, the process of online visa issuing for tourists wishing to visit Azerbaijan is being carried out successfully and the increase in the number of tourists applying for e-visa clearly proves this.

“Azerbaijan is implementing corresponding work to improve the software in the automated intermanagement date retrieval system (IAMAS) “Entry-exit and registration” in the context of tourism development for the purpose of organization of work on processing visas for foreigners and persons without citizenship at a higher level,” Hajiyev said. “In addition, detailed statistical analysis in this area is being conducted, embassies and consulates of Azerbaijan are being provided with satellite communication through the telecommunication satellite Azerspace-1 in order to improve the exchange of information between the ministry of foreign affairs of Azerbaijan and the diplomatic missions of the country," he added.