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All About the Azerbaijan Passport

Do you have an Azerbaijan passport? Would you like to know which destinations you can travel to? Or, alternatively, are you planning a trip to Azerbaijan and Armenia, and you want to find out if you can visit these countries with their stamps in your passport?

Well, this article will cover everything you need to know, including where can travel without needing a visa, whether visitors can go to Armenia at the same time and if a biometric document is an option for citizens. Let’s jump straight in!

Key Facts About the Azerbaijan Passport

First of all, the Azerbaijan passport is the only document that allows citizens to enter and exit the country. There are 3 different types issued by the Ministry of Affairs: civil, service and diplomatic.

Each category comes in a different colour so they can be easily identified: red for diplomatic, blue for service and dark green for civil. The civil version is issued to the general population and it lasts for 10 years with 50 pages in total.

The document has the coats of arms printed on the front in gold, and in the first few pages you will find a description of the emblem, along with an image of the national flag and a map of the country.

All content is printed in both the local language and English. At the back of the document, you will find the biometrics page with all the holder’s details and their photo.

Is There a New Azerbaijan Passport?

Yes, there is! Since 2013 the government has been issuing biometric passports. These can be recognised by the e-passport symbol on the front. The chip contains all the important data of the holder including their personal details, a photo and fingerprints (only for people over the age of 15).

Please note that, with the new biometric version, children can no longer be included on their parent’s document, so if you are travelling as a family, each child will need their own.
Biometric passports can make security checks at airports quicker and easier, and are now being issued by over 150 countries all over the world.

About the Azerbaijan Passport Number and Renewing your Document

Each passport, no matter which category it belongs to, comes with a unique number. It starts with a letter followed by 8 digits, and it can be found on the top right side of the same page containing your personal details.

When you renew your document, you will receive a new number. So when should you renew your document?

If any of the following apply to you, then it’s time to renew your document:

  • You’ve changed your name, middle name or surname.
  • Your document was lost, stolen or is damaged.
  • Any information on the document is incorrect.
  • It has expired.
  • You have run out of pages for visas and stamps.

Men aged 18-35 will also need to present their military card when asking for a new document to be issued or to renew it.

How Does the Azerbaijan Passport Rank Globally?

Passports are ranked based on how many countries they allow you to access without having to get a visa. According to the latest statistics, Japan is the best passport in the world for the third year running, with visa-free access to an impressive 191 countries. The lowest ranking was Afghanistan with easy access to just 26.

According to Henley’s Passport Index, Azerbaijan ranked 76 out of 199 with visa-free access to 67 countries. The idea of this ranking is to see how much freedom of movement globally each nationality enjoys.

Azerbaijan Passport: Visa-Free Countries List

According to the latest statistics, the Azerbaijan passport has a medium-low mobility score.

For instance, Namibia, Gambia and Tunisia are the only places in Africa that won’t require a visa.

However, citizens can enjoy easy access to parts of the Middle East and Eastern Europe as well as several Caribbean Islands. What’s more, Georgia allows a stay of up to 365 days without requiring a visa.

Here’s the list of visa-free countries for Azerbaijani citizens:

Albania
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Barbados
Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Colombia
Dominica
Ecuador
The Gambia
Georgia

Haiti
Indonesia
Iran
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Macedonia
Malaysia
Micronesia
Moldova
Montenegro
Namibia

Russia
Serbia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Qatar
Tajikistan
Tunisia
Turkey
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu

Azerbaijan Passport: Visa on Arrival List

Azerbaijani citizens require a pre-arranged visa for around 159 countries, including the USA, most of Europe and China. However, there are many places issuing easy Visas on Arrival, including:

Bangladesh
Bolivia
Cambodia
Cape Verde
Comoros
Cuba
Guinea-Bissau
Djibouti
Ethiopia
Gabon
Guinea
Guinea Bissau
Jamaica
Jordan
Laos

Lebanon
Lesotho
Madagascar
Malawi
Maldives
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mozambique
Nepal
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Oman
Pakistan
Palau

Rwanda
Samoa
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
Suriname
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tuvalu
Uganda
Zimbabwe

How Will an Azerbaijan Passport Stamp Affect Your Travels?

As you may know, some nations that are in conflict with one another choose to ban entry to anyone who has a stamp indicating they have been to the country they are in conflict with. For instance, this is the case if you have an Israeli stamp and you are trying to enter Yemen or Iran.

Luckily, Azerbaijan stamps don’t constitute an entry ban anywhere in the world, so you don’t need to worry about any impact on future travels if you decide to visit this wonderful country.

Most nationalities will need to get a visa before arriving here, but you can do this on our Azerbaijan eVisa page and it generally only takes 6 hours. You will receive the visa by email and you simply need to print it and present it upon arrival in the country.

If you are planning an extended trip, it’s important to be aware of the fact that Armenia and Azerbaijan aren’t on friendly terms and it is not permitted to travel directly between the two. However, it is possible to visit both countries travelling via another destination, like neighbouring Georgia.

Travelling to Azerbaijan With an Armenia Stamp in Your Passport

Apart from the technicalities of travelling directly between the countries, it’s generally not a problem as a tourist to travel to Azerbaijan with an Armenian stamp. You may just get a few extra questions at the border. On the other hand, if you are a citizen of Azerbaijan, you won’t be able to visit Armenia and vice-versa.

It’s worth noting, though, that there has been an ongoing dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region since the 1980s. They both lay claim to the land, while the population of the region also seeks independence.

Therefore, you will likely be refused entry into Azerbaijan if you have a Nagorno-Karabakh stamp, as it is considered illegal to travel to the region. So either avoid the zone altogether or plan your trip starting in Azerbaijan and then go to Armenia afterwards. This way, you will avoid any issues!

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article! To find out more about this fascinating country, go to our Visit Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan Tourist Attraction pages.

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