Azerbaijan visa on arrival: the official list, and who it really covers

Azerbaijan does issue visas at the airport, but only to certain travellers. Most visitors still need the e-visa before they fly.

This page sets out the official list, as published by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and what it means in practice. We checked it on 17 September 2026.

The 11 nationalities

The ministry lists the countries whose citizens get a single-entry visa at the airport. Each one is valid for 30 days.

Country	Airport visa	Right now
Oman	30 days	Visa-free window to 15 February 2027
Saudi Arabia	30 days	Visa-free window to 15 February 2027
Bahrain	30 days	Visa-free window to 15 February 2027
Kuwait	30 days	Visa-free window to 15 February 2027
Japan	30 days	Visa-free window to 1 July 2027
Republic of Korea	30 days	Visa-free window to 1 July 2027
Singapore	30 days	Visa-free window to 1 August 2027
Indonesia	30 days	Airport visa or e-visa
Malaysia	30 days	Airport visa or e-visa
Israel	30 days	Airport visa or e-visa
China	30 days	Visa-free by agreement, see below

The “right now” column comes from the official e-visa portal. It says citizens of the seven countries marked with a window can enter visa-free three times within one year, for up to 30 days each time. A fourth entry needs a visa.

Those windows end on fixed dates. If you travel close to one, check the portal again rather than assume it has been extended.

China, Hong Kong, Macao, Qatar and the UAE: no visa needed

China still appears on the airport-visa list, but that is no longer the route Chinese citizens need. Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also lists China among its visa-free countries: 30 days for each entry, up to 90 days in any 180 days. China’s own foreign ministry lists the same mutual exemption, in force since 16 July 2025.

Hong Kong and Macao passports are listed apart from China. The ministry’s table gives ordinary passports issued by the two SAR governments a visa-free window from 2 February 2026 to 2 February 2027. It allows three entries, of up to 30 days each.

That window is not on the e-visa portal, which does not name Hong Kong or Macao as of 24 September 2026. We follow the ministry’s table. The window ends on 2 February 2027, so check the table again before a trip near that date. Our page for Chinese citizens covers both passports.

Two Gulf states are on that visa-free list too. Citizens of the United Arab Emirates can stay 90 days without a visa. Citizens of Qatar can stay 30 days, but need a visa in advance to study or work.

Residents of the UAE and the Gulf

The airport rule does not only follow nationality. The ministry also lists:

• holders of a UAE resident visa with a validity period of more than 6 months
• holders of a residence permit with a validity period of more than 6 months in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar or Kuwait

So you can qualify even if your own passport is not on the list. The ministry’s wording does not say whether “more than 6 months” means time left or the permit’s full term. If your permit expires soon, use the e-visa or apply at an embassy.

US citizens on the New York flight

One more line on the list covers “Citizens of the United States of America traveling by New York-Baku direct flight.”

It applies only to that direct flight. Connections through another city do not count, even if you started in New York.

Two special cases

The ministry lists two further groups:

• people visiting Azerbaijan because of the death of a family member who lived there, with a document confirming the death
• citizens of countries that have direct flights to Azerbaijan but no accredited Azerbaijani embassy or consulate

The second case is narrow. It depends on which flights run today. If you think it applies to you, confirm with the nearest Azerbaijani mission before travelling.

The Formula 1 exception, until 30 September

For the 2026 Grand Prix only, Heydar Aliyev International Airport issues visas on arrival to race visitors. The window runs from 25 August to 30 September 2026. You show a race ticket, and an electronic ticket counts.

After 30 September this route closes.

How the airport visa works

The ministry says airport visas have come through the ASAN Visa system since 15 May 2018. You pay at the airport through ASAN Payment.

The arrival procedure itself is described on the Heydar Aliyev International Airport website.

Airport visa or e-visa?

If you qualify for both, the e-visa is usually the calmer choice. It costs USD 20, takes three working days, and is settled before you board. Nothing depends on a queue or on how a document is read at the desk.

The airport visa suits people who qualify clearly and would rather not apply in advance.

If you do not appear anywhere on this page, you need the e-visa or an embassy visa.

What we do

We do not issue or file visas. We handle the arrival itself: a driver waiting inside the terminal, the drive into Baku, and transfers onward.

Send us your flight number, how many of you are travelling and where you are staying. We meet you with a name board and wait until you come out, however long the queue runs.