Every able-bodied foreigner who has reached the age of 18 can work in the Republic of Azerbaijan after obtaining a work permit through legal entities involved in the work, individuals engaged in entrepreneurial activities without creating a legal entity and branches and representative offices of foreign legal entities.

The main conditions for foreigners and stateless persons to engage in paid labor activity in the Republic of Azerbaijan are: the presence of vacancies that are not claimed by a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan who has vocational training and qualifications that meet the requirements of the workplace, as well as the inability to provide employment services with the needs of employers in the labor force at the expense of local labor reserves.

Foreigners and stateless persons can engage in paid labor activity in the Republic of Azerbaijan after obtaining a work permit for them by legal entities, individuals engaged in entrepreneurial activities without establishing a legal entity, as well as branches and representative offices of foreign legal entities.

Employers must ensure that foreigners and stateless persons involved in work are employed only at their workplaces by concluding an employment contract with them for the duration of the work permit. The conclusion of an employment contract with foreigners without obtaining a work permit is not allowed.

A work permit is issued for a period of 1 year. If it is envisaged to conclude an employment contract for a period of less than 1 year, the permit is issued for this period. The work permit can be renewed each time for a period not exceeding 1 year.

To extend the period of a work permit, the employer must apply to the State Migration Service no later than 30 days before the expiration of the work permit.

If the employer fails to pay the state fee for obtaining a work permit within 30 days, as well as if foreigners and stateless persons are denied a temporary residence permit in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the State Migration Service will cancel the work permit.

A work permit is not required for the following foreigners and stateless persons:

• having a permit for permanent residence in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan;
• engaged in entrepreneurial activity in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan;
• working in diplomatic missions and consulates;
• working in international organizations;
• heads of organizations established on the basis of international treaties and their deputies;
• involved in the work of the relevant executive authorities;
• military personnel and specialists invited to serve or work in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan and other armed formations created in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan;
• employees of mass media accredited in the Republic of Azerbaijan;
• who are on a business trip in the Republic of Azerbaijan for a period of not more than 90 days a year in the areas of activity determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan in agreement with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan;
• specialists belonging to the category determined by the relevant executive authority invited by citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan or legal entities established in the Republic of Azerbaijan to perform work or provide services in the areas of activity determined by the relevant executive authority;
• sailors;
• faculty members invited to conduct lecture courses at higher educational institutions and lecturers;
• artists, coaches and athletes invited to work in sports clubs that have passed state registration with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan;
• engaged in professional religious activities in religious structures that have passed state registration;
• for heads of branches and representative offices of foreign legal entities in the Republic of Azerbaijan and their deputies;
• for heads and deputy heads of legal entities established in the Republic of Azerbaijan and whose founders or at least one of the founders is a foreign legal or natural person;
• married to citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan, on the condition that these citizens are registered at the place of residence in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan;
• persons applying for refugee status who have received refugee status or political asylum;
• persons who are considered to be victims of human trafficking or who provide assistance to criminal prosecution authorities;
• persons in whose care are citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan who have not reached the age of 18, or disabled persons of group I;
• persons involved in labor activity in cases established by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

In case of early termination of the employment contract and there are no other grounds for the presence of a labor migrant in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, he must leave the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan within 10 working days.

Required documents for obtaining an Azerbaijan Work Visa (Short Term)

1. Application form

• Fully completed in English, signed and dated by the applicant himself (signed by both parents in the case of minors under 18 years of age)

2. Passport

• Valid for at least 6 months after the date of your transit through Azerbaijan
• Signed by the owner
• Passport not older than 10 years (issued within the last 10 years)
• At least 1-2 free “visa pages”
• Undamaged photos are securely attached to the passport

3. Two photos

• New! Should not be more than 6 months old.
• The front of the face is 70-80% (32-26mm) coverage of the photo.
• White background.
• Clear facial features and eyes - not covered by hair or spectacle frames.
• Size 3x4

4. ID card

• Valid for at least two months after the date of your transit through Azerbaijan

5. Residence permit/Visa (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)

• Valid for at least two months after the date of your transit through Azerbaijan

6. Photocopies

• Copy of the main page of your passport
• 1 copy of residence permit/visa (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)
• Copies of previous visas
• Copy of visa for final destination (if available)

7. Travel itinerary

• Flight booking
• Valid (existing) hotel/accommodation booking/booking with full address (name, street, city, zip code, contact info, booking link)

8. Confirmation of the purpose of the visit

• Invitation letter from your business partner in Azerbaijan

9. Letter from local employer/sponsor (proof of employment), if applicable

The letter must contain:

• Name, mailing address and phone number of the sponsor/company
• Information about the applicant's working position, date of commencement of employment and salary
• Duration of leave (estimated date of resumption of duties) and purpose of travel
• A valid copy of the trade license and company ownership documents (if the person is the owner of the company).
• Letter from university (if student)
• Copy of the sponsor's valid passport and residence visa (if any) attached to the sponsor's letter (if the applicant is a dependent)

10. Proof of availability of funds

In case of self-financing:

• As a rule, there are several recognized ways to prove your financial sufficiency:
• Personal bank statement showing your financial movements (for at least the last 3 months)
• Credit card
• Cash
• Traveler's checks
• Salary
• Proof of having a job
• A document confirming the sponsor's willingness to cover your expenses during your stay
• Confirmation of prepaid accommodation
• Document on residence in a private house
• Confirmation of prepaid transport
• Other

In case of sponsorship:

• Sponsor's current account bank statement for the last 3 months (showing sponsor's name, ending balance and issue date).
• Sponsorship letter, copy of the first page of the sponsor's passport.

11. Medical insurance

• Valid for the entire duration of the requested visa during your stay in Azerbaijan
• Minimum coverage 30,000 euros (original and copy)

* The Embassy may require additional documents

Azerbaijan work visa processing time (short-term)

The average term for issuing an Azerbaijan work visa (short-term) is 3-20 calendar days. It depends on your visa application country.

Visa fee for Azerbaijan work visa (short-term)

Visa fee for Azerbaijan work visa (short stay) is 20-35 USD (fee may vary depending on your country and citizenship).

Where to apply for Azerbaijan work visa (short stay)?

You will apply for an Azerbaijan Work Visa (Short Stay) at the Visa Application Centers, Embassies or Consulates of Azerbaijan, depending on which one accepts visa applications in your country of residence. If they are not available in your country, you need to contact the nearest embassy or consulate in your location.

To extend the period of a work permit, the employer must submit the following documents:

• application form, the sample of which is approved by the relevant executive authority;
• a notarized copy of a document confirming that a foreigner and a stateless person has the qualifications required to perform the prescribed work;
• a certificate substantiating the need to attract a foreigner and a stateless person to the intended workplace;
• a certificate stating that the foreigner and stateless person is not a carrier of the virus of diseases (Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B and C), provided for in the list of dangerous infectious diseases approved by the relevant executive authority.

A work permit is issued to an employer upon presentation of a document confirming the payment of the state fee for issuing this permit.

More information: https://mfa.gov.az/en/category/visa