Travel Restrictions: Azerbaijan's Rules For Pakistani Visitors

Azerbaijan and Pakistan have a history of friendly relations. Pakistan was the second country to recognize Azerbaijan after its independence in 1991, and the two nations are considered strategic partners. There is a significant Pakistani diaspora in Azerbaijan, with many Pakistani immigrants working in the construction sector or as sellers of household products. While Azerbaijanis are generally welcoming towards Pakistani tourists, there is some xenophobia and resistance to Pakistani migration. Pakistani citizens are required to obtain a visa before entering Azerbaijan, and the process of obtaining Azerbaijani citizenship is challenging for Pakistani immigrants.

Visa requirements for Pakistani citizens

Pakistani citizens must obtain a visa before entering Azerbaijan. Fortunately, the country offers an electronic visa (eVisa) option, which streamlines the application process and eliminates the need for embassy visits. Here are the visa requirements for Pakistani citizens travelling to Azerbaijan:

• Passport: Pakistani travellers must possess a valid passport with a minimum validity of six months from their intended date of entry into Azerbaijan.
• Personal Information: Applicants need to provide accurate personal details, such as their full name, date of birth, nationality, and contact information.
• Travel Details: Travellers should provide their intended travel dates, purpose of visit, and the places they plan to visit within Azerbaijan.
• Accommodation Information: Pakistani applicants must furnish details of their accommodation in Azerbaijan, such as hotel reservations or the address of their host.
• Payment: Applicants are required to pay the applicable visa fee using a valid credit or debit card.

Applying for the Azerbaijan eVisa:

Pakistani citizens can apply for the Azerbaijan eVisa through the official eVisa portal provided by the Government of Azerbaijan. Here are the steps to follow:

• Visit the eVisa website and access the eVisa application form for Azerbaijan.
• Fill out the online form with accurate personal, travel, and accommodation details.
• Scan and upload the necessary documents, such as a passport copy.
• Review the application carefully and submit it electronically.
• Pay the visa fee using a valid credit or debit card.
• Receive eVisa approval via email.

The eVisa will be electronically linked to your passport, and you must present it along with your passport upon arrival in Azerbaijan. It is recommended to carry both printed and digital copies of the eVisa during your travel.

Processing Times and Fees:

The processing time for the Azerbaijan eVisa varies depending on the chosen option:

• Standard Processing: The standard processing time is typically around three to five working days. It is advisable to apply well in advance to account for any unforeseen delays.
• Rush Processing: If urgent, you can opt for rush processing, which speeds up the process to one to three working days. Additional fees may apply.
• Super Rush Processing: For extremely urgent cases, super rush processing is available, often issuing visas within a few hours or minutes. However, this option may involve higher fees.

Validity and Duration of Stay:

The Azerbaijan eVisa is generally valid for 90 days from the date of issue and allows a single-entry stay of up to 30 days. It is important to carefully check the visa's validity and duration of stay to ensure compliance with Azerbaijan's immigration regulations.

Pakistani migrants in Azerbaijan

Pakistani citizens are allowed to enter Azerbaijan, but they must obtain a visa before their departure. This can be done through the Azerbaijani eVisa system, which allows travellers to apply for a visa online without having to visit an embassy or consulate in person. The visa fee must be paid using a valid credit or debit card.

In recent years, Azerbaijan has experienced waves of immigration, including from Pakistan. In 2010, it was reported that every eighth resident in Azerbaijan was a migrant, with more than 90% of them being ethnic Azerbaijanis and 70% being internally displaced persons from territories occupied by Armenia. While the exact number of Pakistani migrants in Azerbaijan is unknown, there have been reports of Pakistani citizens being deported from the country for violating immigration laws.

Some Pakistani migrants work in the construction sector, but most are typically sellers of household products. Many Pakistani migrants have married locals and have Azerbaijani children, but obtaining Azerbaijani citizenship is not straightforward. Migrants are often given temporary residence permits and must be registered at a certain flat, which entails additional expenses such as fees for migration services, health certificates, and notary services.

Azerbaijan's migration policy is handled by the State Migration Service and various departments within other ministries, including the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population, the Ministry of Healthcare, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The country has implemented several measures to improve migration management, such as establishing a State Migration Service, introducing a biometric identification system, and joining relevant international conventions and protocols.

Azerbaijan-Pakistan diplomatic relations

Azerbaijan and Pakistan have a long history of diplomatic relations, which have been steadily growing since the Republic of Azerbaijan gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Pakistan was one of the first countries to recognise Azerbaijan's independence, and the two nations are considered "strategic partners".

Historical Context

The foundations of the current diplomatic relationship between Azerbaijan and Pakistan were laid in the early 20th century. In the early 1900s, more than 100,000 people in what was then British India (now Pakistan) died of a deadly disease. Azerbaijani millionaire and philanthropist Haji Zeynalabdin Tagiyev bought and sent more than 300,000 ampoules of plague inoculation to the region at his own expense, playing a major role in the victory over the plague. This story was passed down orally for 20 years, and when Pakistan gained independence in 1947, it was included in a textbook. Since then, the Pakistani people have recognised Azerbaijan as a brotherly state.

Official Recognition and Growing Relations

Pakistan was one of the first countries to recognise Azerbaijan's independence on December 12, 1991, after Turkey. Modern relations between the two states were officially established when the Republic of Azerbaijan became independent following the collapse of the USSR on June 9, 1992.

Trade and Cooperation

Trade and cooperation between the two nations have steadily grown, with several summits being held on how to improve trade. In 2005, a branch of the National Bank of Pakistan was opened in Baku, Azerbaijan's capital.

The average bilateral trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Pakistan was US$7.3 million during the second half of 2018. Both states intend to increase this number in the next five years based on recently signed agreements. Due to Azerbaijan's huge energy capacity (oil and gas), Pakistan, as an oil-importing country, considers Azerbaijan an important trade partner.

Military Cooperation

Azerbaijan and Pakistan also have a history of military cooperation. In 2002, the two countries concluded an agreement on defence and military cooperation. Pakistan has supported Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia, and Azerbaijan supports Pakistan's stance on Kashmir.

In 2014, the countries signed an agreement on mutual military cooperation during the fifth meeting of the working group on military cooperation in Islamabad. Over the past decade, Pakistani military experts have trained about a hundred Azerbaijani military units. Azerbaijan is currently in talks with Pakistan to purchase JF-17 Thunder multirole fighter aircraft, and the two countries have conducted joint military drills.

Cultural and Humanitarian Cooperation

The relationship between Pakistan and Azerbaijan continues to develop in the religious, cultural, and humanitarian spheres. There is a special branch of the language department at Baku State University specifically dedicated to the study of Urdu. Several student stipends in Pakistani universities and charitable donations to Pakistani organisations have been funded by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

Recent Developments

In July 2024, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev paid a two-day visit to Pakistan. During the visit, President Aliyev held meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari to discuss areas of mutual interest and further strengthen bilateral cooperation. Several agreements were signed during the visit.

Pakistani sellers of household products in Azerbaijan

Pakistani citizens are allowed to enter Azerbaijan, but they are required to obtain a visa before departure. This can be done through the official eVisa portal provided by the Government of Azerbaijan, or by applying at an Azerbaijani embassy or consulate. The eVisa system has simplified the visa application procedure and reduced the processing time. The normal processing time for an Azerbaijan visa application is typically around three to five working days, but there are faster options available for an additional fee. The eVisa allows for a single-entry stay of up to 30 days in Azerbaijan and is valid for 90 days from the date of issue.

There is a small community of Pakistanis who have built a new life in Azerbaijan, with some working as sellers of household products. However, obtaining Azerbaijani citizenship is not straightforward, even for those who have married locals and have Azerbaijani children. Pakistani citizens are leading in terms of the number of undocumented migrants in Azerbaijan.

In terms of trade, the average bilateral trade turnover between the two countries was US$7.3 million during the second half of 2018, with intentions to increase this number over the next five years. A special working group has been established between the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Trade of Pakistan to develop bilateral investment cooperation. Over the last decade, the Pakistani side has invested around US$4.2 million in the economy of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan and Pakistan have strong relations, with both countries enhancing contact between their respective capitals and considering each other strategic partners. Pakistan was the second country to recognize Azerbaijan after its independence from the USSR in 1992. Since then, several summits have been held to improve trade, and multiple agreements have been signed to strengthen relations.

Pakistani refugees in Azerbaijan

Pakistani citizens are allowed to enter Azerbaijan, but they must obtain a visa before their arrival. This can be done through the eVisa system or by applying at an Azerbaijani embassy or consulate in their home country. The eVisa system allows travellers to apply for a visa online without having to visit an embassy or consulate in person, and typically takes three to five working days to process.

Azerbaijan has a large number of internally displaced people and refugees, mostly as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. While there is no specific mention of Pakistani refugees in Azerbaijan, it is known that the refugees in Azerbaijan comprise a variety of ethnicities and nationalities, including Chechens, Afghans, Armenians, Iranians, Iraqis, Palestinians, citizens of the Russian Federation, and others from the Middle East.

Azerbaijan and Pakistan have strong bilateral relations, with Pakistan being the second country to recognize Azerbaijan after its independence in 1991. The two nations are considered "strategic partners", and have collaborated in various fields, including trade, defence, and humanitarian efforts.

In summary, while there may be Pakistani refugees in Azerbaijan, the specific information about their numbers and situation is not readily available. However, given the close ties between the two countries and Azerbaijan's history of accepting refugees, it is likely that Pakistani refugees have found refuge in the country.

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