Obtaining An Azerbaijan Passport: A Comprehensive Guide

The Azerbaijani passport is issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan to its citizens for international travel. To obtain an Azerbaijani passport, one must be a citizen of Azerbaijan. Foreigners or stateless persons can acquire Azerbaijani citizenship by fulfilling specific requirements, including five years of uninterrupted legal residence in the country, a legal source of income, an undertaking to abide by the Constitution and laws of Azerbaijan, and knowledge of the Azerbaijani language. The process involves submitting an application to the State Migration Service, and the Azerbaijani President has the authority to grant citizenship. Once citizenship is obtained, individuals can apply for an Azerbaijani passport through the local authorities or diplomatic representations.

Naturalisation requirements

To obtain Azerbaijani nationality through naturalisation, you must fulfil the following requirements:

• Live uninterruptedly in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 5 years on legal bases. The 5-year period starts running from the date the permanent residence card is granted.
• Have a legal source of income.
• Undertake the obligation to observe the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
• Have knowledge of the state language of the Republic of Azerbaijan and pass a test to certify this.

The process should be started by obtaining a residence permit. After staying in Azerbaijan for 2 years on a temporary residence permit, you can apply for a permanent residence permit. Once you have been granted a permanent residence permit, you can apply for citizenship.

Applications for citizenship are submitted to the State Migration Service, but the Azerbaijani President has the authority to grant Azerbaijani nationality. To apply for citizenship, you must submit the following documents to the State Migration Service:

• Application form addressed to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2 printed copies).
• Application addressed to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2 printed copies).
• CV (2 printed copies).
• 4 photos sized 3x4 cm.
• Receipt for payment of the state fee (200 manats).
• Reference from the Ministry of Education certifying knowledge of the official language of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
• Copy of passport or other border-crossing document (notarised translation). If you obtained refugee status or were determined by the court to be stateless and permanently residing in Azerbaijan, you are exempt from providing this document.
• Document certifying the existence of a legal income, such as a reference from your workplace, a reference from the tax authority on your income, or a sponsorship application from a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan (notarised).
• If you are applying with your minor children, you must also submit the following: application of consent of the other parent (notarised), copy of the other parent's passport (notarised), copy of the marriage certificate, and applications of consent of children aged 14-18 (notarised). The names of your minor children must be included in the application form and application, and 4 photos (3x4 sized) must be submitted.

Application process

To obtain an Azerbaijani passport, you must be a citizen of Azerbaijan. Foreigners and stateless persons can apply for citizenship through the State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The process of obtaining Azerbaijani nationality is outlined in the Law on Citizenship. To be eligible for citizenship, you must fulfil the following criteria:

• Have lived in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan uninterruptedly for the last 5 years on legal bases
• Have a legal source of income
• Undertake the obligation to observe the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan
• Submit a document certifying knowledge of the state language of the Republic of Azerbaijan

The first step in the process is to obtain a residence permit. After staying in Azerbaijan for 2 years with a temporary residence permit, you can apply for a permanent residence permit. The 5-year period starts from the date the permanent residence card is issued. During this time, you must learn and pass a test in the Azerbaijani language and have a legal source of income.

Once you have fulfilled the above criteria, you can submit your application to the State Migration Service. The Azerbaijani President has the authority to grant Azerbaijani nationality.

The following documents are required for your application:

• Application form addressed to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2 printed copies)
• Application addressed to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2 printed copies)
• CV (2 printed copies)
• 4 photos sized 3x4 cm
• Receipt for payment of the state fee (200 manats)
• Reference from the Ministry of Education certifying knowledge of the official language of the Republic of Azerbaijan
• Copy of passport or other border-crossing document (notarised translation)
• Document certifying the existence of a legal income (e.g. reference from the workplace, reference on receiving a pension, etc.)
• If you do not work, you can be sponsored by a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In this case, you will need a sponsorship application and ID from the sponsor (notarised), as well as a document confirming the sponsor's legal source of income
• Copy of the court decision establishing that you do not have citizenship of any state and that you reside permanently in the Republic of Azerbaijan (as per Article 14 of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "On Citizenship of the Republic of Azerbaijan")
• If you have high achievements in the field of science, technology, culture, or sports, you will need a justified application from the relevant state body inviting you to the Republic of Azerbaijan
• Copies of ID cards of close relatives who are citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan (if available)

If you are applying for citizenship for your minor children, you must also include:

• Application of consent of the other parent (notarised)
• Copy of the other parent's passport (notarised)
• Copy of the marriage certificate
• Applications of consent of children aged 14-18 (notarised)

The names of your minor children should be included in the application form and application, and 4 photos (3x4 sized) should be submitted.

Obtaining an Azerbaijani Passport

Once you have obtained Azerbaijani citizenship, you can apply for an Azerbaijani passport. Passports are issued by the local authorities of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan "About Passports" and its accompanying Regulations.

The following documents are required for issuing an ordinary passport:

• Application form for issuing a national passport (different forms for citizens over and under 18 years of age)
• Identity card (or birth certificate for citizens under 15 years of age, or a personal identification card)
• Document on payment of the state fee
• Medical certificate about blood group (not required if the child's personal identification card is submitted)
• Document certifying the rights of the adoptive parent, guardian, or custodian of children deprived of parental care (for citizens under 15 years of age)
• When issuing a passport to citizens under 15 years of age, the application form must be signed by parents or other legal representatives

Validity and visa pages

The validity of an Azerbaijani passport depends on the age of the holder. For children under the age of 1, the passport is valid for one year. For children aged 1 to 3, it is valid for three years. For children under 18 years of age, it is valid for five years, and for those 18 and older, it is valid for ten years. The passport is the property of the Republic of Azerbaijan and is valid for all countries. It is important to note that the passport is the only document that confirms the identity of an Azerbaijani citizen outside of the country's territory and facilitates their right to exit and enter the country.

The passport is issued by the local authorities or the diplomatic representation/consulate of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the country where the citizen has permanent or temporary residence. The passport contains 34 visa pages and is 88 x 125 mm in size, with a total of 54 pages. The passport content is printed in both the Azerbaijani and English languages.

In the event of passport loss, the relevant state authorities, diplomatic representation, or consulate of the Republic of Azerbaijan must be informed immediately. These entities will then provide the necessary assistance to ensure the citizen can return to Azerbaijan. This may involve issuing a new ordinary passport or providing a return certificate for immediate return to the country.

Types of passports

The Azerbaijani passport is issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan to citizens of Azerbaijan for international travel. There are three types of passports: civil, service, and diplomatic.

Civil passports are issued to the general population and are valid for 10 years, with 50 pages in total. They are dark green in colour.

Service passports are dark blue and issued to public servants.

Diplomatic passports are issued to diplomats and their family members, as well as high-level government officials. They are dark red.

All passports have the coat of arms of Azerbaijan printed in relief on the centre of the front cover, with the country's name in Azerbaijani and English above it, and "PASPORT" and "PASSPORT" printed below. The passports are 88 x 125 mm in size, with 54 pages. The content is printed in both Azerbaijani and English.

What to do if your passport is lost

If your Azerbaijani passport is lost, stolen, or damaged, you will need to renew it. Here is what you should do:

• Report your lost or stolen passport to the relevant authorities as soon as possible. This will help to prevent identity theft and fraud. You can do this by contacting the State Migration Service or the nearest embassy or consulate of Azerbaijan.
• Obtain the necessary documents for passport renewal. This may include filling out an application form, providing proof of identity and citizenship, such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate, and submitting biometric information, such as fingerprints and a new photograph.
• Pay the required fees. There will likely be a fee for renewing your passport, and you may also need to pay for additional documents or services, such as notarization or expedited processing.
• Submit your application and supporting documents in person or by mail, following the instructions provided by the issuing authority. Keep in mind that the process and requirements may vary depending on your location and circumstances.
• Wait for your new passport to be processed and issued. The processing time may vary, so it is essential to plan ahead and renew your passport before it expires or if you know you will need it soon.
• Once you receive your new passport, review the information to ensure its accuracy. Update your records and inform relevant parties, such as your employer or educational institution, of your new passport details.

It is important to act promptly and follow the necessary procedures to ensure that you have a valid passport for international travel and to prevent any complications or delays in the future.

Frequently asked questions