Home Arrow FAQs Arrow Is it possible to get a work permit by an arrival visit visa in Azerbaijan?

Is it possible to get a work permit by an arrival visit visa in Azerbaijan?

And this is assuming that you want to travel to Azerbaijan on a visit visa and you want to know whether you can get a work permit after being there; the answer is no, you cannot. Immigration policies of Azerbaijan do not allow converting visitor or tourist visas to temporary worker permits within the country. There is a clear explanation of how it works and what you ought to do instead.

Why a visit visa can’t be used for employment

Visit visas are purely intended to be touristic or business meetings, or short stay. They will not permit you to work in Azerbaijan legally. Trying to work even after without proper authorization may lead to fines or deportation or black listing on coming back.

Before a foreigner can be employed, employers have a legal responsibility of sponsoring the foreigner to a work permit. That requires several authorizations, paper work, and time: you could not change a tourist visa into a work permit after you have arrived in the country.

To legally work in Azerbaijan, you must follow this standard process:

  • Secure a job offer from a company based in Azerbaijan.
  • The employer must apply for your work permit and temporary residence permit before you begin work. Employers also pay significant fees for permits (around 1,000–1,500 AZN/year) and face quotas limiting foreign workers in each sector.
  • Required documents include:
    • A justification letter showing why the company is hiring a foreigner over a local
    • A notarized copy of your qualifications or diploma
    • Your passport and photos
    • A signed employment contract
  • If approved, the foreigner is issued a work permit (valid for up to one year) and a residence permit.

It takes approximately 20–30 working days to process the application, and work is only allowed after the permit is officially issued.

Can you prepare the process while in Azerbaijan?

When you are on a visit visa in Azerbaijan, you may take part in the interviews, talk about the jobs, and organize your papers. Nevertheless, you have to go out of the country before the work permit is received. However, in some cases, foreigners may remain in Azerbaijan during the work permit processing period if their visit visa is still valid and they have approval from the State Migration Service. However, they are strictly prohibited from working until the permit is granted. 

When this gets accepted, you will mostly be given an entry visa to go back and work legally. Even after a work permit is approved, you must obtain an entry visa for employment purposes before returning to Azerbaijan. A tourist visa cannot simply be converted to a work visa, and you must change your visa type to match the purpose of employment. Many people mistakenly believe they can work on a tourist visa once they have a work permit, which is incorrect.

There is no possibility to stay in Azerbaijan and start working on the basis of tourist or arrival visa, even temporarily.

Who has a better chance of getting hired?

The Azerbaijani labor market is competitive, and employers often prefer hiring locals due to:

  • High unemployment rates
  • Language barriers (most employers prefer fluency in Azerbaijani and/or Russian)
  • The administrative cost and time required to hire a foreigner

Foreigners are more likely to be hired if they:

  • Have specialized, in-demand skills
  • Speak Azerbaijani or Russian
  • Have an existing connection with the employer
  • Are experienced professionals rather than recent graduates

Risks of working illegally

While some foreigners may find informal work in Azerbaijan paid in cash, this is illegal and highly discouraged. If discovered, you could face:

  • Fines
  • Immediate deportation
  • A ban on re-entry to Azerbaijan

Legal employment not only ensures your protection as a worker but also guarantees access to basic services and avoids any immigration violations.

Final thoughts

Azerbaijan has an open door policy towards skilled foreign workers though there is no compromise when it comes to legal employment. You cannot obtain a work permit simply by arriving on a visit visa. The mechanism will be a company sponsorship, document submission and prior approval.

In case you have a serious intention to work in Azerbaijan, find a job offer in advance and ask your employer to submit the necessary documents. This is the most risk free and legal method to start off your career in the country.

Unlike some countries, Azerbaijan does not allow frequent ‘visa runs.’ Changing visa status requires proper applications and sometimes leaving the country.

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