Why does Azerbaijan have visa limitations for Turkish citizens while Georgia allows entry with just a national ID?

Until 2021, Azerbaijani visa policies for Turkish citizens required prior applications, but since then, the two countries have implemented a mutual visa-free regime allowing stays of up to 90 days, especially when neighboring Georgia permits Turks to enter without even a passport. This disparity stems from complex geopolitical dynamics involving the Nakhchivan corridor, Iranian pressure, and regional security concerns rather than bilateral relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan.

The Nakhchivan Corridor factor

The heart of this issue lies in Nakhchivan, an autonomous exclave of Azerbaijan separated from the mainland by Armenian and Iranian territory. Nakhchivan shares a border with Turkey but has no direct land connection to the rest of Azerbaijan. This geographical reality creates a unique vulnerability.

Azerbaijan relies heavily on the corridor through Iran to maintain connections with Nakhchivan. This narrow transit route represents Azerbaijan's primary lifeline to its exclave, as relations with Armenia remain severed due to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that began in the 1990s. Without Iranian cooperation, Nakhchivan would face complete isolation from mainland Azerbaijan.

Iranian political pressure

Iran has historically opposed visa-free travel between Azerbaijan and Turkey, viewing it as a potential security threat. Tehran's concerns center on several factors:

Iran fears that unrestricted Turkish citizen movement through Azerbaijan could facilitate intelligence activities or strengthen Turkish influence in the South Caucasus region. Turkey and Azerbaijan share deep cultural, linguistic, and historical bonds, often described as "one nation, two states," which makes Iran uneasy about their growing cooperation.

Some analysts suggest that regional dynamics, including Azerbaijan’s delicate relations with Iran and its dependence on transit routes through Iranian territory to reach Nakhchivan, may have influenced Baku’s cautious approach to full visa liberalization before 2021 — though no official statement directly links Iranian pressure to this policy.

Georgia's different position

Georgia faces no similar constraints. The country maintains independent foreign policy without pressure from neighboring powers regarding Turkish visitors. Georgia's tourism-driven economy benefits enormously from Turkish visitors, who can enter with just national ID cards.

Georgia has no territorial disputes or dependencies that could be leveraged by regional powers. Unlike Azerbaijan, Georgia doesn't rely on potentially hostile neighbors for access to any part of its territory.

Recent developments

As of September 2024, Azerbaijan has made progress toward easing these restrictions. The geopolitical landscape has shifted following Azerbaijan's 2020 and 2023 military operations, which altered the regional balance of power. Azerbaijan has gained more diplomatic autonomy and is gradually reducing its vulnerability to Iranian pressure.

Turkish citizens can now obtain free Azerbaijani visas through consulates in Turkey, making the process simpler than before. Azerbaijan continues working toward full visa liberalization with Turkey, though complete elimination of requirements depends on managing Iranian sensitivities and ensuring alternative access routes to Nakhchivan.

The bottom line

As of 2025, Turkish citizens enjoy visa-free entry to Azerbaijan for stays up to 90 days, under the mutual agreement signed in 2021. The Nakhchivan corridor issue demonstrates how small territorial dependencies can significantly impact national policy. As Azerbaijan strengthens its position regionally and develops alternative connectivity solutions, full visa-free travel with Turkey becomes increasingly feasible.

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