Why does Azerbaijan require visas from Turkish citizens?

According to the current rules, Turkish citizens can now travel to Azerbaijan for up to ninety days without a visa. Turkish citizens do not need a visa to spend up to 90 days in Azerbaijan over a 180-day period for tourism and business purposes. Sometimes, people are confused about visa rules because old knowledge is clouding the issue.

Historical context

Before, Turkish citizens were required to have a visa to enter Azerbaijan, though the visa was easy to apply for either online or when arriving at the airport. Such a requirement was set due to regular visa procedures, not political issues; in fact, these countries have a close political, cultural, and economic relationship usually called “one nation, two states".

Visa-free travel agreement

Last year, Azerbaijan and Turkey made an agreement that allows citizens of both countries to visit one another without a visa. Following the changes, people with a Turkish passport in any of these categories don’t need a visa to go to Azerbaijan.

It mirrors the strong regional and strategic partnership existing between Azerbaijan and Turkey, especially after both countries stood together in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh crisis.

Entry requirements for Turkish citizens

While no visa is required, Turkish citizens must still:

• Ensure that your passport is up-to-date and is valid for at least 6 months after you enter the country.
• Travelers staying more than 15 days must register their place of residence with the State Migration Service or via their hotel — this is not a visa but a residency registration requirement.
• Follow all customs and health rules, paying special attention to COVID-19 regulations, if they are in place during your trip.

Common misunderstanding

Some travelers might believe that a visa is still required due to:

• Old online sources that have not been changed or updated since they were made.
• Third-party visa agencies that are still showing Turkish people how to get Azerbaijani visas, but you have to pay for this service.
• Confusion of visa rules when going through Azerbaijan to get to another country.

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