How to Visit Azerbaijan in 2025: Transportation Options, Visa Info, & More

If you are wondering how to visit Azerbaijan, there are a few important things to know before planning your trip. From visa requirements to the different ways of entering the country, preparing in advance will make your travels much smoother.

Whether you are flying directly into the capital, crossing overland from neighboring countries, or arriving by sea, there are several options to consider. Each route comes with its own requirements, so understanding them ahead of time will save you both time and stress.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about entry requirements for Azerbaijan and the main ways to get there, so you can choose the best one for you, and focus on enjoying your trip as soon as you arrive.

How to Visit Azerbaijan: Important Info

Before diving into the details of each option for reaching Azerbaijan, let's go over some of the basics.

 Why Visit Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijan is a fascinating country, and has so much to enjoy outside its modern capital. It's got incredible architecture, gorgeous landscapes, and some really delicious food. It is actually one of the most underrated countries that we have traveled to!

 Where is Azerbaijan Located?

Azerbaijan is located at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, bordered by Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, Iran to the south, and the Caspian Sea to the east. 

Its unique location makes it a cultural and geographical bridge between continents, and knowing exactly where it sits on the map is an important first step when planning how to visit Azerbaijan.

 Is it Safe to Travel Now to Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijan has a lot of history and turmoil with some of its surrounding countries, making it understandable if you're questioning whether it's safe to go or not.

One thing that really surprised us about visiting Azerbaijan is just how safe it felt! The capital is clean and well-maintained, and the smaller towns and villages were full of friendly, helpful, and trustworthy people.

Not only that, but despite it being a mostly-Muslim country, you won't find that religion is enforced, making it much more relaxed for travelers and women particularly. It may just be one of the safest countries we have traveled to!

 How Do You Get to Azerbaijan?

There are a variety of options for how to get to Azerbaijan, and the option you take will first depend on whether you are visiting from somewhere else in the area, or if you are looking to visit directly from another region of the world.

Here are the different options for getting to Azerbaijan:

• Fly to Azerbaijan: Baku is the biggest international airport, but there are also quite a few other airports you can fly into.
• Visit Azerbaijan by land: Azerbaijan has various land borders, but due to political issues only some can be crossed by tourists.
• Sail to Azerbaijan: There are a few ferries to Baku, Azerbaijan from both Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.

How to Visit Azerbaijan: Entry Requirements

One of the first things to know when planning how to visit Azerbaijan is what documentation you'll need.

Many travelers need to get visas for visiting Azerbaijan, but most can now easily apply for an e-visa, making the process fast and convenient.

The only countries that DO NOT need a visa to visit Azerbaijan are those from Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, Moldova, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkey, UAE, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. The length of permitted stay is 90 days, except for Qatar which is 30 days.

How to Get an E-Visa for Azerbaijan

Many nationalities are able to easily get their e-visas online, rather than having to go to an embassy.

Citizens of Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Holy See (Vatican), Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom, USA, and Vietnam are eligible for e-visas to Azerbaijan.

Travelers from over 90 countries can apply through the official ASAN Visa portal, and will need to do the following:

• Complete the online application
• Pay the fee (around $20–$30 USD)
• Receive your visa via email within a few business days

Make sure to apply for your e-visa in advance! You are supposed to do so more than 72 hours upon arrival, and if you do it within 72 hours then you will still be able to get one, but there will be an expedite fee. The e-visa price is $20 and the expedite fee is $50.

 Visa on Arrival in Azerbaijan

There are just a few nationalities that are able to get visa on arrival in Azerbaijan, which can only be in the international airports. The nationalities that this applies to include Bahrain, China, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and South Korea.

Other visa on arrival exceptions include:

• Citizens of the US flying direct from New York to Baku
• Residents of the UAE with validity of 6 or more months
• Those with the death of a family member in Azerbaijan (must have the death certificate)
• Someone with a resident card of Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait who is an accompanying citizen of the country that issued the residence card

 Tips for Entry to Azerbaijan

• Passports must be valid for at least six months from your entry date, and three months from the start date of the visa.
• Make sure to get your e-visa more than 72 hours in advance to avoid an extra $50 fee.
• Keep your visa or e-visa handy at border checks.
• Check for travel advisories or restrictions for your nationality.

How to Get to Azerbaijan

Once you understand the visa requirements for Azerbaijan, the next step in how to visit Azerbaijan is choosing your entry route.

How to Visit Azerbaijan by Flight

Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport is the main gateway to Azerbaijan, with direct flights operating from major cities in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

All of the cities that fly direct to Baku include Abu Dhabi, Aktau, Almaty, Ankara, Antalya, Astana, Athens, Atyrau, Baghdad, Barcelona, Batumi, Beijing, Berlin, Bishkek, Bodrum, Budapest, Chelyabinsk, Chișinău, Çukurova, Doha, Dammam, Dalaman, Delhi, Dubai, Dushanbe, Erbil, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Izmir, Jeddah, Kuwait City, Lahore, London, Male, Milan, Minsk, Moscow, Mumbai, Nizhnevartovsk, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Orenburg, Paris, Perm, Podgorica, Prague, Riyadh, Rome, Saint Petersburg, Samarkand, Sharjah, Sharm el-Sheikh, Surgut, Tabriz, Tashkent, Tbilisi, Tehran, Tel Aviv, Tivat, Trabzon, Tyumen, Urgench, Urumqi, Vienna, Warsaw, and Yekaterinburg, .

Aside from Baku, travelers can also fly directly into Ganja International Airport or Nakhchivan International Airport from Istanbul and Moscow. Lankaran International Airport offers a direct seasonal connection to Moscow as well. While Zangilan, Fuzuli, and Gabala airports hold international status, none currently operate active international routes.

Search for a flight to Azerbaijan:

How to Visit Azerbaijan by Land

Traveling to Azerbaijan by land is a bit less common, as some of the land borders are closed.

• From Georgia: Entry has been put to a halt since Covid, and although there is talk about reopening it (for overnight trains and buses from Tblisi), it keeps getting pushed, (Don't worry - when we hear of it opening again we will update this!) If you do want to visit Azerbaijan from Georgia, you'll have to fly, OR you can get transportation to the border and walk over.
• From Russia: Northern border crossings are available with proper visa and customs documents, although the crossings are mostly for truck drivers.
• From Iran: Iran and Azerbaijan have a good relationship, and you can actually cross the border without issues, as long as you have your visa ready. We read that there are direct buses from Tehran to Baku, but didn't actually find any. You can also get transportation to the border town of Astara and cross the border to Azerbaijan there.
• From Armenia: Azerbaijan and Armenia still have really bad political tensions, and ALL land borders are closed! You'll also notice that one of the most beautiful parts of Azerbaijan (Nakhchivan) is disconnected from the main area of Azerbaijan, and even here you can only enter via Iran or by flying.

How to Visit Azerbaijan By Sea

Ferries across the Caspian Sea connect Azerbaijan with Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. This route is less common but suitable for travelers from Central Asia looking for a bit of adventure. The routes are Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan to Baku, and Aktau, Kazakstan to Baku.

Apparently the ferries are not super reliable, but if you happen to be in one of those two cities then it's certainly worth looking into further! If we happen to do this journey at some point, we'll of course update this section to reflect the new information we have.

Don't have time to read the whole article and want to save it for later? Just pin it!

How to Visit Azerbaijan: FAQ

Now you have all of the information you need for how to get to Azerbaijan! In case you missed anything, here are a few answers to frequently asked questions that we've seen across the web.

How to Visit Azerbaijan: Important Things to Know & What's Next

Now that you know how to get to Azerbaijan, here are some other things you'll probably want to know about visiting!

 Getting Around: Renting a car is the most ideal way to explore the country. Tours in Azerbaijan are cheap though, so you can also base yourself in Baku and take day trips to most places.

 Language: Azerbaijani is very similar to Turkish, and outside the capital it can be hard to find many people that speak English - Google Translate will be your best friend!

 Currency: The country has its own currency which is the Azerbaijani Manat, and cash is king here.

 Safety: Azerbaijan is a really safe country, and the locals are very friendly!

 Weather: Azerbaijan experiences all four seasons, with super hot summers and cold, snowy winters.

What's Next?

Now that you know all of about how to visit Azerbaijan, you'll probably want to learn more about the best things to see and do around the country!

Here are a few other guides we have about Azerbaijan:

 The Best Places to Visit in Azerbaijan

 The Naftalan Oil Baths Experience

 Gobustan Mud Volcanoes

 Goygol National Park

We're going to also be having new articles each Thursday as well, so stay tuned!

So are you ready to explore this incredible country? It truly is one of the most underrated countries we have been, and now that you know how to get to Azerbaijan, we hope you're ready to continue planning.

Want to learn more about traveling around the country and things to see? We have plenty of other Azerbaijan Travel Guides coming up every week! Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter so that you'll stay up to date with our newest articles, as well as receive special discounts on our shop.

Ready to start planning the most unforgettable trip to Azerbaijan, but need some help? Scratch Your Mapa has travel planning packages to make your dream trip come true without breaking the bank. Want to learn more? Simply email us today for your free consultation!

Here are some other guides you'll love: