Residence Permit in Azerbaijan

A Residence Permit in Azerbaijan is an official permission granting foreigners the right to live in the country for a specified period. According to Migration Legislation of Azerbaijan, there are two types of residence permits: Temporary Residence Permit and Permanent Residence Permit.

We believe that this blog post will provide valuable insights on the basis, requirements and procedures for obtaining and extending a residence permit in Azerbaijan. Additionally, if you require legal assistance in obtaining or extending a residence permit, consider applying for DLB Consulting’s services.

Main Grounds to Apply for a Residence Permit

Temporary Residence Permit in Azerbaijan

Temporary Residence Permit in Azerbaijan is a type of residence permit that grants foreigners and stateless persons the right to reside temporarily in the country.

Cases for the Issuance or Extension of Temporary Residence Permits

Article 45 of the Migration Code defines the criteria for the issuance and extension of Temporary Residence Permits. Accordingly, foreigners and stateless persons can obtain or extend their Temporary Residence Permits in Azerbaijan under the following circumstances:

Investment in the Economy of Azerbaijan

Foreigners who invest at least AZN 500,000 (approximately USD 295,000) in the country’s economy are eligible to get and extend a Temporary Residence Permit in Azerbaijan.

Bank Deposit in Azerbaijan

Foreigners are eligible to obtain or extend a Temporary Residence Permit in Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan TRP) if they deposit at least AZN 100,000 (approximately USD 59,000) into local banks under a term deposit agreement.

Real Estate Investment in Azerbaijan

To obtain or extend a Temporary Residence Permit in Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan TRP), foreigners can invest a minimum of AZN 100,000 (approximately USD 59,000) in real estate in the country.

Business Activity in a Company with Foreign Investment

Foreigners who are either the head or a founder of a company with foreign investment are also eligible to apply for a Temporary Residence Permit in Azerbaijan (Business TRP). To clarify, this law applies to founders if they own a minimum of 51% of the shares of the company with foreign investment in Azerbaijan. Also, the paid-up Charter Capital of the company must be at least AZN 50,000 (approximately USD 30,000). Furthermore, for extending a Temporary Residence Permit (Business TRP) on the same grounds, the company must have an annual turnover of at least AZN 100,000 (approximately USD 59,000). It is important to note that these requirements are determined by the Decision of the Ministry of Economy, dated January 17, 2024.

Management Activity in the Branch of a Foreign Company

Foreigners who hold positions as head or deputy head in the branch or representation of a foreign company are also eligible to apply for and obtain a Temporary Residence Permit in Azerbaijan.

Individual Entrepreneurship in Azerbaijan

As per the Law of Azerbaijan, Individual Entrepreneurs are also eligible to obtain and extend a Temporary Residence Permit in Azerbaijan. To qualify, Individual Entrepreneurs must employ a minimum of five full-time persons. Additionally, the aforementioned Decision of the Ministry of Economy outlines further requirements for the issuance or extension of Temporary Residence Permits. Therefore, foreign individuals residing in Azerbaijan for at least one year based on entrepreneurial activity must demonstrate a business turnover of at least AZN 50,000 (approximately USD 30,000) to qualify for an extension of a Temporary Residence Permit in Azerbaijan.

Investment in Securities

Foreigners can also obtain or extend a Temporary Residence Permit in Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan TRP) by investing a minimum of AZN 100,000 (approximately USD 59,000) in securities.

Validity Period of the Temporary Residence Permit

Foreigners can initially obtain a Temporary Residence Permit in Azerbaijan for a period of up to 1 year. Also, temporary residence permit holders can apply to extend their permits for up to a period not exceeding 2 years each time, if there is a relevant ground for it.

Permanent Residence Permit in Azerbaijan

Permanent Residence Permit in Azerbaijan is a type of residence permit that grants foreigners and stateless persons the right to reside permanently in the country.

Cases for the Issuance or Extension of Permanent Residence Permits

Article 52 of the Migration Code outlines the criteria for issuing and extending Permanent Residence Permits. Accordingly, the grounds for obtaining and extending a Permanent Residence Permit in Azerbaijan are identical to those above-mentioned for a Temporary Residence Permit. However, while the grounds are the same, the investment requirements for obtaining a Permanent Residence Permit are twice as high as those for a Temporary Residence Permit. For example, the minimum bank deposit requirement for obtaining a Permanent Residence Permit in Azerbaijan is AZN 200,000. Similarly, the minimum investment amount required to obtain a Permanent Residence Permit through real estate investment is also AZN 200,000.

Further Requirements to Obtain a Permanent Residence Permit

Additionally, to obtain a Permanent Residence Permit in Azerbaijan, applicants must meet further requirements. Therefore, to apply, they must have resided in Azerbaijan temporarily for two consecutive years and also must possess knowledge of the local language.

The Permanent Residence Permit in Azerbaijan is valid for five years and can be extended for an additional five years if relevant grounds exist.

Application Process for Obtaining and Extending a Residence Permit

The State Migration Service issues and extends residence permits in Azerbaijan. It’s important to note that foreigners can apply for a residence permit and its extension both offline and online. So, applicants who meet the criteria should just collect the necessary documents and apply accordingly. The processing time for residence permit applications typically ranges from 10 to 20 business days. At the end of the process, individuals who are granted residence permits in Azerbaijan receive a certificate commonly referred to as the Azerbaijan TRC. It is also important to note that the state fee for the one-year residence card can vary from 120 AZN to 160 AZN.

Temporary Residence Permit holders must apply for its extension at least one month before its expiry date. In turn, foreigners must apply for obtaining or extending a Permanent Residence Permit at least three months before the expiry of their current residence permit in Azerbaijan.

List of Documents Required to Apply for a Residence Permit in Azerbaijan:

To apply for and get a residence permit in Azerbaijan foreigners and stateless persons must collect and submit the following documents:

• Application form;
• Copy of passport;
• Medical certificate;
• Documents that confirm the circumstances justifying the issuance of a residence permit in Azerbaijan;
• A copy of the document granting the right to stay or reside in Azerbaijan;
• Two photos;
• A document of the residential area;
• Consent form submitted by the owner of the residential area;
• Document confirming the identity of the owner of the residential area.

Legal Services for Obtaining and Extending a Residence Permit in Azerbaijan

We hope that this blog post has given you detailed insights into the requirements, application process and grounds of issuance of residence permits. If you need professional legal assistance with obtaining and extending a residence permit in Azerbaijan, please feel free to reach out to DLB Consulting.