Azerbaijan operates an electronic visa system called ASAN Visa. Citizens of 93 countries can apply online at evisa.gov.az. Processing takes three business days for standard applications. The tourist e-visa costs 23 USD for single entry valid 30 days, 50 USD for multiple entry valid 90 days. Citizens of Turkey, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan enter visa-free for 90 days. Citizens of Israel, Malaysia, South Korea, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia receive visa-free entry for 30 days. Citizens of China, Hong Kong, and Japan receive simplified visas on arrival at Heydar Aliyev International Airport.
Passport validity must extend six months beyond the entry date. Visitors arriving from Armenia or passing through Armenian-controlled Nagorno-Karabakh territory face entry denial due to the territorial conflict. Land borders with Armenia remain closed. The land border with Iran at Astara accepts visa holders and citizens of visa-exempt countries. The border with Georgia at Red Bridge and Russia at Samur process international travelers. All arrivals require confirmation of accommodation and sufficient funds, though enforcement varies. Extensions require application at the State Migration Service office in Baku at least five days before visa expiration.
Heydar Aliyev International Airport sits 20 kilometers northeast of central Baku. The airport serves as the hub for Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), the national carrier. Direct flights connect to Moscow, Istanbul, Dubai, London, Frankfurt, Paris, and Tel Aviv. Low-cost carrier Wizz Air operates routes to several European cities from a second base in Abu Dhabi. Turkish Airlines maintains multiple daily connections through Istanbul. The airport opened a new terminal in 2014 with capacity for 6 million passengers annually.
The airport express bus number 116 runs to the 28 May metro station every 30 minutes from 6:00 to 24:00, fare 1.30 AZN. Journey time reaches 50 minutes depending on traffic. Purple city buses numbered H1 also serve the airport for 0.60 AZN but operate less frequently. Official taxi booths inside the terminal quote 25 to 30 AZN to central Baku. Ride-hailing application Bolt operates at lower rates, typically 10 to 15 AZN to the city center. The airport offers 24-hour currency exchange at rates 3 to 5 percent below city center rates. SIM card vendors operate near the arrival hall exit.
Ganja International Airport serves western Azerbaijan with limited domestic flights and seasonal international routes to Moscow and Istanbul. Lankaran International Airport in the south maintains infrequent connections to Baku and seasonal Russian destinations. Nakhchivan International Airport serves the exclave with flights to Baku, Istanbul, and several Middle Eastern cities. All airports require passengers to show printed boarding passes and identification before entering terminal buildings.
The Azerbaijani manat (AZN) divides into 100 qəpik. The currency was redenominated in 2006 at a rate of 5,000 old manats to 1 new manat. The exchange rate floats but the Central Bank intervenes to maintain stability. As of 2024, 1 USD equals approximately 1.70 AZN. The manat experienced devaluation in 2015 when oil prices collapsed, moving from 0.78 AZN per USD to 1.55 AZN, then to the current rate after a second devaluation in December 2015.
Banks open Monday through Friday 9:00 to 17:00. Major banks include Kapital Bank, Pasha Bank, YAPIKREDI, and AccessBank. ATMs accept Visa and Mastercard with widespread availability in Baku and major cities. Withdrawal limits reach 500 to 700 AZN per transaction. International ATM fees range from 1.5 to 4 percent depending on the issuing bank. Some ATMs inside bank branches offer higher withdrawal limits. Currency exchange offices called məzənnə cluster near major hotels and shopping areas. Passport presentation is required for all currency exchanges above 1,000 AZN. Exchange offices typically offer rates within 1 percent of the official Central Bank rate.
Credit cards see acceptance at hotels, large restaurants, and shopping centers in Baku but remain uncommon outside the capital. Chip-and-PIN technology is standard. American Express acceptance remains limited. Cash dominates transactions in markets, small shops, taxis, and restaurants outside tourist areas. Euros and US dollars exchange easily. Pounds sterling, Russian rubles, and Turkish lira also exchange at specialized offices. Damaged or heavily worn foreign banknotes face rejection or reduced rates.