Visa For Azerbaijan

[RSDonovan]

Hi

I will be visiting Georgia in September and would like to spend a couple of days in Baku before the tour begins.

I see that Azerbaijan airlines run 3 flights a week from LHR to Baku, and there is also a direct flight from Baku to Tbilisi, where the Georgia tour starts.

I went on the Azerbaijan website to sort out visa requirements and the first site I went to mentioned taking your passport and leaving it at the Azerbaijan embassy in London, two proofs of address and a letter of introduction "personally signed" by the management of your intended Accommodation. This site was https://www.visaforazerbaijan.org.uk/ and seemed very official and long-winded.

Then I saw a link to another site, called https://www.visaforazerbaijan.org.uk/ which looked equally official but a lot less red tape and claiming to issue e-visas in three days for $23, as an A4 form with a bar code.

Obviously I'd prefer the second option but I don't want to be refused entry at Baku airport so I was wondering if anyone who's been there ha used these options and can say if they are both equally effective.

I'm only after a tourist visa to Baku for a duration of 2 or 3 days.


SUPPLIMENTARY QUESTION: I believe that UK citizens an get on-the-spot tourist visas at Tbilisi airport- can anyone confirm that?

Thanks in advance

[Buenchico]

You've posted the same link twice. However it's the correct one anyway. Here's the website of the Azerbaijani Embassy in London:
http://london.mfa.gov.az/
(See the information under 'Consular Service and Visa')

There is nothing on the Embassy's website (nor on that of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/azerbaijan/entry-requirements ) to suggest that you can obtain a visa at Tbilisi airport.

[Buenchico]

Oops!

Sorry about that last bit. I should have realised that your reference to Tbilisi related to your travel to Georgia, and not to Azerbaijan! I obviously need to brush up on my geography!

From the FCO again:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/georgia/entry-requirements
and from the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
https://www.geoconsul.gov.ge/HtmlPage/Html/View?id=956&lang=Eng
(Don't be concerned that 'United Kingdom' isn't in the alphabetical list there. It's actually included right at the start of the list, under 'EU States')

[jno]

you don't need a visa for Georgia, if that's what your supplementary question is about.

[RSDonovan]

Thanks both, very useful! As a further supplementary I've just been told that Azerbaijan and Armenia are not on good terms (to put it mildly!) and am now concerned if having an Armenian stamp in my passport could cause trouble entering Azerbaijan!!!

[Buenchico]

>>> I've just been told that Azerbaijan and Armenia are not on good terms (to put it mildly!) . . .

Yes, that sums it up quite well!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Nagorno-Karabakh_clashes

However I doubt that the situation regarding having Armenian visa stamps in your passport has changed since 2008:
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g293934-i9347-k2185284-Problems_entering_Azerbaijan_with_Armenian_stamp-Baku_Absheron_Region.html

Wikipedia only refers to Armenian citizens (and citizens of other countries who're of Armenian descent) being barred from entry:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Azerbaijan

Further, if there was likely to be a problem for UK citizens such information would normally appear on the FCO website. So I reckon that you'll be OK.

[jno]

if you've been to Nagorno-Karabakh, best not tell anyone at all about it. Though I don't think they stamp passports there, or at least they didn't when I went there 15 years ago.