Azerbaijan Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in azerbaijan, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Business Customs

A premium is placed on face-to-face contact and close business relations in Azerbaijan. Business takes time, patience, and often depends on personal relationships. Companies interested in entering the market should expect to spend a considerable amount of time building trust and might want to consider hiring a local representative. Delays in communication are common and should not be taken as an immediate sign that a potential partner is not interested.  

Azerbaijanis tend to be very polite and hospitable but can appear to U.S. businessmen as vague and noncommittal in business transactions. Embassy Baku’s Commercial Unit can facilitate communication with potential partners.  Requests for meetings with government officials can take time to confirm and might only be finalized at the last moment. English is spoken by many in the business community, but Russian is more prevalent. If possible, consider printing company materials and business cards in Azerbaijani or Russian. Baku is a cosmopolitan city and western business attire is appropriate.  

Travel Advisory

The State Department issues Travel Advisories when warranted by local conditions. If you are traveling to Azerbaijan, please refer to https://travel.state.gov for Azerbaijan-specific information. This site is updated regularly and contains important information for travelers regarding security and safety, health, visa and immigration regulations, and general travel information about Azerbaijan.

Visa Requirements

A valid passport and visa are required to enter Azerbaijan. The visa application fee for a single-entry e-Visa is $25. The application fee for a multiple entry visa is $350 and there is an additional courier fee. Single-entry visas are available without a letter of invitation, but a multiple entry visa is only issued with an invitation from a company in Azerbaijan which has submitted their invitation for approval to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Travelers to Azerbaijan must register with the State Migration Service after arrival if they intend to stay more than 15 days in the country. Major hotels in Baku will generally assist guests with registration. Those staying in private homes or lesser-known hotels will have to register themselves. Registration is the traveler’s responsibility and failure to register can result in a fine of up to $235 (AZN 400), which must be paid before being allowed to depart Azerbaijan. Registration may be done in person, at an ASAN e-government service center, or online at State Migration Service.

Outside the United States, visas may be obtained online or from any Azerbaijani embassy or consulate. For additional information on visa requirements, contact the Azerbaijani Embassy in Washington:

  • Embassy of the Azerbaijan Republic
    2741 34th Street NW
    Washington, DC 20008
    Telephone (202) 337-5912
    Fax (202) 337-5913
    Website: https://washington.mfa.gov.az/en
  • Azerbaijan Electronic Visa Portal:  https://evisa.gov.az/en/State Migration Service: https://migration.gov.az/en/oyq
     

Potential visitors to the United States are urged to apply for a visa well in advance of their intended travel.  U.S. companies that require travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States should be advised that security evaluations are handled via an interagency process.  Visa applicants should go to the following links:

Currency

The national currency of Azerbaijan is the manat. Credit and debit cards are accepted at most major hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and mid-range shops in Baku, but the economy is still overwhelmingly cash based. Foreign credit cards are not universally accepted, but most ATMs, particularly in Baku, accept U.S. ATM cards.

Telecommunications/Electronics

The telephone system in Baku is generally reliable.  International calls can be completed but are expensive. Cellular communication and roaming for U.S. cell phone services are available. E-mail and full internet service are available via local internet providers and Wi-Fi is readily available in many Baku hotels. 

Electricity is supplied at 220V 50Hz, with European standard sockets. U.S. citizens should acquire an adapter and/or transformer for these outlets if they plan to use U.S. electrical equipment here.

Transportation

Subway:  There is a functioning, but limited, subway system in Baku. It is an inexpensive and quick way to navigate the city, although its stations are not always conveniently located for international travelers. 

Buses:  Buses are cheap and plentiful, but are crowded, provide limited route information, and are not always well maintained. Red city buses are generally safer than the white privately-owned buses.

Taxis: Baku’s taxi landscape is modern and effective. Heydar Aliyev International Airport operates official airport taxis managed by Baku Taxi Service LLC, bookable at the terminal booth or via the Call Center. Within the city, Bolt and Uber remain popular, offering competitive fares and convenient app-based bookings, while traditional yellow taxis continue to operate, with passengers advised to confirm fares or use the meter. Recent regulations prohibit taxi vehicles older than eight years and require drivers to hold a 7-year certification, improving safety and service quality. Typical fares range from approximately $3-6 (AZN 5-10) for short city rides, with longer trips, including airport transfers, costing approximately $18-29 (AZN 30–50) depending on distance and time.

Car Rental:  Both Hertz and Avis offer rental vehicles with or without drivers.  If you are considering bringing a vehicle with you from overseas, a 4X4 is recommended given the poor, but improving, road conditions throughout the country and in some parts of Baku. 

Air:  Baku’s air connectivity grew rapidly in 2025, making the city an increasingly important hub between Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Azerbaijan Airlines and leading international carriers such as Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, and Qatar Airways provide extensive routes, while low-cost operator Wizz Air maintains direct services to Rome, Budapest, and Abu Dhabi. This year, Azerbaijan Airlines added new flights to Barcelona and Vienna. There are also expanded regional links: Air Astana connects Atyrau with Baku, Centrum Air flies to Tashkent, Pegasus Airlines offers service to Dalaman, Flynas to Dammam, and Aegean Airlines has restored its route to Athens. Together, these additions position Baku as a gateway for both business and leisure travel.

Language:  Business can be conducted in Azerbaijani, Turkish, English, or Russian, with English becoming increasingly prevalent.  However, business travelers should be prepared to hire an interpreter for $200-250 per day, depending on experience. Outside Baku, most of the population speaks only Azerbaijani.

Health

The healthcare system in Azerbaijan often is unable to provide the level of medical care common in the United States.  U.S. visitors should ensure all immunizations and vaccinations are up to date before arriving in Azerbaijan. There are some clinics that offer a higher standard of medical care, including International SOS Clinic, the Turkish-American Medical Clinic, and MediClub. World Med Clinic (American Implant Center), a U.S.-Azerbaijani joint venture, provides U.S.-standard dental care.  However, major medical emergencies require a medical evacuation.  All U.S. travelers should ensure that they have up-to-date medical evacuation insurance to cover potential evacuation costs that can exceed $70,000 for transportation alone.

Local Time, Business Hours, and Holidays

Azerbaijan does not observe Daylight Savings Time. Therefore, Azerbaijan is eight hours ahead of Eastern -Standard Time during daylight savings time in the United States and nine hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time when daylight savings is not being observed. The Government of Azerbaijan does not restrict business hours.  In general, businesses are open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

Many business and government offices also keep Saturday hours.  Hours may             vary considerably depending on the preference of the individual businessperson. Business appointments are rarely made before 10:00 a.m. Lunch is generally taken from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.  The U.S. Embassy is closed for U.S. holidays as well as several Azerbaijani holidays or commemorations. A complete list of these holiday closures is available at https://az.usembassy.gov/events/. A complete list of official Azerbaijani holidays and commemorations is published by the President’s office.

Temporary Entry of Materials and Personal Belongings

Personal items, tools of trade, and business samples can usually be imported with little difficulty. Foreign currency can be brought into the country but must be declared.  Visitors are allowed to take the same amount of currency out of the country as was shown on the declaration form upon entering the country. Camera equipment must be declared upon arrival. All visitors should retain their customs declaration form until departure from the country.

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

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