Work continues towards simplifying the visa regime to facilitate easier travel for Azerbaijani citizens to and from foreign countries.
Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov stated this last week at a press conference dedicated to the outcomes of 2025.
The Minister noted that as a result of negotiations conducted on a reciprocal basis, the number of countries applying a visa-free regime for Azerbaijani citizens is increasing. Currently, negotiations are underway with 5 countries regarding visa exemption for holders of ordinary passports.
Modern.az-a açıqlamasında turizm eksperti Rahman Guliyev noted that in recent years, the Azerbaijani passport has not only strengthened its position in international rankings but also rapidly expanded its geographical reach.
“It is now possible to travel comfortably to almost all major countries in Asia, either visa-free or through an “easy visa” mechanism. The abolition of the reciprocal visa regime with a large and strategically important country like China is considered a significant advancement in this area.
At the same time, opportunities exist for Azerbaijani citizens to obtain visas on arrival or e-visas for Doha, Dubai, Central Asian countries, and other Asian states. This not only simplifies the travel process but also creates conditions for further intensification of mutual tourism and economic relations”.
The expert added that Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, is also one of the most popular destinations for Azerbaijani tourists:
“Although a visa is required for travel to Cairo, this procedure is carried out based on simple and accessible rules. Overall, the process of obtaining visas for Azerbaijani citizens to many countries around the world has become significantly easier compared to previous years.
However, the visa regime with European countries, the USA, Canada, and Great Britain still remains relatively strict. Yet, there is a serious need to simplify European visas to further expand trade relations and tourist exchange. In particular, easing the visa regime with Great Britain could positively impact the activities of both small and medium-sized enterprises and representatives of large businesses”.
R. Guliyev also emphasized that taking steps towards improving visa procedures with European countries and Great Britain would be expedient for both sides:
“This would create conditions for an increase in the number of tourists coming to Azerbaijan from Europe, as well as for the expansion of business and travel opportunities for Azerbaijani citizens.
As a result of the successful and balanced foreign policy pursued by the country's leadership, Azerbaijan's international prestige is growing year by year. This factor suggests that within the next 10 years, the Azerbaijani passport could rank among the world's strongest passports – in the top ten. Azerbaijan's influence on the international stage and its recognition as a reliable partner also indicate the realism of this goal”, the expert noted.
It should be noted that in recent years, visa-free travel has been implemented for citizens holding ordinary passports to Albania, Serbia, UAE, Qatar, Morocco, and China.
