Is a Work Permit Needed in Azerbaijan?
In Azerbaijan, a work permit is required to ensure that the employment of foreign nationals complies with the country’s labor and immigration regulations. This requirement is crucial for protecting the local labor market and prioritizing employment opportunities for Azerbaijani citizens. By mandating work permits, the Azerbaijani government can ensure that foreign workers are only brought in to fill positions that demand specific skills and expertise not readily available within the local workforce.
The work permit system in Azerbaijan allows the government to effectively monitor and regulate the number of foreign workers in the country. This regulation helps maintain a balanced labor market, ensuring that foreign workers contribute positively to the national economy through taxes and social security payments. The process involves thorough security checks and the verification of qualifications, which helps to uphold national security and ensure that foreign workers possess the necessary professional standards required for their roles.
Moreover, the requirement for a work permit guarantees that foreign workers are employed under fair and lawful conditions, protected by Azerbaijani labor laws. This protection is essential for preventing exploitation and abuse, ensuring that foreign workers receive appropriate wages, working conditions, and benefits. The work permit system also integrates foreign workers into the national social security system, ensuring that they contribute to and benefit from public funds.
Overall, the work permit system in Azerbaijan supports the country’s economic stability and growth by ensuring that foreign workers are employed legally and ethically. This approach helps balance the need for foreign expertise with the protection of local employment opportunities, contributing to a stable and well-regulated labor market.
About the Azerbaijan Job Market
Azerbaijan has a growing economy thanks to its rich oil and gas reserves welcoming foreign investments. Apart from the oil and gas industry, the labor force in Azerbaijan is divided into the service industry, agriculture, and forestry. Thanks to its rich natural resource wealth, the country is slowly seeing an influx of foreign employees.
Number of Expats:
> 280,000
Expats Job Websites:
Popular Industries for Expats:
Oil, Gas & Energy, Agriculture, Construction, Steel, Cotton, Machinery
Types of Azerbaijan Work Visa Available
An employer’s responsibility is to apply for the Azerbaijan work permit visa on behalf of their employee. Thus, it becomes imperative to understand the different types of Azerbaijan visas that are available. Azerbaijan immigration requires every foreign national entering the country to have an entry visa.
The Azerbaijan entry visas are further divided into several categories depending on the purpose of visit as under:
Tourist Visa
This visa is issued to foreigners seeking entry into Azerbaijan for short-term tourism purposes. It cannot be extended.
Business Visa
This visa is issued to foreigners who enter the country aiming to establish business relations. It applies to individual entrepreneurs and representatives of foreign legal entities conducting business here. It is typically issued for three or six-month periods.
Science/Education Visa
This visa is issued specifically for people entering the country to carry out scientific activities, participate in research programs, or attend conferences/ seminars and other such scientific events of importance. It is also applicable to students coming to the Republic of Azerbaijan to enroll in educational institutions.
Employment Visa
Also called the labor visa, this is the Azerbaijan work permit. It is used for people who intend to carry out paid labor activity in the country. This visa is only issued upon invitation by an employer holding a local entity in Azerbaijan.
Besides these work-related visas, Azerbaijan also has a general transit visa, tourism visa, diplomatic visa, and personal visa. The Republic of Azerbaijan State Migration Service also provides an e-visa, which is a convenient way of applying for visas online.
Requirements for an Azerbaijan Work Permit by Employers
It is an employer’s responsibility to issue the Azerbaijan work permit for their foreign employees. But before hiring a foreign employee, you must do the following:
- Provide evidence to the State Migration Service that the employee is at least 18 years old
- Proof that local employees cannot fill the said position
- Reference for the necessity of recruiting a foreign expert
- Documents about your company’s identity
Employers must collect all the relevant documents from their prospective employee(s) and proceed with the Azerbaijan work visa application process.
Requirements for an Azerbaijan Work Permit by Employees
In addition to the above documents, an employer needs some more documents from their employee to apply for their Azerbaijan work permit. The list of documents required by employees include:
- Completed application form
- Valid passport
- Recent photographs
- Work experience for at least five years
- Notarized documents supporting professional qualifications
- Document entitling their stay in the Republic of Azerbaijan
- Identity document providing details of their citizenship, workplace address, job profile, etc.
- Health certificate confirming that they are in good health and not bearing any contagious diseases
Azerbaijan Work Permit Application Process
The employer begins the process of getting an Azerbaijan work permit.
- Gather all the necessary documents from your end and your employee.
- Submit all the documents along with the duly filled application form to the State Migration Service.
- Pay the Azerbaijan work visa fees.
Timeframe for Work Permit Application
The processing time for the Azerbaijan work permit is approximately 30 days. In some cases, it could take longer, depending on the purpose of the visit. If you’re applying for an eVisa, the processing time is usually faster. However, in case the application gets rejected, the applicant will receive written notification within five days.
Azerbaijan Work Permit Fees
The Azerbaijan work visa fees vary according to the duration of the work permits. The below table lists Azerbaijan work visa fees:
How Multiplier Helps with Work Permits
As a global EOR solution, Multiplier helps organizations onboard and manage employees across the globe. With a local presence in over 150 countries, we efficiently provide end-to-end HR solutions.
You can partner with Multiplier to ease the process of making an Azerbaijan work visa. Let our team of in-house experts take care of the rest. From documentation to costs, we will keep you informed at all points from the beginning to the end.