Azerbaijan: entry and exit regulations
Formalities, visas
German, Swiss and Austrian citizens need a passport that is valid for the duration of their stay and a visa to enter the country. Travelers whose passports contain “Nagorno-Karabakh” visas will be refused entry to Azerbaijan. If you stay longer than 30 days, you have to register with the registration department of the local police authority.
The border between Armenia and Azerbaijan is closed and a border crossing to Russia is also not possible for foreigners who are not citizens of one of the CIS countries.
Issuing of visas in Germany
Visa Department of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Axel-Springer-Strasse 54
D-10117 Berlin
Tel.: 0049 – (0) 30 – 20 64 80 63
Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 21 91 61 52
Email: office@azembassy.de
Internet: www.botschaft-aserbaidschan.de
Issuing of visas in Austria and Switzerland
See under Agencies of Azerbaijan in Austria (LINK) and Switzerland (LINK)
Import and export of foreign currency and goods
National currency
The import and export of the local currency is prohibited.
Foreign currency
The import of foreign currencies is permitted without restrictions and must be declared upon entry. The export is allowed up to a maximum of the stated imported amount.
Import and export of goods
The following items can be imported into Azerbaijan duty-free: 1,000 cigarettes or 1 kg of other tobacco products, 1.5 liters of spirits and 2 liters of wine (for people aged 16 and over) as well as perfume for personal use and gifts up to a value of US $ 10,000.
There is a ban on imports of weapons, ammunition, drugs, live animals (special permit required), anti-subversive propaganda material and fruit and vegetables.
Some goods are subject to export restrictions. A maximum of 125g of caviar, 3 liters of alcoholic beverages and 3 cartons of cigarettes are allowed. A permit from the Ministry of Culture is required for gold, antiques and art objects.
The export of weapons, ammunition and precious metals from Azerbaijan is prohibited.
Aderbaijan: travel medicine, vaccinations and warnings
Infectious Diseases
In Aderbaijan, the following infectious diseases, which are rarely or rarely widespread in Germany or Central and Northern Europe, are to be expected:
- Malaria, especially between May and November, is a nationwide risk of malaria. About 95-98% of infections are due to tertian malaria, the rest to the very dangerous tropical malaria. However, there is no risk of malaria infection in areas above 2,000 m.
- Cholera, an infection risk only exists for travelers who come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
- Intestinal infections, through contaminated food or contaminated water, including amoebas, lamblia, salmonella, shigella, worm infestation and all kinds of viruses and bacteria.
- Hepatitis A and B
- Polio, polio
- Leishmaniasis
- tetanus
- rabies
- Typhoid, an infection risk only exists for travelers who come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food.
- Tick bite fever
Vaccination recommendations
When traveling to Azarbaijan, the following vaccinations recommended:
- Cholera, in travelers who may come into contact with polluted water or food.
- Diphtheria, a vaccination against diphtheria should always exist, also in the home country
- Hepatitis A and B, vaccination against hepatitis B, is only required for those who may come into contact with blood. Hepatitis B is also transmitted through sexual contact.
- Polio, polio
- Tetanus, a vaccination against tetanus, should always exist, also in the home country
- Rabies, only in high-risk travelers who can come into contact with the vector animals.
- Typhoid, only in travelers who may come into contact with polluted water or contaminated food
Malaria prophylaxis
When traveling in the country it is advisable to undergo malaria prophylaxis. However, if the side effects seem questionable to you, you should at least have a “stand-by preparation” with you.
Compulsory vaccination
There is a compulsory vaccination against yellow fever for all persons who are older than one year and who come from a yellow fever infection area designated by the WHO.
Who pays for vaccinations in Germany?
Most children in Germany are vaccinated against a number of infectious diseases at an early age. However, the vaccination protection only lasts up to 10 years, in some cases even shorter. Therefore, before traveling abroad, you should carefully consider against which infectious diseases a vaccination is necessary or useful in the country concerned and whether the vaccination protection, if applicable, was not too long ago.
Most statutory health insurances have been reimbursing the costs for the following vaccinations since June 2007.
There is even no 10 € practice fee – but the insured usually have to pay the statutory additional payment, which is 10% of the vaccine price – that is at least 5 € and a maximum of 10 €. Under these conditions, the following vaccinations are free of charge:
- cholera
- diphtheria
- Early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE)
- Yellow fever
- Hepatitis A and B
- Meningococcal meningitis
- Pneumococci
- Polyo (polio)
- Tetanus (tetanus)
- rabies
- typhus
Some health insurance companies also reimburse the cost of malaria prophylaxis.
As a rule, private health insurance companies (inquire beforehand) also cover the costs mentioned.
Warning notices
Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany
Citizens’ Service
Telephone: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 2000
Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 5000 – 51000
www.auswaertiges-amt.de
Azerbaijan: Transportation
How to get to Azerbaijan
Flying
The country’s international airport is located near Baku. Flights from Europe to Baku go via Kiev, Moscow, St. Petersburg or Istanbul.
Ferries
Passenger ferries across the Caspian Sea operate between Baku and Krasnovodsk in Turkmenistan and the Iranian port cities of Bandar Anzali and Bandar Nowshar.
Rail
There are rail connections to Tbilisi in Georgia and Makhachkala in the Russian Federation. Another train route runs from the Nakhichevan exclave in Armenia to Tabriz in Iran. However, traveling by train is not recommended in Azerbaijan.
Vehicle
Long-distance routes lead from Azerbaijan to Iran, Georgia and the Russian Federation. Public long-distance bus connections exist between Baku and Tehran, Tbilisi and Derbent in the Russian Federation.
Travel in the country
Railroad
The country’s route network covers around 3,000 km. The use of the trains is not recommended, however, and robberies are said to occur.
Rental car
There are branches of international car rental companies in Baku. An international driver’s license is required.
Taxis
It is advisable to only use licensed taxis with the official “Taxi” sign.
Streets
The total road network covers around 57,800 km, 13,700 of which are paved. Much of the roads are in poor condition.
Blood alcohol limit
The official alcohol limit in Azerbaijan for drivers of motor vehicles is 0.0.
International license plate
The international license plate of Azerbaijan is:
| AZ |
Azerbaijan: currency, exchange rate and shopping
Currency, bank opening hours
The national currency of Azerbaijan is the manat
1 new manat = 100 Gyapik
The following banknotes are valid and in circulation in the country:
1
5
10
20th
50
100 AM.
Exchange rate
You can find a currency converter here:
www.3forium.de
Bank opening times
The country’s banks are open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Shop
Shop opening times
Shops in Azerbaijan are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Cheap or country-specific goods, souvenirs
Tourists like to buy carpets, silk goods and ceramics in Azerbaijan.
Goods manufactured before 1960 must be taxed and can only be exported with a permit from the Ministry of Culture.
Azerbaijan: embassies, consulates
Representations of Azerbaijan in Germany
The embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan is located at Hubertusallee 43 in the Grunewald district in Berlin’s Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf district. The building is a two-story “white” villa with a representative exterior.
The building is located between Halensee (A100 motorway) and the Roseneck on Clayallee/Hohenzollerndamm.
Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Berlin
Hubertusallee 43
14193 Berlin
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 219 16 13
Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 21 91 61 52
E-Mail: office@azembassy.de
www.botschaft-azerbaidschan. de
Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Kriegsbergstrasse 32
10774 Stuttgart
Tel: 0049 – (0) 711 – 12 84 85 19
Fax: 0049 – (0) 711 – 12 84 83 00
E-Mail: info@otto-hauser.com
Tourist office
AVIAREPS Tourism GmbH
Josephspitalstrasse 15
80331 Munich
Tel.: 0049 – (0) 89 – 55 25 33 411
E-mail: azerbaidschan@aviareps.com
German representations in Azerbaijan
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Baku
ISR Plaza, Nizami Str. 69
1000 Baku
Tel.: 00994 – (0) 12 – 465 41 00
Fax: 00994 – (0) 12 – 498 54 19
E-Mail: info@baku.diplo. de
Web: http://www.baku.diplo.de
Austrian representation in Azerbaijan
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Austria in Baku
Landmark III, 7th floor, Nizami Str.90A
1010 Baku
Tel: 00994 – 12 465 99 33
Fax: 00994 – 12 465 99 94
E-Mail: baku-ob@bmeia.gv.at
Representation of Azerbaijan in Austria
Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Vienna
Hügelgasse 2
1130 Vienna
Tel: 0043 – (0) 1 – 403 13 22
Fax: 0043 – (0) 1 – 403 13 23
E-Mail: vienna@mission.mfa.gov.az
Swiss representation in Azerbaijan
Swiss Embassy in Baku
Icheri Sheher (Old City), Böyük Qala Street, N ° 9
1004 Baku
Tel: 00994 – 12 437 38 50
00994 – 12 437 38 55
Fax: 00994 – 12 437 38 51
00 994 – 12 437 38 56
E- Mail: baku.vertretung@eda.admin.ch
Web: www.eda.admin.ch/baku
The Swiss embassy in Azerbaijan is still responsible for Turkmenistan
Representation of Azerbaijan in Switzerland
Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Bern
Dalmaziquai 27
3005 Bern
Tel: 0041 – (0) 31 – 350 50 40
Fax: 0041 – (0) 31 – 350 50 41
Email: bern@mission.mfa.gov.az
Web: www.azembassy.ch
