Multiple Immigration Law Changes Implemented

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At a Glance

Multiple immigration law changes have been effective in Azerbaijan since July 24, 2019 for Temporary Residence Permit (TRP), Permanent Residence and citizenship applications: 

• TRP holders must now register a new address within five business days of their move, down from the previous 10 business days. Applicants who fail to register their address may have their TRP cancelled or their extension refused. 
• TRP applicants now benefit from relaxed financial documentation requirements.  
• Foreign nationals must now have lived in Azerbaijan for two years without a break in order to be eligible for permanent residence. Absences of 90 days or more during any 180-day period will constitute a break in residence, whereas previously absences from Azerbaijan during the two-year period were not tracked.  
• If an Azerbaijani national’s citizenship is cancelled upon acquiring another nationality, he or she will need to leave Azerbaijan or apply for a TRP, whereas previously this was not required.  

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The situation

Widespread changes to immigration and nationality law in Azerbaijan have been implemented touching on Temporary Residence Permit (TPR), work permit, permanent residence and citizenship rules.  

A closer look

 

Background

The changes are part of a wider reform to Azerbaijani immigration law, which will also implement visa-free travel with Turkey for stays of up to 30 days for business, personal and tourist purposes and introduce expedited visa processing options. Changes to immigration law in recent years have attempted to streamline the visa application process by introducing visa exemptions and easing document requirements, however the eligibility requirements and enforcement measures have become stricter.  

Looking ahead

If the number of foreign nationals entering Azerbaijan continues to rise, Fragomen expects further efforts to streamline the application process to continue, though scrutiny and restrictions are also likely to continue as a counterbalance to ensure that migration to the country remains documented and controlled.  

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].