A visa is an official document that provides a legal basis for a foreigner to enter a country, to stay temporarily here for the period of stay specified in the visa, and to leave the country by passing through border checkpoints in a prescribed manner during that period. A single-entry (ordinary) visa allows a person to enter and exit the country only once within the specified period of validity, while a multiple-entry visa allows multiple entries and exits.
The period of stay in the country specified in the visa is used during the validity period of the visa. Any visa not used during this period becomes invalid.
Obtaining a visa by the citizens of the Republic of Bulgaria visiting the Republic of Azerbaijan
Bulgarian citizens can obtain an Azerbaijani visa in 2 ways:
- Single-time electronic visa: Issued within 3 business days via the portal https://evisa.gov.az. It is a single-entry visa, obtained by applying individually for each person and paying 25 USD ($20 state fee for electronic visa, $5 service fee).
More information can be obtained from the link https://evisa.gov.az/en/information .
It is possible to apply for an urgent electronic visa on working, non-working and public holidays, and this visa is issued within 3 hours.
The Azerbaijani e-visa is a single visa, issued to facilitate the travel of foreign citizens, especially to promote tourism, and international agreements on fee exemption do not apply to this visa. Each person applying for an e-visa pays the visa fee individually.
Attention: Bulgarian citizens who need to obtain Azerbaijani visa free of charge or long-term or a multiple-entry Azerbaijani visa in accordance with the "Agreement on the Facilitation of Issuance of the Visas" signed between Azerbaijan and the European Union should apply to the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Bulgaria.
- Through the embassy: Bulgarian citizens can apply for the following types of visas based on the following invitation documents and the purpose of their visit, in accordance with the "Agreement on the Facilitation of Issuance of the Visas" signed between Azerbaijan and the European Union, as well as the Migration Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani citizens can also apply for a Bulgarian visa to the Bulgarian Embassy to Azerbaijan under the same conditions).
Note: Citizens of other countries who are permanently or temporarily residing in Bulgaria, as well as those who are temporarily residing in cases of necessity, can also prepare the relevant documents and submit them to the Embassy of Azerbaijan to Bulgaria.
Visa for personal visit
- Invitation letter - an invitation letter issued by a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan residing in the territory of Azerbaijan or a citizen of Bulgaria or another foreign country residing permanently in the territory of Azerbaijan on the basis of a certificate issued by the State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan is sent to a citizen of Bulgaria or a foreign country residing permanently or temporarily in Bulgaria. This invitation is certified by a notary in Azerbaijan and submitted to the Embassy of Azerbaijan to Bulgaria. The invitation letter indicates the date, duration of the visit, the address where the person will stay, and if the inviter will pay for the person's travel and medical expenses, the obligation to this effect is reflected in the invitation letter.
If the invited person is a Bulgarian or EU citizen, spouse, child (including adopted), parent (including guardian), grandparent or grandchild of the inviting person, he/she is exempt from the visa fee (35 euros). If the invited person is not one of these relatives of the inviting person, he/she pays the visa fee. If the invited person is a citizen of another country, he/she pays the relevant visa fee, regardless of whether he/she is a relative of the inviting person.
Attention: Foreign citizens who reside in Azerbaijan on a temporary residence, based on the certificates issued by the State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan, may issue an invitation for a personal visit only for family members residing in Bulgaria (wife (husband), child under the age of 18, disabled child over the age of 18, and dependent parent).
- visa application form ( download here )
- passport (the validity of the passport must be at least 3 months longer than the expiry date of the intended visa)
- 1 color photo (3.5x4.5 cm)
- Copy of health insurance certificate (if the inviting person does not undertake to cover medical services in his/her invitation)
- If the inviting person is a family member, documents proving this (birth or marriage certificate, etc.)
- a document confirming payment of the state fee (35 euros) for issuing a visa (if the person does not fall into the category of those who receive a visa free of charge).
Tourist visa
- visa application form ( download here )
- passport (the validity of the passport must be at least 3 months longer than the expiry date of the intended visa)
- 1 color photo (3.5x4.5 cm)
- plane ticket
- hotel reservation
- copy of health insurance certificate
- a document confirming payment of the state fee for issuing a visa (35 euros)
Business visa
- Application: A written application by an Azerbaijani company or organization, state or local government, or organizing committees of trade and industrial exhibitions, conferences and symposiums held in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan to invite Bulgarian businessmen and representatives of commercial organizations to a business event, meeting, trade and industrial exhibitions, conferences and symposiums. The person or organization preparing the application applies to the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and requests approval of the application. Based on this approved application, the Bulgarian citizen submits documents for a business visa to the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Bulgaria.
Note: Bulgarian citizens who have a document confirming their entrepreneurial activity in the Republic of Azerbaijan can apply directly to the embassy without the need for an application.
Attention: When drivers carrying out international cargo and passenger transportation services between the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Bulgaria using vehicles registered in the Republic of Bulgaria, and wishing to obtain a business visa, they shall submit a written letter from the national cargo transportation company or cargo transportation association of the Republic of Bulgaria instead of the application from the Azerbaijani companies. The letter shall indicate the purpose, route, duration and regularity of the journey.
- Copy of medical insurance certificate (if the inviting party does not assume responsibility for medical services in the application)
- visa application form ( download here )
- passport (the validity of the passport must be at least 3 months longer than the expiry date of the intended visa)
- 1 color photo (3.5x4.5 cm)
- a document confirming payment of the state fee for issuing a visa (35 euros)
Work visa
- A request (invitation) issued by state bodies of the Republic of Azerbaijan, individuals or legal entities (companies) engaged in entrepreneurial activity in the Republic of Azerbaijan to persons invited from Bulgaria to engage in paid labor activity in the Republic of Azerbaijan as an employer. The inviting organization must first submit the request document to the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and after this request is approved, the invited person must apply to the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Bulgaria with the documents.
- visa application form ( download here )
- passport (the validity of the passport must be at least 3 months longer than the expiry date of the intended visa)
- 1 color photo (3.5x4.5 cm)
- a document confirming payment of the state fee for issuing a visa (35 euros)
Visa for official grounds
- Note of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria : Issued for the purpose of obtaining a visa for members of official Bulgarian delegations, including permanent members of such delegations, who will participate in official meetings, negotiations or exchange programs organized in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as events organized by intergovernmental organizations. The note indicates the purpose of the visit, date, duration of stay, names and positions of the delegation.
- visa application form ( download here )
- passport (the validity of the passport must be at least 3 months longer than the expiry date of the intended visa)
- 1 color photo (3.5x4.5 cm)
Visa for scientific or educational grounds
- The following invitation documents are generally submitted for visas for scientific or educational purposes :
- For pupils, students, doctoral candidates and accompanying teachers traveling from Bulgaria to Azerbaijan, for training or educational courses, including exchange programs, as well as for school-related activities, as well as for participation in scientific events, a written application (petition) from the receiving university, academy, institute, college or school from Azerbaijan, as well as a scientific organization;
- For specialists from Bulgaria participating in international exhibitions, conferences, symposiums, seminars and other similar events held in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan - a written application (petition) from the host organization of Azerbaijan confirming the participation of the person in question in that event;
Note: The inviting organization must submit a petition to the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan in this regard. After this petition is approved, the invited person must apply to the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Bulgaria with the documents.
- Bank account document confirming that the applicant has sufficient financial resources to cover the costs of education and living in the Republic of Azerbaijan (if the education of a citizen of Bulgaria or another country in the Republic of Azerbaijan is not financed by the country of citizenship or permanent residence)
- visa application form ( download here )
- passport (the validity of the passport must be at least 3 months longer than the expiry date of the intended visa)
- 1 color photo (3.5x4.5 cm)
Visa for cultural and sports grounds
- The following invitation documents are generally submitted for cultural and sports visas:
- Written request (petition) from the host organization in Azerbaijan regarding the participation of Bulgarian participants in cultural and artistic events, including university and other exchange programs.
- For journalists from Bulgaria and their professional accompanying technical team, a letter, certificate or other document issued by the professional organization or the applicant's employer, proving that the person in question is a qualified journalist and that the purpose of the trip is to perform journalistic work, or proving that he or she is a member of the technical team professionally accompanying the journalist.
Note: According to Azerbaijani legislation, foreign journalists must be accredited in advance by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan in order to carry out their professional activities ( information here ).
- For participants in international sports events from Bulgaria and persons accompanying them on a professional level, a written application (petition) from the host organization of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as from the competent authorities of Azerbaijan or Bulgaria, or from national sports federations or national Olympic committees
- For participants from Bulgaria in official exchange programs organized by sister cities in Azerbaijan – written application (petition) from the heads of executive authorities/mayors of those sister cities in Azerbaijan
- For representatives of Bulgarian civil society organizations traveling to Azerbaijan to participate in training courses, seminars and conferences, including exchange programs, a written application (petition) from the host organization in Azerbaijan, a document confirming that the person represents a civil society organization and an extract from the state register of registration of this organization in Bulgaria
Note: The inviting organization must submit a petition to the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan in this regard . After this petition is approved, the invited person must apply to the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Bulgaria with the documents.
- visa application form ( download here )
- passport (the validity of the passport must be at least 3 months longer than the expiry date of the intended visa)
- 1 color photo (3.5x4.5 cm)
Visa for medical grounds
- For persons traveling from Bulgaria to Azerbaijan for medical purposes and persons accompanying them, if necessary, an official document (request) from an Azerbaijani medical institution confirming the need for medical treatment in this institution and the need for accompaniment.
Note: The receiving medical institution must submit a petition to the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan in this regard, and after approval, the invited person must apply to the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Bulgaria with the documents.
- a document confirming that there are sufficient financial resources to pay for medical treatment
- Medical certificate stating that the invited person has a disease that will be examined or treated
- visa application form ( download here )
- passport (the validity of the passport must be at least 3 months longer than the expiry date of the intended visa)
- 1 color photo (3.5x4.5 cm)
Visa for humanitarian grounds
- The following invitation documents are generally submitted for humanitarian visas:
- Relatives traveling from Bulgaria to Azerbaijan for funerals - an official document confirming the fact of death, as well as family or other kinship ties between the applicant and the person being buried
- For visiting military and civilian cemeteries in Azerbaijan from Bulgaria - an official document confirming the existence and maintenance of the grave, as well as family or other kinship ties between the applicant and the buried person
- Written request (petition) to the state bodies of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as organizations operating in the humanitarian field, to invite relevant persons from Bulgaria to engage in humanitarian activities in Azerbaijan, hold humanitarian events or participate in such events as the receiving party.
Note: The inviting state body or organization must submit a petition to the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan in this regard. After the petition is approved, the invited person must apply to the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Bulgaria with the documents.
- visa application form ( download here )
- passport (the validity of the passport must be at least 3 months longer than the expiry date of the intended visa)
- 1 color photo (3.5x4.5 cm)
Attention: In order to obtain a visa for Bulgarian citizens under the age of 18, who are passport holders and are not traveling with a parent or legal representative, in addition to the above-mentioned documents, a notarized copy of the birth certificate, permission from the parents or legal representative, and copies of their identity documents are also required.
Visa state fee
According to the agreement on visa facilitation signed between Azerbaijan and the EU, Bulgarian citizens, as well as citizens of other EU countries residing in Bulgaria, pay a fee of 35 euros when applying for a visa at the Embassy of Azerbaijan to Bulgaria. According to the agreement, the fee charged by external companies or individuals providing visa services should be proportionate to the costs and should not exceed 30 euros. Citizens should have the opportunity to submit their applications directly to the consular departments of the embassy.
The fee is paid to the following bank account of the Embassy of Azerbaijan to Bulgaria:
BANK: FIBANK
IBAN No.: BG83FINV91501004553912
The following categories of citizens of Bulgaria and other EU countries are exempt from visa fees:
- Close relatives of citizens of the Republic of Bulgaria legally residing in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan or citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan residing in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan - husband or wife, children (including adopted children), parents (including guardians), grandparents and grandchildren
- members of official delegations, including permanent members
- pupils, students, doctoral candidates and accompanying teachers traveling for educational purposes
- disabled persons and, if necessary, persons accompanying them
- participants in international sporting events and persons accompanying them on a professional level
- persons participating in scientific, cultural and artistic events
- Persons who provide documents proving the necessity of their travel on humanitarian grounds, including to receive emergency medical treatment, or to attend the funeral of a relative, or to visit a seriously ill close relative, and those accompanying such persons
- representatives of civil society organizations (NGOs) traveling for exchange programs, training courses, seminars, conferences
- pensioners
- Children under 12 years old
- journalists and the technical staff accompanying them on a professional level
Rates of state fees charged from citizens of relevant countries for the issuance of entry visas to the Republic of Azerbaijan