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Baku bay and city skyline seen from the hillside funicular
Baku bay and city skyline seen from the hillside funicularPhoto: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Moving to Azerbaijan

13 ways to move to Azerbaijan in our guide: 1 talent scheme, 4 investor routes, 2 business / startup routes, 3 work visas, 1 student visa, 2 spouse visas.

No digital nomad visa. Smallest investment: Residence · AZN 100k bonds, AZN 100k+ ≈ $59k. Checked against official sources on .

Smallest investment neededAZN 100k+ ≈ $59kResidence · AZN 100k bonds
Longest first stay3 yearsHighly skilled migrant (points)

Azerbaijan offers a set of residence routes built around investment, business, work and study. The rules are set out in the Migration Code, and most temporary residence permits are handled by the State Migration Service through ASAN Service centres, regional migration departments or electronically.

People who can place funds in an Azerbaijani bank deposit, property, government securities or a broader investmentFounders and heads of foreign-invested companies or foreign company branchesEntrepreneurs who will run a business and employ a local workforceSpecialists invited by an Azerbaijani authority, enterprise or organisationStudents enrolling full-time in Azerbaijani education
Quick match

Talent schemes · 1

Investing · 4

Business / Startup · 2

Work · 3

Student · 1

Spouse visas · 2

For people married to, or in a partnership with, a citizen or permanent resident.

Tax

Nothing in the records states how foreign-source income is treated for new arrivals, so that point should be checked separately. Tax and residence are separate questions.

Special regime

Simplified tax for small businesses and sole entrepreneurs

2% tax

Details
  • On: Gross revenue from goods, works and services plus non-sales income
  • Limit: AZN 200k/yr ≈ $118k

2% simplified tax on gross revenue for persons not registered for VAT whose taxable turnover is AZN 200,000 (≈ $118,000) or less in any consecutive 12 months; traders and caterers above that level may also use the system at 6% (trade) or 8% (catering).

Taxed on

Gross revenue from goods, works and services plus non-sales income.

Who it applies to

  • Person not registered for VAT with taxable operations of AZN 200,000 (≈ $118,000) or less in any month(s) of a consecutive 12-month period.
  • Persons in trade and public catering with operations above AZN 200,000 (≈ $118,000) may also be simplified-tax payers (article 218.1.2) at 6% for trade and 8% for catering.
  • Outside Baku the regional rate applies only if production space, real estate and workforce are in that region (article 220.2).

Exclusions

  • Activities listed in article 218.4 and other excluded categories in the Code are outside the regime.

Limits

  • AZN 200,000 a year (≈ $118,000) · Maximum taxable operations over any consecutive 12 months for the 2% regime

Visas

A foreigner running a business needs an entrepreneurship residence ground; this regime is a tax matter separate from the visa.

Other taxes

Personal income tax on employees, social contributions and VAT (above the threshold) apply separately. Article 220.1-1 sets a 6% rate for cashless POS payments for services to the public for 3 years from 1 January 2026.

Checked against official sources on Change log

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Standard rules

Azerbaijan personal income tax on employment income, including 2026-2028 schedule for non-oil private sector

Details
  • On: Monthly employment income (general rates, Tax Code article 101.1)
  • Limit: AZN 2,500/mo ≈ $1,470

Azerbaijan residents (more than 182 days in a 12-month period ending in the calendar year) are taxed on all income; employment income is taxed at 14% up to AZN 2,500 (≈ $1,470) a month and 25% above, while non-oil private-sector employees pay 3% up to AZN 2,500, (≈ $1,470) 10% to AZN 8,000 (≈ $4,710) and 14% above from 1 January 2026.

Taxed on

Monthly employment income (general rates, Tax Code article 101.1); residents' taxable object is all income less deductions, with a credit for tax paid abroad (articles 96.1, 127).

Who it applies to

  • Resident individual: actually present in Azerbaijan more than 182 days in any consecutive 12-month period ending in the calendar year; otherwise tested by permanent home, centre of vital interests, habitual abode, then citizenship.
  • General schedule: 14% up to AZN 2,500 (≈ $1,470); AZN 350 (≈ $210) plus 25% of the excess above AZN 2,500 (≈ $1,470).
  • Employees of non-oil-and-gas, non-state sector employers, 2026: 3% up to AZN 2,500 (≈ $1,470); AZN 75 (≈ $44) plus 10% from 2,500 to 8,000; AZN 625 (≈ $370) plus 14% above 8,000. 2027: 5% up to 2,500, 10% to 8,000, 14% above. From 2028: 7%, 10% and 14%.

Exclusions

  • The non-oil private-sector schedule replaces the earlier 0% band up to AZN 8,000 (≈ $4,710) a month that applied in years before 2026; it applies only to employers outside oil and gas and outside the state sector.

Limits

  • AZN 2,500 a month (≈ $1,470) · Upper limit of the lower band in the general schedule and the non-oil private-sector schedule
  • AZN 8,000 a month (≈ $4,710) · Upper limit of the 10% band in the non-oil private-sector schedule; 14% above

Days in the country

  • More than 182 days in any consecutive 12-month period ending in the calendar year · Resident individual

Tax residence

Non-resident individuals are taxed on Azerbaijan-source income (articles 96.3-96.4).

Visas

Tax residence follows days present and ties, not residence permit type.

Other taxes

Social insurance contributions, VAT and simplified tax are separate. Whether a given employer counts as non-oil and non-state is determined by criteria set by the competent executive authority (article 101.1-4).

Checked against official sources on Change log

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Checked against official sources on Change log

Azerbaijan in pictures

The Palace of the Shaki Khans and its gardens in Sheki
The Palace of the Shaki Khans and its gardens in ShekiPhoto: Ludvig14 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Green valleys of the Greater Caucasus in northern Azerbaijan
Green valleys of the Greater Caucasus in northern AzerbaijanPhoto: Gulustan · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Diri Baba Mausoleum set into the cliffs at Gobustan
Diri Baba Mausoleum set into the cliffs at GobustanPhoto: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
A mud volcano cone at Gobustan near the Caspian
A mud volcano cone at Gobustan near the CaspianPhoto: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

All photo credits

No digital nomad visa in Azerbaijan. Remote workers usually look at Highly skilled migrant (points), Residence · AZN 100k deposit, Residence · AZN 500k investment, or nomad visas elsewhere.
Path to permanent residence · 2
  • PR after 2 years · Permanent residence permit — company head or entrepreneur (Art. 52.1.10 and 52.1.11)
  • PR after 2 years · Permanent residence permit — investment, property or deposit grounds (Art. 52.1.2 to 52.1.5)

Arriving in Azerbaijan: first steps

  1. Register a residential address, which is required for the residence application.
  2. Obtain a certificate that you are not a carrier of the listed infectious diseases (HIV, hepatitis B and C).
  3. Apply to the State Migration Service at an ASAN Service centre, a regional migration department or electronically, before your current stay or residence period ends.
  4. If family members will join you, note that they apply on the family ground once you hold a temporary or permanent permit.

Questions people ask

What special talent visas does Azerbaijan have?

Azerbaijan has 1 talent scheme. Highly skilled migrant (points) gives a first stay of 3 years that can be renewed.

How much do you need to invest for residency in Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijan has 4 investor routes. Residence · AZN 100k deposit asks for savings of at least AZN 100,000 (≈ $58,800) and gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed. Residence · AZN 500k investment asks for an investment of at least AZN 500,000 (≈ $294,000) and gives a first stay of 3 years that can be renewed. Residence · AZN 100k property asks for assets of at least AZN 100,000 (≈ $58,800) and gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed.

Can I move to Azerbaijan by starting a business?

Azerbaijan has 2 business or startup routes. Entrepreneur residence asks for an income of at least AZN 50,000 a year (≈ $29,400) and gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed. Company owner/head residence asks for assets of at least AZN 50,000 (≈ $29,400) and gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed.

What work visas does Azerbaijan offer foreigners?

Azerbaijan has 3 work visas. Branch head residence gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed. Highly qualified specialist gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed. Work permit gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed.

How do I get a student visa for Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijan has 1 student visa. Student residence gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed.

Can I join my spouse or partner in Azerbaijan?

Yes. Azerbaijan has 2 spouse visas. Spouse of a citizen gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed. Spouse of a resident gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed.

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≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

Ask the AI about Azerbaijan AI

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