Azerbaijan Highly Skilled Migrant Program

The program was created by Presidential Order No. 156 of 6 June 2024, and the assessment rules and criteria were approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 99 of 3 April 2025. Six criteria are scored by different authorities: experience in the field of expertise 0 to 35 points (the ministry for that field), fit with national socio-economic priorities 0 to 20 (Ministry of Economy), education 0 to 15 (Ministry of Science and Education), material security 0 to 15 (State Migration Service), positive impact on the domestic labour market 0 to 10 (Ministry of Labour and Social Protection) and foreign languages 0 to 5 (Ministry of Science and Education).

A total of 70 out of 100 points, together with positive opinions from the authorities involved, makes you a highly skilled migrant.

The State Migration Service runs the Highly Skilled Migrant Portal pass.gov.az as a one-stop shop in Azerbaijani, Turkish, English and Russian. You create an account, fill in education, work experience and other details, and upload supporting documents. With your consent the portal can share your professional profile with employers looking for staff.

The decision comes as an electronic document sent to your portal account and e-mail. To activate it you must upload apostilled or legalised copies of the foreign documents attached to your application before arriving in Azerbaijan, and no later than 1 year after the decision.

With the status document you enter on an entry visa for a business visit (or visa-free if your nationality allows it) and may work in your field without a work permit. You can obtain a temporary residence permit for up to 3 years with a shorter processing time, and the rule that more than 90 days abroad within 180 days cancels a permit does not apply to you.

After 2 years of uninterrupted temporary residence you may apply for permanent residence. You are exempt from proving sufficient funds and from the commission test on Azerbaijani language and on rights and duties. The status document itself lasts 5 years and is re-assessed on application.

Separately, the Migration Code keeps a residence ground for highly qualified specialists in economy, industry, military, science, culture and sport invited by an Azerbaijani authority or organisation, which needs an official letter from the inviting body.

Family members are the spouse, children under 18, children over 18 who cannot work and dependent parents. They obtain temporary and permanent residence in shorter periods. The spouse and children under 23 can get a work permit faster and regardless of the labour migration quota.