Azerbaijan work permit and work-based residence

No work permit is needed for, among others: permanent residents; foreigners engaged in entrepreneurship; heads of branches of foreign companies and their deputies; heads and 51 percent founders of foreign-invested companies working in their own company; foreigners married to an Azerbaijani citizen registered in Azerbaijan; seconded staff on missions of up to 90 days a year in listed fields; sailors; visiting university lecturers; artists, coaches and athletes of registered clubs; ICT specialists hired by technology park residents; and recognised highly skilled migrants working in their field.

Employers may be legal entities, individual entrepreneurs without a company, or branches and representative offices of foreign companies. A permit is granted when no Azerbaijani citizen with the required skills has applied for the vacancy and the employment service cannot fill it from the local labour force. A labour migration quota also applies.

The foreigner may work only at that employer's own workplace and on a contract matching the permit's term. Signing a labour contract with a foreigner before the permit is issued is prohibited.

The employer files the approved application form, a copy of the foreigner's passport, a notarised copy of the qualification document for the job, a justification of why a foreigner is needed, and a medical certificate that the foreigner is free of the listed infectious diseases.

A company adds notarised copies of its charter and state registration certificate; an individual entrepreneur adds a notarised ID copy and the taxpayer registration certificate. Ask the SMS in advance which translations and certifications it needs for diplomas issued abroad.

The employer pays the fee. Up to 3 months: AZN 700 (10 working days), 500 (15) or 350 (20). Up to 6 months: AZN 900, 700 or 600. Up to 1 year: AZN 1,400, 1,200 or 1,000. The permit is handed over only after the receipt is shown.

For work in the liberated territories the permit can run up to 2 years, with fees from AZN 350 for 3 months to AZN 1,800 for 2 years and faster decision periods of 5, 10 or 15 working days.

A valid work permit is a ground for a temporary residence permit. Apply to the SMS at least 30 days before your visa-free or visa stay ends. If the residence permit is refused, the SMS revokes the work permit.

If the contract ends early, the employer must inform the SMS within 5 working days; the work permit then becomes invalid and, without another ground, you must leave within 10 working days.

The employer applies for an extension at least 30 days before expiry with the form, the qualification document, the justification and a fresh medical certificate. Each extension is for up to 1 year. If the extension fee is not paid within 30 days, the permit is revoked.