Where can you travel with an Azerbaijani passport without a prior visa? New ranking

New indicators have been published reflecting the position of the Azerbaijani passport in the world, the opportunities for visa-free travel, and the level of access to various regions.

According to data from the independent American platform Passport Reports, which publishes passport reports on 199 countries in 34 languages, the Azerbaijani passport ranks 110th in the global passport ranking.

The overall mobility index of the Azerbaijani passport is 82. This means that citizens of Azerbaijan can visit 82 destinations without the need to obtain a traditional visa in advance — visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or with electronic travel authorization.

The overall global access indicator is 41.4%.

At the same time, to travel to 116 countries, citizens of Azerbaijan must obtain a visa in advance.

Visa-free entry to 35 countries

According to current data, holders of Azerbaijani passports can visit 35 countries without a visa; you can obtain more detailed information about the countries by following the link. This accounts for 17.7% of the total number of destinations covered in the report.

Among the visa-free destinations are countries popular among citizens of Azerbaijan, including Turkey, Georgia, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, and Serbia.

The duration of visa-free stay is up to 360 days in Georgia, up to 180 days in Armenia, and up to 90 days in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Among the destinations available to citizens of Azerbaijan without obtaining a visa in advance is also China, where a stay of up to 30 days is permitted.

Visa-free opportunities for holders of Azerbaijani passports are not limited to nearby countries. In the Caribbean, the list includes Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

In Oceania, Micronesia and Vanuatu can be visited without a visa, and in South America — Colombia, Ecuador, and Suriname.

In Vanuatu, a stay of up to 120 days is permitted, and in Antigua and Barbuda — up to 180 days.

Visa on arrival available in 43 countries

An important role in the international mobility of Azerbaijani passport holders is played by countries where a visa is issued on arrival. The number of such destinations is 43, or 21.7% of the total.

This category includes Bangladesh, Bolivia, Cambodia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Madagascar, Nepal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and a number of other countries.

In some states, along with obtaining a visa on arrival, an electronic visa system is also in place. For example, in Saudi Arabia a stay of up to 90 days is permitted, in Qatar and Indonesia — up to 30 days, and in Nepal — up to 150 days.

Among African countries, this category includes Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe. Such opportunities significantly expand the list of countries that holders of Azerbaijani passports can visit without obtaining a classic consular visa in advance.

Electronic travel authorization is available for 4 destinations

Holders of Azerbaijani passports can visit 4 destinations on the basis of electronic travel authorization. This figure accounts for 2% of the total number of destinations.

The list includes Kenya, the Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Côte d'Ivoire. Such systems differ from the classic visa procedure and in most cases provide for electronic registration or obtaining travel authorization before the start of the trip.

Taking visa-free entry, visa on arrival, and electronic travel authorization together, the mobility indicator of the Azerbaijani passport reaches 82 destinations.

At the same time, 116 destinations, or 58.6% of the total, require obtaining a visa in advance.

These indicators show that the Azerbaijani passport provides broad opportunities for travel to a number of regional and emerging markets; however, in a significant portion of the world's countries the classic visa procedure still applies.

24th place in Asia

The Azerbaijani passport ranks 24th among the countries of Asia. In the report, the comparison by continent was carried out on the basis of indicators for 50 countries. This figure indicates that the Azerbaijani passport occupies a middle position in the Asian ranking.

Particularly favorable conditions for citizens of Azerbaijan apply in Central Asia. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan are available for visa-free travel. To visit Turkmenistan, a visa must be obtained in advance. Thus, the opportunities for free movement for holders of Azerbaijani passports within the region remain quite broad.

Significant visa restrictions remain in Europe

Some of the most limited travel opportunities on an Azerbaijani passport are observed in the European direction. According to the report, out of 47 European destinations covered in the study, visa-free entry is possible only to 8 countries. These are Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

To travel to most European countries, especially the states of the Schengen area, citizens of Azerbaijan must obtain a visa in advance. This category includes Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, and the Scandinavian countries. A visa is also required to travel to the United Kingdom.

This situation shows that one of the main factors reducing the global mobility indicator of the Azerbaijani passport remains the broad visa requirements on the part of European countries.

Different conditions in the Persian Gulf countries

The entry rules for holders of Azerbaijani passports in the Persian Gulf countries vary depending on the state. The United Arab Emirates can be entered without a visa for up to 90 days. Qatar and Saudi Arabia are also among the destinations providing citizens of Azerbaijan with more simplified entry conditions.

At the same time, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman are listed in the report among the destinations that require obtaining a visa in advance.

In general, the opportunities of the Azerbaijani passport in the Middle East are broader than in Europe. This reflects the influence of both regional ties and the transition of a number of countries in recent years to electronic and simplified visa systems that expand travel opportunities.

Position among international organizations and associations

The position of the Azerbaijani passport in various international and political associations was calculated separately.

Among the 57 countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Azerbaijan ranks 17th. Among the OPEC+ countries, the Azerbaijani passport ranks 11th out of 21, and among the D-8 states — 4th out of 9.

Among the countries of the "Group of 77" (G77), Azerbaijan ranks 60th out of 132.

In the OSCE space, the indicator is significantly lower: the Azerbaijani passport ranks 51st among the 57 participating states.

In a comparison among presidential republics, Azerbaijan ranks 25th out of 57 countries.

Azerbaijan ranks 79th in the openness ranking

The report compares not only the opportunities for citizens of Azerbaijan to travel to other countries, but also the conditions for entry into Azerbaijan for foreign citizens. By this indicator, Azerbaijan ranks 79th among 199 countries. In other words, the country's visa policy toward foreign citizens has also become the subject of a separate global comparison.

This indicator has a different meaning than the passport power ranking. While the passport ranking assesses how freely citizens of Azerbaijan can visit other countries, the openness index compares the opportunities for citizens of foreign states to enter Azerbaijan. Therefore, the differences in the country's positions in these two rankings are quite natural.

The principle of reciprocity also plays an important role

Reciprocity indicators in visa relations also demonstrate an interesting picture for Azerbaijan. According to the report's data, citizens of 68 countries can enter Azerbaijan without a visa, with electronic authorization, or with a visa on arrival, whereas holders of Azerbaijani passports must obtain a visa in advance to travel to these countries.

This category includes such major economies as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. Such a difference indicates that, on the principle of reciprocity, the Azerbaijani passport occupies a more limited position in a number of key international destinations.

In the opposite direction, the situation is in favor of holders of Azerbaijani passports with regard to 44 countries. That is, citizens of these states require a visa to travel to Azerbaijan, whereas citizens of Azerbaijan can visit the corresponding countries without a visa, with electronic authorization, or with a visa on arrival.

Passport Reports notes that, overall, the data show that the main advantages of the Azerbaijani passport are relatively free access to neighboring countries, Central Asia, individual Middle Eastern states, as well as numerous destinations in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Oceania.

The main limitation remains the need to obtain a visa in advance for travel to Europe, North America, and a number of other high-income countries.