Azerbaijan Unveils Major Visa Liberalization Plan: Multiple-Entry e-Visa, Digital Nomad Visa & 34 Visa-Free Countries by 2030
- Editorial Team
- 21 hours ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 12 hours ago
BAKU, August 22, 2026 — Azerbaijan has announced a sweeping visa liberalization program as part of its new State Program for Tourism Development for 2026-2030, approved by President Ilham Aliyev on August 20, 2026.
The ambitious plan includes expanding visa-free travel to 34 target tourism markets, introducing multiple-entry e-Visas, expanding eligibility for the ASAN e-Visa and visa on arrival, and creating a new digital nomad visa for remote workers by 2027-2028.
Published: August 22, 2026 | By VisasUpdate.com Editorial Team
What's Changing?
Aspect | Current Status | New Target (by 2030) |
Visa-Free Countries | 17 countries (permanent) + temporary exemptions | 34 target tourism markets |
e-Visa Type | Single-entry only | Multiple-entry e-Visa to be effectively available |
e-Visa Eligible Countries | 87 countries | Expanded list to be established |
Visa on Arrival | Limited to certain nationalities | Permanent basis under review |
Digital Nomad Visa | Not available | Planned for 2027-2028 |
Which Countries Are Currently Visa-Free?
Holders of ordinary passports from the following 17 countries can travel to Azerbaijan without a visa:
Country | Stay Duration |
Albania, Belarus, China, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Moldova, Morocco, Qatar, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Ukraine, UAE, Uzbekistan | 90 days (30 days for Qatar; 30/90 days for China) |
Temporary Visa Exemptions
Countries | Period | Entries | Stay |
Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia | Feb 15, 2026 – Feb 15, 2027 | Up to 3 | 30 days |
Japan, South Korea | Jul 1, 2026 – Jul 1, 2027 | Up to 3 | 30 days |
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Singapore | Aug 1, 2026 – Aug 1, 2027 | Up to 3 | 30 days |
Hong Kong, Macao | Feb 2, 2026 – Feb 2, 2027 | Up to 3 | 30 days |
The 34 Country Target
The program sets a target of 28 tourism markets covered by visa-free arrangements in the interim period, rising to 34 countries by the end of 2030.
Note: This does not mean 34 new countries will be added. The target includes existing visa-free arrangements. The list of future countries has not yet been released.
ASAN e-Visa: What's Changing?
Single-Entry → Multiple-Entry
Currently, the ASAN e-Visa is a single-entry visa valid for 90 days with a maximum stay of 30 days. The new program aims to implement a multiple-entry e-Visa for tourism purposes, reviewing the current ASAN Visa procedures and upgrading technical infrastructure.
Aspect | Current e-Visa | Planned Multiple-Entry e-Visa |
Entries | Single-entry | Multiple-entry |
Validity | 90 days | To be determined |
Stay | 30 days | Up to 90 days (per Migration Code) |
Fee | $20 + $9 service fee | To be determined |
Eligible Countries | 87 | Expanded list to be established |
Expanded e-Visa Eligibility
The program calls for the establishment of a new list of countries eligible for the e-Visa, with additional nationalities to be added. The current 87 eligible countries include:
Selected e-Visa Eligible Countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and many European and Latin American nations.
Visa on Arrival: Expanded and Permanent
The program aims to make the visa-on-arrival mechanism available on a permanent basis. Currently, single-entry visas (up to 30 days) can be issued on arrival to citizens of:
Country | Special Arrangements |
Bahrain, China, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea | Available (temporary exemptions may apply) |
US Citizens | 30-day visa on arrival for direct New York-Baku flights |
GCC Residents | Rules to be reviewed for third-country nationals with GCC permanent residence |
Digital Nomad Visa: Coming 2027-2028
The program includes the creation of a new visa subtype for remote workers — a "digital traveler" or Digital Nomad Visa — scheduled for implementation in 2027-2028.
Aspect | Details |
Timeline | 2027-2028 |
Process | Study international practices → Amend Migration Code → Issue electronically |
Status | Previously announced in March 2026 Digital Development Acceleration Action Plan |
Eligibility requirements, validity period, and permitted length of stay have yet to be specified.
Implementation Timeline
Phase | Measures | Target Period |
Phase 1 | Expand visa-free countries, establish new e-Visa list, review VOA rules | 2026-2027 |
Phase 2 | Launch multiple-entry e-Visa, digital nomad visa | 2027-2028 |
Phase 3 | Reach 34 visa-free countries target | By 2030 |
Related News
Quick Reference Summary
Aspect | Details |
Program | State Program for Tourism Development 2026-2030 |
Approved By | President Ilham Aliyev (August 20, 2026) |
Visa-Free Target | 34 countries by 2030 |
e-Visa | Multiple-entry planned; expanded eligibility |
Visa on Arrival | Expanded, made permanent |
Digital Nomad Visa | Planned for 2027-2028 |
Current e-Visa Countries | 87 |
Current Visa-Free Countries | 17 + temporary exemptions |
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