Azerbaijan
Warnings and insurance
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
Areas where FCDO advises against travel
Azerbaijan-Armenia border
The border with Armenia remains closed. The FCDO advises against all travel to within 5km of the border with Armenia, due to tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Note that this does not include the border of Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave with Armenia.
Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel
South-western Azerbaijan (those regions affected by conflict in 2020 and 2023)
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against all but essential travel to:
- The districts (‘rayons’) of Kelbajar, Lachin, Qubadli, Zengilan, Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Khojavand, Shusha, Khojali, Khankendi, Aghdam and Tartar
You should follow Azerbaijani national government and local authorities’ advice in areas that have not been cleared of mines or unexploded ordnance.
Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.
UK government support
Help for British nationals is extremely limited in the areas where we advise against travel.
Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
- see general advice for women travellers
- read our guide on disability and travel abroad
- see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
- read about safety for solo and independent travel
- see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
About FCDO travel advice
FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
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Update history
2025-10-17 15:59
Removal of special visa procedures for the Formula 1 and the addition of information about cultural sensitivity (‘Safety and security’ page).
2025-08-26 15:57
Updated visa procedures for visitors travelling to Azerbaijan in connection with the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2025-07-07 16:47
Removal of information regarding entry into Azerbaijan via the land border with Iran.
2025-06-20 14:58
Addition of information on entering Azerbaijan across the land border from Iran (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2025-06-18 20:58
Updated information for British nationals wanting to enter Azerbaijan from Iran (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2025-06-04 17:01
Updated information on dual nationality and the risks of being involved with illegal drugs, including cannabis. This includes risk of arrest if you are found carrying drugs when transiting through the airport (‘Entry requirements’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2025-06-04 15:00
Updated information on dual nationality and the risks of being involved with illegal drugs, including cannabis. This includes risk of arrest if you are found carrying drugs when transiting through the airport (‘Entry requirements’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2025-04-04 15:28
FCDO now advises against all but essential travel to south-western Azerbaijan (‘Warnings and insurance’, ‘Entry requirements’ ‘Safety and security’ and ‘Regional risks’ pages).
2024-09-10 13:57
Updated visa requirements for visitors travelling to Azerbaijan in connection with COP29(‘Entry requirements’ page).
2024-08-16 16:22
Updated visa procedures for visitors travelling to Azerbaijan in connection with the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. (see ‘Entry requirements’ page).
2024-07-09 20:53
Updated assessment that terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Azerbaijan. (see ‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-06-14 14:09
Information on registering SIM-compatible devices in Azerbaijan (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2024-05-17 13:28
Information on restricted entry by land or sea borders, entering Azerbaijan with a vehicle and importation of drones (‘Entry requirements’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2024-02-20 15:50
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.
2024-01-26 16:55
Clarifications on registering your mobile phone (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2024-01-23 13:19
Information about registering your mobile phone at a local Post office using the device’s IMEI number (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-11-21 15:26
Information about registration of mobile devices on arrival to Azerbaijan (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-08-29 14:54
Information about visa requirements related to the 74th astronautical congress (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2023-06-22 11:31
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages
2023-05-17 10:39
New information about altitude sickness (‘Health’ page).
2023-04-06 16:54
Updated information on the lifting of COVID-19 related restrictions (‘Coronavirus’ page), and the simplification of the visa procedures related to 2023 Formula 1 (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2022-09-14 15:20
Updated information on recent military action across the Armenian and Azerbaijani international border (‘Summary’ page).
2022-08-25 10:55
Updated information on the definition of who is vaccinated, (‘Coronavirus’ page)
2022-06-08 17:20
Added link to advice page for Azerbaijan F1 Grand Prix in Baku on 12 June 2022 (‘Summary’ page)
2022-05-19 16:45
Updated with information in Air Travel about how UK sanctions affect purchases of flight tickets on Russian owned airlines (‘Safety and security’ page)
2022-05-12 11:35
Updated information on entry requirements for Azerbaijan (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-04-29 21:12
The requirement to wear masks indoors is lifted (‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages)
2022-04-14 21:50
Azerbaijan no longer requires a negative PCR test to enter the country. (‘Entry Requirements’ page).