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Note! Regulations and requirements may be subject to change at short notice!
passports & visas
Passports valid for at least 1 month after date of return
required by all
Visa required, except for: Nationals of CIS countries (except
nationals of Turkmenistan who do require visas).
Note! Internal travel to several regions close to the Armenian border is restricted; travellers must obtain special
permission from the Ministry of the Interior to visit these areas.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
4, Shykhalia Gurbanov str., 370009 Baku, Azerbaijan
Tel: +(994 12) 92 6856; 92 3149; 98 0113; 927 251
Fax: +(994 12) 98 8480; 98 7327; 98 8334
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a z e r b a i j a n
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getting in
International airport Bina is approximately 30km (19 miles) from Baku (travel time - 40 minutes).
Taxis to the city cost around US$10-20. Several buses travel to the (cost: approximately AZM2000.
vaccinations
No vaccinations are required.
duty free
The following goods may be imported into Azerbaijan by persons of 16 years of age or older without incurring
customs duty: 1000 cigarettes or 1000g of tobacco products; 1.5 litres of
spirits and 2 litres of wine; a reasonable quantity of perfume for personal
use; goods up to a value of US$10,000.
Note! On entering the country, tourists must complete a customs
declaration form which must be retained until departure. This allows the
import of articles intended for personal use, including currency and
valuables which must be registered on the declaration form.
Prohibited imports: Weapons and ammunition, narcotics,
live animals (subject to special permit), photographs and printed material
directed against Azerbaijan, fruit and vegetables
Prohibited exports: Weapons and ammunition, precious metals,
works of art and antiques (unless permission has been
granted by the Ministry of Culture) and furs.
Currency restrictions: The import and export of local currency by non-residents is prohibited.
Foreign currency must be declared on arrival. The export of foreign currency is limited to
the amount declared on arrival. Residents may only export up to US$10,000
or equivalent if declared on departure. Amounts in excess of US$1000 or
equivalent are subject to 1% tax.
exit duty
None
time
GMT + 3 (GMT + 4 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October)
money
Azerbaijani manat (AZM)
Notes are in denominations of AM50,000, 10,000, 1000, 500, 100 and 50
Note! Visitors using the national currency are advised to carry
plenty of small change as some shops and, particularly markets, may be unable to
accept large denominations.
Currency exchange:US Dollar, Pound Sterling and the
Deutschmark are the preferred currencies and can be exchanged at the
airport, bureaux de change, all hotels, some restaurants and major banks.
However, many local hotels, exchange bureaux and restaurants will not accept
dollar bills dated before 1992 or those which are torn or in any way
disfigured. Travellers are advised to take banknotes in small denominations
and change small amounts of money as required. Rates offered by banks and
bureaux de change are unlikely to vary significantly.
Rate per US dollar: 4,930 (December 2003)
>Current Rate at
National Bank
Credit & debit cards: Generally Azerbaijan is a cash-only economy, however credit
cards are accepted in the major hotels, some restaurants and all banks in
Baku. Credit cards can be used to purchase tickets at the airport.
Travellers cheques: Generally not accepted
telephony
The country code for Azerbaijan is 994; Baki city code: 12
International calls from Azerbaijan may be dialed directly from Baki; calls from other parts of the republic must be made
through the operator.
Mobile telephones: GSM 2000 network covers the whole country
transport
Taxi fares should always be negotiated
before starting a journey, and visitors should be aware that rates proposed
initially are likely to be unreasonably high. The average fare should be no more
than AM20,000. There is an underground system totalling 28km (17.5 miles) but
most visitors use taxis or private cars. Buses and trams run from central Baku
to the suburbs but they tend to be overcrowded.
Car hire facilities are available through Avis company and Hertz. An International Driving
Permit is required.
dining
Azerbaijani food
combines Turkish and central Asian elements. Dishes include the much
celebrated plov, a delicious, spicy speciality made with pine nuts,
vegetables and dried fruit, in addition to rice and meat. Certain types of
plov use chicken instead of mutton and include chestnuts. Grilled
kebabs of various kinds are popular, including lyulya kebab made from
spiced, minced lamb pressed onto skewers. These are often sold from roadside
stalls. Meals often start with rich, heavy soups: piti is a mutton
soup bulked out with chickpeas and slowly cooked in individual earthenware
pots in the oven and served in the same pots. Also popular is dogva -
a sharp, yoghurt and spinach-based soup containing rice and meatballs.
Sturgeon, served both smoked and fresh, and caviar have traditionally been
fished from the Caspian Sea. Rising pollution levels have given rise to
alarm about falling fish stocks, but sturgeon is still widely available at a
price. Kutab pastries stuffed with spinach or pumpkin and similar to
Turkish birekas are another local speciality. Baku has a reasonable
selection of Western style restaurants which have opened recently. Drink:
In the chai khanas (tea houses), men linger for hours drinking
sweet black tea out of tiny glasses. Although the majority of Azeris are
nominally Shia Muslims, alcohol is widely available. Wines and brandies are
produced locally, Russian vodka is popular, and imported spirits represent a
form of conspicuous consumption.
shopping & souvenirs
If visitors are
intent on acquiring an Azeri carpet they are advised to visit the
carpet-weaving centre at Nardaran. Locally produced silk, ceramics and other
craftwork is also sold at the Sharg Bazary (a modern, covered market) in
Baku. Prices here are likely to be negotiable. Any carpet or other artefact
made before 1960 is subject to an export tax and must be certified for
export by the Ministry of Culture. Items purchased at official art salons or
tourist shops will already be duly certified. This is not true of goods sold
at markets or by private individuals.
working hours & days
State organizations are closed on Saturdays and Sundays and mainly work from 09:00 - 17:30 (18:00).
Banks are open weekdays from 09:00 to 18:00
public holidays
1 January: New Year
Jan 20: Memory Day of Victims of the totalitarian regime killed in the result of the aggression of soviet military forces
Mar 8: International Women's Day
Mar 20-21: Novruz Bayrami
May 9: Victory Day
May 28: Republic Day
Jun 15: National Salvation Day
June 26: Day of Armed Forces
Oct 18: Day of State Independence
Nov 12: Constitution Day
Nov 17: Day of National Revival
Dec 31: Day of Solidarity of the World Azeri’s
Note! Following 2 holidays are sliding 10 days every year.
November 25: Ramadan Holiday (2003)
February 1: Kurban Bayram (Feast of the Sacrifice) (2004)
power supply
The electrical current in the Republic of Azerbaijan is 220 V,
50 Hz alternating current; wall outlets take continental-type plugs, with
two round prongs. To use US-purchased electric-powered equipment, bring a
converter and an adapter
weights & measures
Metric:
Metric conversions
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