Getting your eVisa approved is only half the battle. Navigating the actual arrival process at Heydar Aliyev International Airport requires a little bit of preparation.
Because Azerbaijan has some unique, strictly enforced customs and registration laws, you can't just grab your bags and walk out the door like you might in other countries. Here is exactly what to expect from the moment you step off the plane in Baku so you can get to your hotel without any unexpected fines or confiscated luggage.
1. Navigating Passport Control
When you funnel into the arrival hall, look for the designated foreigner lines. When it's your turn, you need to hand the officer two things: your physical passport and a printed, paper copy of your ASAN eVisa.
Do not try to show them a PDF on your phone screen. The officers need the paper copy to scan the barcode and cross-reference it with their system. They may ask you a few standard questions about where you are staying and when your return flight is, so having your hotel address and return ticket handy is always a good idea.
Once you are stamped in, remember that your eVisa is a single-entry document. The 30-day clock on your permitted stay has officially started.
2. Customs: The Red and Green Channels
After baggage claim, you will pass through customs. Azerbaijan uses the standard Red Channel (goods to declare) and Green Channel (nothing to declare) system.
However, they are notoriously strict about specific items.
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Drones are illegal. Do not bring a drone into Azerbaijan. If they spot it on the X-ray, it will be confiscated immediately, and getting it back when you leave is a massive bureaucratic headache.
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Prescription Medications: If you carry strong painkillers, psychotropic medications, or anything containing codeine, you must declare it in the Red Channel. You will need your original prescription and a doctor's note. Bringing restricted medicines through the Green Channel can lead to severe legal trouble.
3. The 15-Day Registration Law
Before you even leave the airport, remind yourself of the State Migration Service rule.
If your trip is going to last longer than 15 days, Azerbaijani law dictates that you must register your residential address within the first 15 days of your arrival. If you are hopping into a taxi to a registered hotel, you have it easy. The hotel management is required to log your passport details into the government system for you. (Just confirm with the receptionist that they actually did it).
If you are staying at an Airbnb, renting a private apartment, or staying with friends, no one is going to do it for you. You have to register yourself online via the State Migration Service portal. If you change apartments during your trip, you have to update your registration with the new address. Skip this step, and you will face a steep fine when you eventually try to pass back through passport control to fly home.
4. Getting into the City
Heydar Aliyev airport is located about 20 kilometers outside the city center. The easiest and most reliable way into town is via the official airport taxis waiting at the designated ranks outside, or by using ride-hailing apps like Bolt or Uber, which operate seamlessly in Baku. There is also a very affordable Aero Express bus that runs directly from the terminal to the central 28 May Metro Station.
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