Schengen Visa For Azerbaijani Citizens

Schengen visa for Azerbaijani citizens is required to travel to Schengen countries in Europe. As a country in Eastern Europe, Azerbaijan is not part of the EU. However, the country enjoys close ties with the countries both in the EU and Schengen. Recently, the country experienced more facilitated Schengen visa issuance conditions. This has continued to improve the relationships with Azerbaijan on one hand and the rest of Europe on the other. More and more Azerbaijani citizens are crossing over to the rest of Europe for different travel reasons. For information about the Schengen visas for Azeris, you have come to the right place.

What is Schengen Visa for Azerbaijani Citizens?

It is important to understand the history and the concept of the Schengen visa. In 1985, an agreement was signed in a small township of Schengen in Luxembourg. This agreement brought together 26 countries in Europe that agreed to abolish border restrictions for their citizens. This culminated in what is now known as the Schengen area. Citizens of Schengen area member countries do not require a visa to traverse within the territory. Likewise, citizens of other countries outside this territory require only one visa to traverse within the area. This visa is the one that is referred to as a Schengen visa. It allows the holder to enter the Schengen territory for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-days period.

Schengen visa for Azerbaijani citizens, therefore, refers to the Schengen visa that the Azeri requires to enter the Schengen territory for a period not exceeding 90 days within six months. In order for you to enter the territory, you will need to apply for a Schengen visa from Baku. You do not need to apply for multiple visas in Azerbaijan if your intention is to visit countries within this territory. But where can you go for a Schengen visa in Azerbaijan?

Where to Get Schengen Visa for Azerbaijani Citizens

The Schengen visa guidelines give clear instructions on where you should apply for your Schengen visa in Azerbaijan. This is because the process of Schengen visa application is not haphazard. The following guidelines stipulate where you should apply for your Schengen visa in Azerbaijan;

• In case you only need to visit one Schengen country, you should submit your application to the embassy of that single country.
• In case you have two or more Schengen countries of destination, you should submit your application to the embassy of the country of your mainstay. Your mainstay is guided by the duration of time to be spent there or the reason for the travel.
• If you have more than one Schengen country of destination, you should apply from the embassy of the country in which your first point of entry will be.
• If you have two Schengen countries of destination with the same stay in terms of duration and purpose, you can apply from any of the two.

It is good to note that not all Schengen countries have embassies and consulates in Baku, Azerbaijan. In this way, you should check whether the embassy of your chosen Schengen country is operational in the country. For example;

• To apply for a Schengen visa to Sweden in Azerbaijan, you need to go to the Swedish embassy in Moscow or the consulate general in Istanbul.
• To apply for a Schengen visa to Hungary you should go to the BLS International visa center.
• There is also Capago International to handle Schengen visas for France.

Types of Visa for Azerbaijani Passport Holders and Residents

Residents and citizens of Azerbaijan can apply for three types of visas in the country. These include the following depending on individual travel circumstances;

Schengen Visa Frequencies for Azerbaijan

Due to its close diplomatic, cultural, and geographical relations, Azerbaijan is an important travel market for the EU and Schengen. For these reasons, Azeri citizens have been visiting the Schengen region for their thousands. The following graph shows the recent frequencies for Schengen visa issuance in Azerbaijan;

Documents Required to Apply for Schengen Visa for Azerbaijani Citizens and Residents

In order for your Schengen visa for Azerbaijani citizens and residents to be processed, it is must submit the required documents. These documents are as follows;

• A Covering letter outlining all there is in terms of your travel.
• Original and copy of the Schengen visa application form. The form must be filled out by every applicant. This form can be downloaded from the Schengen embassy websites. Children applicants should have their application forms signed by both parents.
• Original and copy of your Azerbaijan identification card.
• Hotel bookings for a visa. Hotel booking should be done for the duration of time that you intend to be in the Schengen territory. There is no need to make pre-payments.

• Proof of travel funds that will cater for your entire travel. This can be in the form of bank statements, credit card statements, letters from the bank, pay slips, and any other document that will prove that you have the money.
• Proof of flight reservation for a visa. This should show the applicant’s details, flight, and IATA codes, and dates of travel to and from the Schengen zone. Fill out the flight reservation form to get your proof of flight reservation.

• Health insurance for a visa. Schengen visa requires insurance coverage of at least 30,000 Euros (or 60,081 Azerbaijani Manat).

• Recent passport photos (taken within the last three months) on a clear or white background. The photos should be glued on the application form, showing the full face.
• Valid Azerbaijani travel passport with at least two blank pages. It should be valid for at least three months beyond your return date. You should also provide copies of your previous visas if any.
• If you are a non-Azerbaijani citizen (without an Azerbaijani passport) you should produce your country’s passport, in addition to an Azerbaijan work permit, residence permit, or work pass. You should also provide your re-entry permit which should be valid for at least 90 days beyond your re-entry date.

Additional Documents Required for Schengen Visa in Azerbaijan

For different purposes, additional documents are needed. These may be as follows;

Schengen Visa Fees for Azerbaijan Passport Holders and Citizens

To apply for a Schengen visa in Azerbaijan, you have to pay the necessarily required fees. This proof of payment (payment receipts) should be submitted together with the visa application documents. The current applicable visa application fees in Azerbaijan are as follows;

Having the right information is important in the process of getting a Schengen visa for Azerbaijani citizens. The visa application together with all the documents should be submitted on time. For proper documentation assistance, Schengen Flight Reservation Visa can help.