Azerbaijan Permanent Residence Permit: Who Qualifies and How

Permanent residence, in Azerbaijani "daimi yaşamaq üçün icazə", lets a foreigner live in Azerbaijan for 5 years at a time, renewable without limit. It is covered by Articles 52 to 56 of the Migration Code.

Compared with a temporary residence permit, it lasts longer, and you need no work permit to work (Article 64.0.1). The card is light lilac with the series "DYİ" and a 7 digit number; the TRC is green with the series "MYİ".

You must have lived in Azerbaijan continuously for the last 2 years on a TRC issued on grounds 45.1.1 to 45.1.7. Continuous means you were not outside Azerbaijan for more than 90 days in any 180 days. You must also meet one of the permanent residence grounds in Article 52.1:

• A parent, spouse, child, sister or brother is an Azerbaijani citizen.
• A total investment in the economy of at least AZN 500,000.
• Real estate in Azerbaijan worth at least AZN 200,000.
• A term deposit in an Azerbaijani bank of at least AZN 200,000.
• State securities with a nominal value of at least AZN 200,000.
• A high level specialist, or a specialist or highly qualified migrant.
• A family member of a permanent resident.
• The head or deputy head of a foreign company's branch or representative office.
• The head, or owner of at least 51 percent, of an Azerbaijani company with a foreign founder, with the capital and turnover set by the government.
• An entrepreneur who meets the turnover set by the government.

The money amounts are higher than for a TRC: AZN 200,000 for property, a deposit or securities, against AZN 100,000 for a TRC. Business grounds count only if your last 2 years were on the matching TRC ground. See the TRC grounds explained.

So an employee on a work permit TRC cannot get on the permanent residence track just by waiting 2 years.

• The application form and a copy of your passport.
• A family composition certificate and, if married, the marriage certificate.
• A health certificate that you have no dangerous infectious disease.
• Proof of funds for your basic needs, unless an Azerbaijani relative or a permanent resident supports you, or you are on the investor, deposit, securities or highly qualified migrant ground.
• Your qualification documents.
• A copy of your current TRC.
• A notarised document proving your ground; on the relative and family grounds also the relative's notarised consent.
• Two photos, 3.5 x 4.5 cm.
• A housing document (property extract, order or lease) and the host's application and ID, unless you own the home.
• The state fee receipt.
• On the company and entrepreneur grounds, tax office proof of turnover for the last year.

1. 1

   Check the 2 years

   Count your continuous years on a qualifying TRC and your days abroad. More than 90 days out in any 180 days breaks the chain.

2. 2

   File at least 3 months before your TRC ends

   Apply in person, through a legal representative, or online (Article 54). A parent files for a child under 14; children from 14 to 18 apply through a parent and give their consent.

3. 3

   Take the test

   Applicants take a test on Azerbaijani law, rights and duties and the state language before a commission. Highly qualified migrants, children under 18, people over 65 and people with an 81 to 100 percent disability are exempt.

4. 4

   Give fingerprints and wait

   Fingerprints are taken from age 15. The decision comes within the processing time that matches the fee you chose.

5. 5

   Pay within 30 days

   The fee receipt is handed over when the card is issued. If the fee is not paid within 30 days after the processing period ends, the permit is cancelled.

The same fee applies to the first card and to each extension (State Duty Law, Articles 14.8.4 and 14.8.5). Highly qualified migrants and their family get each processing time 10 days shorter for the same fee. A lost card is reissued for AZN 20.

• Extend the card at least 3 months before it ends (Article 54.12). Each extension lasts 5 years and needs the full set of documents again.
• Do not spend more than 180 days in total abroad in any one year counted from the issue date, or the permit is cancelled. This does not apply to permits on the investor (45.1.2) or entrepreneur (45.1.7) grounds.
• After a move, register at the new address within 10 days. Read address registration.
• Leaving Azerbaijan to live permanently in another country, losing your ground with no other one, or an unpaid migration fine can also cancel the permit.

We found no official rule on whether a late extension, filed inside the last 3 months, is still accepted. Check with the State Migration Service. Sroky can remind you 3 months before your permanent residence card ends, and track your family's TRC dates as well.