Tourist SIM Card in Azerbaijan 2026: Azercell, Bakcell, Nar, eSIM

There are three mobile networks in Azerbaijan: Azercell, Bakcell and Nar. Each one sells a special pack for visitors that runs for 30 days and then ends by itself, so you do not sign a contract or pay a monthly bill.

You can buy a tourist SIM at the operator's own shops and official dealers in Baku. Bakcell says it has a stand at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, so you can get a number as soon as you land. For what else to do in the arrival hall, see our Baku airport arrival guide.

There is no big difference between the networks for a short trip. Pick the one whose shop is closest to you, or the pack whose data and minutes fit how you use your phone.

The table shows the tourist packs as each operator lists them on its own website. We checked the pages on 1 November 2026. Operators change their offers often, so treat these numbers as a guide and confirm the price in the shop or on the operator site before you pay.

Azercell says the SIM or eSIM is free with its travel packs. Bakcell and Nar do not say on their pages whether a SIM card fee is added, so ask in the shop.

1. 1

   Bring your passport

   Take your original passport, not a copy. Azercell activates tourist packs for foreigners with a foreign passport. Nar asks for the passport you used to enter Azerbaijan.

2. 2

   Go to an official shop

   Use an operator shop, an official dealer, or the Bakcell stand at the airport. Azercell activates its packs at Azercell Exclusive offices and official dealers.

3. 3

   Choose a pack

   Tell the staff how many days you stay and how much data you use. All tourist packs last 30 days.

4. 4

   Pay and test the SIM

   Pay in the shop. Before you leave, check that mobile data works and that you can make a call.

5. 5

   Plan for the IMEI rule

   If your phone was bought abroad, register its IMEI within 30 days (see below). Note the date you first used the local SIM.

Yes, but it depends on the operator. Azercell says its travel packs come with a SIM or an eSIM for free. Bakcell says foreign citizens can get an eSIM only at its Customer Service Centres, not at every dealer, because foreigners have a different personal identification number in its system. Nar runs eSIMs through esim.nar.az, but its TouristSIM page does not say whether the tourist pack is sold as an eSIM.

First check that your phone supports eSIM and is not locked to your home operator. Dial *#06#: if you see an EID number, the phone can hold an eSIM.

Another option is a travel eSIM that you buy online before the trip from an international seller. These usually give data only, with no local number. They work in roaming on a local network, so the Azerbaijan IMEI rule does not apply. The downside is that you get no local number, so you cannot receive SMS codes sent to an Azerbaijani number.

This is the trap many visitors do not know about. Every phone brought into Azerbaijan for personal use must have its IMEI registered within 30 days. If it is not registered, the operators must block it for local SIM cards. The rule does not apply to people who use a foreign SIM in roaming.

The tourist packs last 30 days, so a short trip often ends before the phone is blocked. But the safe plan is simple: declare the phone at customs when you arrive and register it in your first week if you will use a local SIM for longer, or if you will come back. The fee is a state duty of AZN 15 to 100, set by the market price of the model.

Read the full rules, fees and steps in our IMEI registration guide and on the phone registration page.

A phone that was not declared at customs cannot be registered online. If you plan to keep a local number, declare the phone in writing when you land.

Azercell and Nar say the pack and the SIM switch off by themselves after 30 days. Azercell lets you renew a travel pack by a short code or SMS while it is active. Bakcell says its TravelSIM pack runs 30 days and the number stays valid for 90 days, so you can turn the pack on again.

If you stay longer, for work, study or a residence permit, a normal prepaid or contract number is a better choice. You will also need to register your phone, as explained above. Sroky can remind you of your registration deadline, your last day of stay and your permit dates on the reminders page.