ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS:  A passport and visa are required.  Travelers may obtain single-entry visas for USD 40 by mail or in person from either the Azerbaijani Embassy in Washington, D.C. or any other Azerbaijani embassy offering consular services.  Travelers may also obtain single-entry, 30-day visas at the airport upon arrival.  Visas are not available at the land border with Georgia.  Double-entry, 90-day visas (cost $80 U.S.) and one-year multiple-entry visas (cost $250 U.S.) are only available through an Azerbaijani embassy or through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  A letter of invitation from a contact in Azerbaijan is required, and travelers who expect to travel in the region should request a one-year, multiple-entry visa.  According to Azerbaijani law, foreign nationals intending to remain in Azerbaijan for more than 30 days must register with local police within three days of their arrival.

American citizens of Armenian ancestry have had visa applications denied by the Government of Azerbaijan on the grounds that their safety cannot be guaranteed.

U.S. citizens who obtain a one-entry visa at the port of entry are permitted to remain in Azerbaijan for up to one month, after which an extension of stay must be requested.  For persons in Azerbaijan, visa applications, extensions or renewals are made at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shikhali Kurbanov Str., 4, Baku; tel. (9-9412) 492 34 01.  For additional information, please contact the Embassy of Azerbaijan, 2741 34th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008 (tel. 202-337-3500); e-mail: azerbaijan@azembassy.com.  Visit the Embassy of Azerbaijan website at http://www.azembassy.us/ for the most current visa information.

MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION:  A few Western-type medical clinics, the quality of which is comparable to those in Western countries, are operating in Baku.  The quality of these clinics is good.  However, medical facilities outside the capital remain inadequate, unsanitary, and unsafe.  There is often a shortage of basic medical supplies, including disposable needles and vaccines.

Avian Influenza:  The WHO and Azerbaijani authorities have confirmed human cases of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza, commonly known as "bird flu."  Travelers to Azerbaijan and other countries affected by the virus are cautioned to avoid poultry farms, contact with animals in live food markets, and any surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces from poultry or other animals.  In addition, the CDC and WHO recommend eating only fully cooked poultry and eggs. 

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747)

MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. 

REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION:  Americans living or traveling in Azerbaijan are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department website and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Azerbaijan.  Americans without Internet access may register directly with the U.S. Embassy.  By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency.  The U.S. Embassy is located at Prospect Azadlig 83; tel. (9-9412) 498-03-35, 36, or 37; (9-9412) 490-66-71; email: ConsularBaku@state.gov; web site: http://www.usembassybaku.org.  Travelers are encouraged to notify the embassy before their permanent departure from the country.