Your Exit Permit: How to Negotiate with the System and Obtain a Foreign Passport in Azerbaijan

The moral of the story is simple: your foreign passport is a lottery in which the stake is your time and your nerves.

Forget tedious instructions. Obtaining a foreign passport in Azerbaijan is not bureaucracy—it is a full-fledged quest. And we shall complete it with a wry smile.

You may already be imagining yourself sipping a cocktail on a Caribbean beach, or strolling through the narrow streets of Istanbul. Excellent. Meanwhile, your passport is calmly resting in a department of the Main Passport Administration, and you still have no idea when you will collect it. Do not panic. This is Azerbaijan—everything is negotiable here. The key is knowing which buttons to press.

Spoiler: the most important button bears the image of the manat.

How Much Does Your Freedom Cost?

The price ranges from “economy” to “I need it now!”

In reality, the state offers you a choice—not between “yes” and “no,” but between “fast and expensive” and “cheap and someday.” It resembles a mobile phone plan, except that instead of gigabytes you purchase the right to leave the country.

1. Plan “I’m Not in a Hurry, I Still Have Netflix”
   10 working days — 60 manats.
   Ideal for those who are merely considering a trip. The price is comparable to two good dinners at a restaurant.
   
   
2. Plan “My Suitcases Are Already Packed”
   5 working days — 120 manats.
   The price doubles, the waiting time is halved. The arithmetic is as simple as a child’s construction set: you pay for speed.
   
   
3. Plan “The Plane Takes Off the Day After Tomorrow!”
   1 working day — 210 manats.
   Designed for panic-stricken travelers, romantics, and those who suddenly discover that they have already purchased a tour package. This is no longer two dinners, but a festive meal for a large family. Yet who counts money when your vacation is at stake?

Sidebar: “What About Children?”

Children are the flowers of life, but their foreign passports also require payment. The tariffs differ: from 15 manats (up to 1 year old, 10 days) to 155 manats (ages 3–18, 1 day). One consolation remains: your three-year-old is unlikely to demand a one-day passport—unless, of course, he is a prodigy with plans to attend a business conference in Dubai.

A paradox worth noting: replacing a damaged passport due to an error on the part of the authorities is free of charge and takes one day. Conclusion: sometimes being right is quite profitable.

Assembling the Dossier: Sherlock Holmes vs. the Draft Office

Documents. Sounds intimidating? In practice, there are very few.

1. Identity card (şəxsiyyət vəsiqəsi). Without it, you are merely a shadow.
   
   
2. For men aged 18–30: a military ID or a “white ticket.”
   This is where the real detective story begins. Your sacred duty is to prove to the state that you have either served, are unfit for service, or possess a lawful deferment. Without this document, you will not be flying anywhere—except, perhaps, to the enlistment office. This is not a joke.

Insert: “Urgent! A Matter of Life and Death”

There exist magic words that open all doors: “urgent medical treatment,” “serious illness,” or “death of a close relative abroad.” If you can provide official documentation confirming such circumstances, you will receive your passport within two working days at the standard price of 60 manats. Tragic, but effective. One caveat: do not attempt to falsify documents. Bureaucracy has a keen sense of counterfeit certificates.

The Quest “Submission–Collection”: Your Route Is Planned

In the past, one had to endure kilometer-long queues. Today, we live in the era of digital Azerbaijan.

Step 1. Application.
Visit bpqmi.gov.az. Do not be alarmed if the design appears austere—the functionality is what matters. Look for “Electronic Queue” or “Appointment.” Complete the application, select a convenient office (for example, Rashid Behbudov Street, 130, or any other), and choose a time. That is all. You have just saved yourself three hours of life.

Step 2. Visit.
Arrive at the chosen time (punctuality is essential). Bring the document package listed above. An officer will verify and collect the documents. You will then pay the state fee. Money prefers discretion, so be prepared for either cash or cashless payment.

Step 3. Waiting—the Nerve Game.
You will receive an SMS. Yes, an ordinary text message, like one from a bank or a friend: “Your passport is ready.” It is a beautiful message. After that, you may collect it on any day—yes, even on a weekend. This is a rare instance in which the state works for you around the clock (almost).

What If Something Goes Wrong? (Yes, It Happens)

1. Scenario: “I Lost It!”
   Do not worry—these things happen. Just be prepared to pay. Penalties for loss or damage range from 75 manats (10 days) to 220 manats (1 day). A costly price for carelessness, is it not?
   
   
2. Scenario: “It’s Urgent, and I Have No Passport!”
   You applied for the 10-day option, but suddenly an urgent contract or a last-minute tour appears. In theory, you can attempt to “accelerate” the process by paying the difference. In practice, this lies in the realm of off-tariff negotiations. Good luck.

Finale: Your Passport Awaits You

The bold conclusion is this: obtaining a foreign passport in Azerbaijan is not a petition—it is a transaction. You pay in manats, and the state grants you freedom of movement. The faster you want it, the more expensive the deal.

The most important thing is to begin. The world is vast, and a passport’s validity is long. Do not allow bureaucracy to steal from you a plane ticket to another life—even if that ticket costs 210 manats.