Azerbaijan, Maldives Leaders Discuss Streamlining Visas, Boosting Mutual Investment

(BAKU) Azerbaijan and the Maldives have moved to ease official travel and boost two-way investment after a year of steady diplomacy that began during the COP29 summit in Baku in November 2024. The core change: as of June 18, 2025, holders of diplomatic, service, and official passports from both countries may enter, transit, and stay without a visa for up to 90 days per visit. Officials in Baku and Malé say the new travel regime, paired with a tourism cooperation memorandum and targeted business outreach, is meant to build a wider bridge for future trade, education links, and people-to-people contacts. There is no change yet for ordinary passport holders, but both governments have agreed to study broader exemptions in the months ahead.

The visa decision caps a sequence of steps that began with the signing of the Agreement on Mutual Exemption of Visa Requirements on November 15, 2024, on the sidelines of COP29. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel signed the accord in Baku. Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis (Parliament) approved it on December 27, 2024, followed by presidential ratification. The agreement entered into force on June 18, 2025, setting the 90-day ceiling for each visit by eligible passport holders. Diplomats and other officials from both sides are now free to plan missions, attend working groups, and conduct long-stay talks without filing visa applications in advance.

January 2025 then brought the first bilateral consultations in Malé, led by Maldivian Foreign Secretary Fathimath Inaya and Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov. That meeting coincided with a high-level Azerbaijani delegation visit from January 13–16, 2025, for an Information Forum focused on investment prospects in renewable energy, housing, infrastructure, sustainable tourism, logistics, transport, and aviation. Maldivian ministries and state-owned companies presented concrete projects to the visiting delegation, while senior officials from both sides discussed how to match investors with real opportunities and simplify future business travel once groundwork is in place.

A tourism cooperation memorandum, signed alongside the visa agreement, aims to draw more visitors and encourage joint promotion and cultural exchange. The document is not a visa waiver for regular travelers, but it sets a shared agenda for tourism development that could, over time, support easier travel frameworks. Officials in both capitals have also floated the idea of direct flights between the two countries to make trips shorter and smoother; the plan remains a topic of discussion without implementation as of September 1, 2025.

Policy Changes Overview

The visa procedures adjustment is narrow but clear. Under the agreement that took effect on June 18, 2025, the following now applies:

• Eligible passports: diplomatic, service, and official passports issued by Azerbaijan or the Maldives.
• Core benefit: visa-free entry, transit, and stay for up to 90 days per visit.
• Purpose: official business, diplomatic missions, and government exchanges.
• Scope: bilateral; ordinary passport holders remain subject to existing visa rules.

Authorities describe the accord as a first, measured step toward easier movement for more people later. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, focusing first on diplomats and officials allows both countries to test systems, improve coordination, and build trust before considering a wider policy for the general public. This staged approach also reduces immediate pressure on border control infrastructure while still giving state agencies the mobility they need to expand cooperation.

The document’s path from signing to full effect followed standard procedure:

1. Signed on November 15, 2024 in Baku (COP29 sidelines).
2. Milli Majlis approved on December 27, 2024.
3. Presidential ratification completed domestic legal steps.
4. Entered into force on June 18, 2025, synchronized with administrative readiness.

By limiting the initial waiver to official and diplomatic travel, both countries balanced ambition with a practical rollout.

Economic Outreach and Investment Focus

Officials have paired the travel change with sustained economic outreach. The January 2025 Information Forum in Malé spotlighted joint ventures and foreign direct investment flows between Azerbaijan and the Maldives. Presenters focused on sectors where both sides see room to grow:

• Renewable energy: solar, battery storage, microgrids to cut diesel dependence and strengthen island resilience.
• Infrastructure and housing: flood-resilient construction and public housing to support tourism workforces.
• Sustainable tourism: reef-safe resort design, waste systems, and local skills training.
• Logistics and aviation: cold-chain upgrades and improved connectivity for island-to-island and international links.
• Real estate tied to public services: mixed-use developments near transport corridors.

Azerbaijani agencies, including the Export and Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO), and Maldivian state counterparts are coordinating to guide investors to sector contacts and regulatory support. Maldivian ministries and state-owned companies presented concrete projects to the Azerbaijani delegation, and officials discussed matching investors with opportunities and simplifying business travel once groundwork is established.

Impact on Applicants

The change is most immediate for state employees holding diplomatic, service, or official passports. Practical implications:

• Planning official trips is simpler and faster—no need to gather visa paperwork weeks ahead.
• The 90-day flexibility supports longer assignments and multi-visit projects without repeated visa processing.
• Technical teams can conduct site checks, supplier reviews, and contract drafts across repeated visits within the 90-day window.

Practical steps for eligible travelers:

• Confirm passport type: Ensure you hold a valid diplomatic, service, or official passport issued by Azerbaijan or the Maldives.
• Book travel without a prior visa: You may enter, transit, or stay for up to 90 days per visit.
• Follow local laws: Usual border checks and legal obligations apply; the waiver does not cover private business activities outside official duties.
• Plan multi-visit projects carefully: Track visits and keep documentation showing the official nature of travel.

Investors and businesses benefit indirectly: improved access to decision-makers, faster scheduling of site visits, and clearer communication with regulators and tender committees as working groups meet more often.

Tourism Memorandum and Connectivity

The tourism cooperation memorandum signed in November 2024:

• Commits both sides to joint promotion, information-sharing, and cultural activities.
• Does not change visa rules for tourists, but sets the framework for travel fairs, coordinated marketing, and training that could ease packages once air links improve.

Officials have proposed direct flights to shorten travel times and boost tourism and trade. No schedule or carrier has been confirmed; airlines would need to assess demand, aircraft availability, and seasonality. Until direct flights are launched, travelers will route through regional hubs.

Implementation, Next Steps, and Timelines

Key timeline highlights:

• Signed: November 15, 2024.
• Parliamentary approval (Azerbaijan): December 27, 2024.
• Entered into force: June 18, 2025.
• Tourism memorandum: Active since November 2024.
• First bilateral consultations & Information Forum: January 13–16, 2025.

Policy discussions about a wider visa waiver for ordinary passport holders are ongoing. No date or framework has been announced. Any broader exemption would require additional legal steps, border staff guidance, and public notices across embassy and ministry pages.

Key Stakeholders

• Presidents: Ilham Aliyev (Azerbaijan) and Dr. Mohamed Muizzu (Maldives).
• Foreign ministers: Jeyhun Bayramov and Dr. Abdulla Khaleel.
• Senior officials: Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov, Foreign Secretary Fathimath Inaya, Ambassador-at-Large Abdullah Hameed.
• Agencies: AZPROMO and Maldivian state bodies leading investment tracks.

Officials say the paired focus on eased official travel and practical investment matchmaking is intended to produce real projects rather than paper commitments.

Practical Checklists

For diplomats and officials:

• Passport validity: Ensure diplomatic/service/official passport is valid for travel and return.
• Official purpose: Carry assignment letters or mission orders to demonstrate official status if requested.
• 90-day rule: Monitor days in country; the waiver allows up to 90 days per visit.
• Compliance: Respect local laws and limits of official duties.

For businesses:

• Expect improved access to decision-makers, faster scheduling of site visits, and better clarity on procurement and regulatory steps.
• Use government-led outreach to identify relevant agencies for land use, marine permits, energy tariffs, and airport concessions.
• Prepare for due diligence, regular contact with state agencies, and realistic timelines.

For the public:

• There is no new visa waiver for ordinary passport holders as of September 1, 2025.
• Follow official updates and embassy notices for any pilot programs or future changes.
• If direct flights are announced later, tour operators may develop packages aligned with school or holiday periods.

Wider Context and Expected Outcomes

Azerbaijan and the Maldives have long enjoyed friendly ties, but the recent activity accelerated after COP29. Analysts note that starting with officials is a cautious method to build institutional experience while managing border and security systems.

Expected measures of success for policymakers include:

• Signed investment deals in renewable energy or tourism.
• Follow-up forums that move projects into procurement and implementation.
• Steps toward broader visa access for ordinary citizens and possible direct air links.

Officials emphasize that the approach is incremental but deliberate: eased official travel plus focused economic cooperation. If talks on direct flights and wider visa access advance, both sides could see a rise in tourism and trade. Until then, the 90-day visa-free rule for diplomatic, service, and official passport holders will keep officials moving, forums meeting, and plans taking shape.

Important: For official confirmations and updates, check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives. Current guidance and notices are posted at the Ministry’s website: https://www.foreign.gov.mv.

In summary, the Azerbaijan–Maldives track is moving on two rails: eased official travel (90-day visa-free visits for eligible passport holders) and focused economic cooperation through forums and the tourism memorandum. Both sides are building working channels for investment and sector development while studying broader visa options that could benefit citizens, students, and families in the future.