(AZERBAIJAN) — President Ilham Aliyev signed a law on December 29, 2025 approving a mutual visa waiver agreement with the Sultanate of Oman for holders of diplomatic, special, and service passports.
The deal allows eligible passport holders to enter, exit and transit without visas for stays not exceeding 90 days within any 180-day period, the agreement’s terms show.
Timeline and approval process
- The agreement was initially signed in Muscat, Oman, on October 29, 2025.
- Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis (parliament) adopted the agreement on December 23, 2025.
- President Aliyev completed Azerbaijan’s ratification by signing the approving law on December 29, 2025.
The signing and adoption dates are reported by Trend News Agency, Report.az and APA.az:
– Trend News Agency
– Report.az
– APA.az
Who is covered
The visa-free terms apply to:
– Holders of valid diplomatic, special and service passports from both countries.
– Accredited staff of diplomatic missions, consulates and international organizations in either country.
– Immediate family members of the above eligible travelers.
Passports must remain valid for at least six months from the date of entry, the agreement specifies.
Key rules and limits
- Maximum stay: 90 days within any 180-day period.
- Coverage: entry, exit and transit for eligible passport holders.
- Passport validity requirement: minimum six months from entry date.
- Compliance: Eligible travelers must follow the host country’s laws on migration, border control and public security.
The agreement mirrors a common format used in mutual visa waiver arrangements, including limits on the length of stay and requirements on passport validity.
Suspension clause and safeguards
Both countries retain the right to temporarily suspend the agreement, in whole or in part, for:
– National security reasons
– Public order concerns
– Public health emergencies
The suspension clause allows either side to pause the arrangement on short notice if such concerns arise, providing a rapid safeguard commonly included in state-to-state visa facilitation agreements.
Scope and limitations
- The arrangement is targeted at official travel: diplomatic, special and service passport holders and specified accredited personnel and their families.
- It does not create a visa-free regime for ordinary passport holders (tourism or business).
- It does not remove other obligations that may apply during travel, such as compliance with local migration and border control rules.
- The 90-day cap within a 180-day window defines the frequency and length of permitted visits.
Practical details and missing information
The published reports did not include:
– An explicit effective date for when the visa waiver takes practical effect beyond the signing and approval dates.
– Specific implementing procedures at ports of entry other than the passport validity requirement and the obligation to follow host-country rules.
– Direct quotes from Aliyev or Omani officials.
Exact practical dates and entry procedures at ports of entry weren’t published. Plan contingencies with your mission, and confirm any implementing steps with consulates before travel to avoid delays.
Context and broader significance
- The agreement adds to bilateral measures aimed at easing official travel between Azerbaijan and Oman, and is seen as a step to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties.
- It fits within Oman’s broader push to expand its visa-free network to boost tourism and regional cooperation.
- The move illustrates how governments use targeted travel facilitation for officials and accredited representatives as a tool to widen official contacts.
Related U.S. context mentioned in reports
- As of December 29, 2025, U.S. immigration agencies had not issued statements on the Azerbaijan-Oman bilateral visa waiver.
- U.S. agencies typically do not comment on visa arrangements between foreign governments unless they affect U.S. border security or reciprocal U.S. travel agreements.
- In the same period, U.S. government communications focused on internal immigration policy changes:
- DHS amendments to the H-1B work visa selection process (dated December 23, 2025).
- Updated USCIS guidance to the VAWA domestic abuse program (dated December 22, 2025), referenced at USCIS newsroom.
- The U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) covers nearly 42 countries; neither Azerbaijan nor Oman is a member, so travelers from those countries generally still require a visa to enter the United States.
Practical takeaway
- The agreement facilitates short official visits, meetings and transit connections for eligible diplomatic and official passport holders, subject to the 90-days-in-180 rule, passport validity of six months, and compliance with host-country laws.
- The suspension clause preserves each state’s authority to respond quickly to security, public order or public health concerns.
Azerbaijan and Oman have established a mutual visa-free regime for diplomatic and service passport holders. Signed into law by President Ilham Aliyev, the agreement allows stays of up to 90 days within a six-month period. It covers officials and their families but does not apply to regular tourists. Both countries maintain the authority to pause the agreement for security or health reasons, emphasizing balanced bilateral cooperation.
