(AZERBAIJAN) Azerbaijan moved to deepen travel ties with China by putting a mutual visa-free regime into effect on July 16, 2025, opening the door for short trips of up to 30 days per visit and a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period. The policy, which applies to tourism, short-term business visits, and transit, excludes longer stays for work, study, or journalism that still require a visa. Officials say the goal is to spur two-way tourism and trade while keeping clear rules for activities that need prior approval.
Background and recent trends
The new regime builds on a one-year unilateral visa-free policy Azerbaijan granted to Chinese citizens from July 20, 2024, to July 20, 2025. During that window, Chinese visitors could enter up to three times a year for stays of up to 30 days. The easing led to a sharp rise in arrivals: Azerbaijan welcomed 44,798 Chinese visitors in 2024, a 94% increase over 2023.
That surge appears to have carried into 2025. In the first nine months of 2025, the number of Chinese visitors to Azerbaijan rose by 51% compared with the same period a year earlier. Industry groups in Baku attribute the increases to:
- Pent-up demand for international travel
- Growing interest in Azerbaijan’s history and cuisine
- Better flight connectivity
- Simpler entry rules and targeted marketing in mainland China
Tour operators note that the simpler entry rules plus improved promotion make planning easier for both first-time and repeat travelers.
Promotion and destination offerings
The Azerbaijan Tourism Board has stepped up road shows across China with events in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. These introduce local partners, hotels, and cultural attractions and showcase experiences for different ages and budgets, such as:
- Old City walking tours and tea culture
- Nature trips in Guba
- Winter sports in Gabala
Travel sellers say these in-person promotions, along with faster border procedures under the visa-free policy, help convert curiosity into bookings.
Air connectivity
Air links have improved, with:
- Regular direct flights between Baku and Beijing
- Services connecting Baku and Urumqi
These routes shorten travel times and reduce connections for group tours and independent travelers. Carriers and agents emphasize that flight certainty matters for Chinese families planning peak-season holidays and for tour groups arranging multi-day itineraries through the South Caucasus.
Strategic context
The policy shift is part of a broader push to expand Azerbaijan–China cooperation. On April 23, 2025, during President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to China, the two countries signed a Joint Statement on the Establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The document outlines cooperation across multiple sectors, including tourism.
Travel industry leaders in Baku view the visa-free regime as the most immediate change felt by everyday visitors and small businesses.
China Visitors Summit — November 2025
As the peak autumn travel period approached, officials and private partners prepared to host the China Visitors Summit in Baku from November 16 to 21, 2025. The meeting brings Chinese tour operators together with local hotels, guides, and destination managers to discuss:
- Packages
- Marketing
- Digital sales
Organizers say face-to-face dealmaking can lock in multi-season contracts—helpful for balancing group travel with more flexible independent tourism.
Border clarity and policy design
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, aligning the mutual visa-free rules with clear boundaries for longer stays helps reduce confusion at the border while still making short trips simple. The site notes:
- The 30-day per visit cap and 90 days within 180 days total are common in visa waiver systems and give travelers predictable planning windows.
- Explicit exclusions for employment, education, and media work steer applicants toward proper visas before departure, preventing denial of entry on arrival.
Keeping the rules clear and predictable reduces border confusion while preserving established routes for longer-term activities that require visas.
For official entry information, travelers can consult the Azerbaijan State Migration Service’s guidance on stay limits and visa categories at the State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Economic effects and business responses
Travel companies in Baku report that Chinese visitors often combine city stays with day trips to wine regions and mountain towns, spending on food, crafts, and wellness services. Other observations:
- Hoteliers say business travelers from China often extend stays around meetings to visit the Old City and the Flame Towers.
- Retailers note the return of group tours and growth in small family groups using mobile payment platforms and booking experiences online.
- Organizers of regional fairs expect more Chinese exhibitors and buyers as calendars fill, potentially leading to repeat trips and partnerships that later move to longer-term projects via proper visa channels.
Local businesses expect spillover benefits in transport, food service, and entertainment as arrivals grow. Boutique operators hope tourism spreads beyond peak seasons into shoulder months, supporting steadier employment.
Preparations for Chinese visitors
Cultural venues and museums plan extended programming aimed at Chinese audiences, using:
- Bilingual materials
- Timed-entry systems to handle groups
- More Mandarin-language services
- Frontline staff training on payment methods, safety, and local customs
Companies are preparing to answer common traveler questions and to support smoother experiences.
Compliance, limits, and traveler advice
Government agencies stress the rules remain narrow for short visits and that compliance matters. Key points:
- The mutual visa-free system does not allow foreigners to work, study, or engage in journalism in Azerbaijan without the appropriate visa.
- Travelers who wish to pursue those activities must apply in advance through standard channels.
- Visitors should track their days in the country to stay within the 30 days per visit and 90 days within 180 days limits.
- Overstays can result in fines or restrictions on future entry.
Travel guides recommend keeping proof of entry dates and outbound bookings. Airlines and tour companies say they will continue to brief travelers to keep trips smooth and stress-free.
Business and trade implications
The visa-free arrangement supports short-term business visits: company representatives can attend meetings, site visits, and trade events without an extra visa step, provided they adhere to permitted activities and time frames.
Organizers of fairs and trade events expect:
- More Chinese exhibitors and buyers
- Greater potential for repeat business and eventual larger projects via proper visas
Outlook
For now, the focus remains on sustaining the rise in visitors from China while keeping border rules clear and predictable. Azerbaijan’s tourism authorities plan to:
- Continue road shows in key Chinese cities
- Expand digital campaigns highlighting new routes, seasonal festivals, and family-friendly packages
- Support infrastructure and services that cater to Chinese travelers
With the mutual visa-free policy in place and major trade and tourism events on the calendar, officials and industry players are banking on steady growth through the end of 2025 and into the next travel cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
This Article in a Nutshell
Azerbaijan and China launched a mutual visa-free policy on July 16, 2025, enabling 30-day visits and up to 90 days within 180 days for tourism, short-term business and transit. The measure builds on a 2024 unilateral waiver that produced a 94% rise in Chinese arrivals. Improved air routes, targeted road shows in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, and local business preparations aim to convert interest into bookings. Exclusions for work, study and journalism remain; travelers must monitor stay limits to avoid fines. Officials expect steady visitor growth through 2025.
