Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Azerbaijan, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws, legal systems, and criminal penalties can be vastly different from our own; for instance, religious proselytizing by foreigners is illegal in Azerbaijan, and possession or use of illegal drugs of any kind carries stiff penalties, including fines and long prison terms.

Despite the differences between the American and Azerbaijani legal systems, there is a great deal of overlap between the two countries’ prohibitions. Trafficking in pirated goods in Azerbaijan is now prosecutable under local laws and may be prosecutable under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Azerbaijan, your U.S. passport will not help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It is very important to know the local laws of your destination.

Azerbaijan’s security apparatus is sensitive to photography, so both professional and tourist photographers have been stopped for taking photographs of facilities that may not appear to be sensitive, including oil fields, buildings, and public squares. It is strictly forbidden to take pictures of military installations and of military equipment. Photographing or visiting military depots or equipment can lead to arrest. If police stop you for taking photographs, you should cooperate. If your photographic equipment is confiscated, you should contact the U.S. Embassy to report the incident.

Arrest Notifications in Azerbaijan: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in that country, others may not. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Azerbaijan has compulsory military service for males ages 18 to 35. Men who currently have U.S. citizenship and who previously held Azerbaijani citizenship and have not completed their military requirement could face fines or arrest unless they have officially renounced their Azerbaijani citizenship. Dual citizens may renounce their Azerbaijani citizenship at any Azerbaijani Embassy or Consulate.

Azerbaijan has a mostly cash economy. Traveler’s checks are accepted only in some hotels and banks. Credit cards are becoming more widely used, but as their usage rises, there has been a corresponding increase in credit and debit card-related crime (see Crime section). Azerbaijani customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Azerbaijan of items such as firearms, religious materials, antiquities (including carpets), medications, and caviar. Under the law on currency regulation and the currency regulations of the National Bank of Azerbaijan, non-residents may take out currency resources not exceeding the equivalent of 50,000 USD in compliance with customs regulations. Non-residents can also take out currency resources not exceeding the equivalent of 10,000 USD without filling out a customs declaration form. Visitors who purchase carpets will generally require an export permit issued by the State Museum of Azerbaijan Carpet and Applied Art; many carpet shops will obtain that permit for the buyer for a fee. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Washington for specific information regarding customs requirements.

Please see our Customs Information for additional information.

WOMEN TRAVELER INFORMATION: If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals are not specifically enumerated in antidiscrimination laws. There are instances of societal intolerance, discrimination, and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity. While there are no legal impediments to the organization of LGBT events, strong societal intolerance generally prevents these events from being organized. LGBT individuals have reported that although the law prohibits dismissal of employees for reasons related to sexual orientation, employers find other reasons to dismiss them. One of the main concerns for the local LGBT community is the perceived failure of law enforcement agencies to act on violations of LGBT individuals’ rights. For more detailed information about LGBT rights in Azerbaijan, you may review the State Department’s Human Rights Report.  For further information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender travel, please read our LGBT Travel Information page.

ACCESSIBILITY: While in Azerbaijan, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from in the United States. There are no laws mandating access to public or other buildings, information, or communications for persons with disabilities. Accessibility for those with disabilities, including stores, sidewalks, road crossings, most tourists spots, and public transportation, is lacking throughout the country. Many older buildings, including buildings visited by tourists, do not have elevators or facilities to accommodate handicap access. Outside of major international hotels in Baku, there are few handicap-accessible toilets. Authorities still fail to recognize many neurological and developmental disorders, such as autism, as a form of disability.