Since the spring of 2020, Azerbaijan has kept its land borders closed to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Although general pandemic-related travel restrictions were lifted on March 28, 2023—allowing passengers to enter the country without presenting specific health documents—the closure of land borders has remained in place.
While air travel has gradually resumed, overland travel is still suspended, with only limited exemptions granted by the authorities. In practice, this means foreign travelers have been able to enter Azerbaijan only by air for more than five years.
Azerbaijan extends its special quarantine regime
On September 22, 2025, Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov signed a resolution extending the country’s special quarantine regime until January 1, 2026.
Originally scheduled to expire in fall 2025, this extraordinary measure—already extended multiple times since travel-related health restrictions were lifted in March 2023—has now been renewed for another three months, keeping land borders closed through the end of the year.
“In order to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) within the country and to mitigate the negative consequences it may cause, the special quarantine regime on the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan is extended until 6:00 a.m. on January 1, 2026,” the resolution states.
The text also amends several legal provisions, replacing the previous expiration date of October 1, 2025, with January 1, 2026, thus formalizing the continuation of the measure.
According to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under current COVID-19 regulations, foreign nationals and stateless persons are permitted to enter and leave the country only by air. Overland borders remain closed to passenger traffic and may only be used for freight transportation “with the necessary permission of The Task Force under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan.”
While land borders will stay closed at least until January 1, 2026, Azerbaijan continues to work on maintaining its international appeal. For instance, in connection with the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Baku, won this past weekend by Max Verstappen, the country recently streamlined its visa procedures for foreign spectators.
