Azerbaijan visa in Batumi, Tbilisi or Kars?
Replies: 8 - Last Post: May 10, 2013 12:40 AM Last Post By: maxtinez
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Azerbaijan visa in Batumi, Tbilisi or Kars?
Hey Everyone,I am a German citizen currently based in Turkey and planning to travel the Caucasus & Iran in the coming weeks.
I want to cross the Georgia-Azeri border, and I still need to get my AZ visa.
Prior posts suggest that Batumi in Georgia is the easiest place to get the visa, however I could not find a recent report on this. Can anyone confirm that Batumi is still the best place to pick up the visa? One person also suggested that the Embassy there does not keep the passport for the 3 day process, does this mean I can 1) go from Turkey to Batum and apply for the visa 2) go back to Turkey 3) come back to pick up the visa a couple of days later?
Did anyone get the visa from Turkey (either Kars, Istanbul, Ankara) ? How was the process there, what were the requirements and how long did it take?
Thank you for your answers!
1
I'm living in Tbilisi and used an agency directly across from the Azerbaijan consulate. I have an American passport and everything included was $220usd. For a German passport, it was 160usd. The guy who runs the agency is named Goga and, was really personable. Everything was handled in three days.My friend coming with currently lives in Batumi, and plans on making his way to an agency there on Tuesday, so I can keep you posted.
2
Countless travellers have recently reported that getting the visa in Batumi is BY FAR the best bet. They do not ask for agencies or LOIs. Just a straight forward application. Of course, being Azerbaijan, this could change at any time, without notice. But for now, it's the 'go-to' place.4
Forget Batumi, I got my Azeri visa in Tbilis at the X-Tour travel agency right near the embassy just 2 weeks ago, it was dead easy. I didn't need any LOI's, hotel reservations, nothing. I am Australian and it costed just over $100. I handed my application and passport in, went to Mestia for a few days hiking, came back and it was ready. The girls there are very friendly and speak good english. Unless you plan on visiting Batumi I wouldn't make a special trip there to precure a azeri visa, do it in Tbilisi.5
Certain nationalities such as new zealanders pay 35euros for this visa. Most europeans pay 75 euros. Don't know about aussies. The all point of going to Batumi (which is by the way worth a short stay and a good stop from Turkey en route to the rest of Caucasus) is to pay the flat visa fee without any agency commission.Requirements in Batumi: 2 pictures, one copy of passport. Applications are provided and filled at the consulate.
6
Some people have recently suggested on that thread:http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2225876
that Azeri visas emitted in Georgia have an entry date that starts at the date of issue. That seems a bit surprising, but if this is the case, then having your visa issued in Batumi would mean a bit of a rush to exit Azerbaijan within 30 days, especially if you want to loop into Armenia in the mean time.
Could anyone please confirm that you can decide of your entry date in Azerbaijan when having your visa issued in Batumi?
thanks
