Just Landed in Azerbaijan? Your First 7 Days

Coverage in Baku and along the main corridors is strong 4G with 5G rolling out in the capital; rural and mountain areas thin out quickly. All SIMs require passport registration at the point of sale, and crucially your phone's IMEI must be registered within 30 days of first connecting to a local network or the handset is blocked.

Typical cost: Prepaid monthly bundles run roughly 10-25 AZN for generous data and local minutes across all three operators. The one-off IMEI registration fee is tiered by device value, from about 20 AZN for a budget phone up to around 100 AZN for a flagship.

The manat is cash-heavy day to day, though contactless cards are accepted in Baku supermarkets, malls and chain restaurants. Carry cash for taxis, bazaars, small eateries and essentially everything outside the capital, where card terminals and ATMs are scarce.

Opening an account: PASHA Bank, Kapital Bank, ABB (the International Bank of Azerbaijan) and Bank Respublika open accounts for foreigners, but in practice most now require a temporary residence card alongside your passport and a registered address. Without residency you may be refused or limited, so line up your residence permit first; turnaround is then usually a few days.

Cash: Cash is king outside modern Baku venues. ATMs are common across the city but genuinely scarce in the regions, so withdraw enough before travelling out, and keep small notes because change for large bills is often a problem.

Tipping: Not obligatory but appreciated. Leaving around 10 percent in restaurants is common, though many mid-range and upmarket places already add a service charge, so check the itemised bill before adding more.

Foreigners must register their place of residence with the State Migration Service within 15 days of arrival. Hotels file this automatically for guests, but if you rent privately you or your landlord must submit it yourself. Registration is separate from, and a prerequisite for, applying for a temporary residence permit if you intend to stay, work or open a bank account. Keep the confirmation slip, as it is requested by other offices.

Deadline: Within 15 days of arrival

Where: State Migration Service, ASAN xidmet service centres, or online via the migration.gov.az e-services portal

Baku has a clean, cheap metro plus extensive city buses, all paid with a BakiKart rather than cash, and a single metro ride costs just 0.60 AZN. Ride-hailing apps are inexpensive and remove the language barrier and haggling of street taxis, which is why most newcomers rely on them.

From the airport: Heydar Aliyev International Airport is about 25 km northeast of the centre. The H1 Airport Express bus runs to the 28 May metro area and is paid by BakiKart for roughly 1.30-1.50 AZN, though it is infrequent. A Bolt or licensed taxi to central Baku costs around 20-30 AZN and takes 30-40 minutes depending on traffic; agree an app price rather than accepting a driver's flat quote at the kerb.

Most expats rent furnished flats in central Baku districts such as Nasimi, Yasamal, Sahil and the edges of the Old City (Icherisheher), found through agents or listings on Bina.az and Tap.az. Contracts are frequently informal and verbal, so insist on written terms covering rent, deposit and notice, ideally with someone who reads Azerbaijani or Russian.

Typical rent: A furnished one-bedroom in central Baku runs roughly 600-1,200 AZN a month, more for a sea view or a newer building, and noticeably less in outer districts like Ahmedli or Khirdalan.

Deposit norm: One month's rent as a deposit is standard, often with the first month paid upfront, and agents commonly charge a finder's fee of up to one month's rent. Get every payment receipted, because informal deals can make deposits hard to recover.

Public healthcare is uneven and delivered mostly in Azerbaijani, so nearly all expats use private clinics in Baku for reliable care in English or Russian. Standards at the best private hospitals are good for routine needs, but serious or specialist cases are frequently referred abroad, most often to Turkey.

How to access it: Walk in or book directly at private facilities such as Bona Dea International Hospital, MediClub, Baku Medical Plaza or Central Hospital. You pay per visit, typically 40-100 AZN for a consultation, and claim it back on insurance. Pharmacies (aptek) are widespread and can advise on minor issues without a prescription.

Insurance: Compulsory state medical insurance covers registered residents at public facilities, but comprehensive private international health insurance is strongly recommended for quality private care and, importantly, medical-evacuation cover given that complex cases are often treated overseas.

• Accept tea (chai) when it is offered, because sharing tea is central to hospitality and refusing can seem cold or distant.
• Remove your shoes when entering someone's home, and bring a small gift such as sweets, pastries or fruit.
• Greet older people first and with a little formality; respect for elders is deeply ingrained and noticed.
• Dress modestly at mosques, and women should cover the head; Azerbaijan is secular but courtesy at religious sites matters.
• Learn a few words of Azerbaijani or Russian, as visible effort is warmly received even where English is limited.
• Expect generous, sometimes insistent hospitality at meals; it is polite to try a bit of everything and to accept second helpings.
• When invited out, hosts often insist on paying the whole bill; a genuine offer to contribute is polite, but do not push hard against a firm host.

• Avoid public discussion of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and Armenia, which is highly sensitive and can cause real offence.
• Any Armenian passport stamp or open sympathy toward Armenia can create serious problems at the border and beyond.
• Photographing government buildings, police, military sites, border areas or the presidential palace is discouraged and can draw scrutiny.
• Be measured when discussing domestic politics or criticising the government, especially online, as the environment for open dissent is restricted.
• Do not assume alcohol-free or overtly religious conservatism; Baku is cosmopolitan, but read the room, particularly outside the capital.