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Highly Qualified Migrant’s Assessment Rules and Criteria approved in Azerbaijan.
Decision #99 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan on “Highly Qualified Migrant’s Assessment Rules" and the "Highly Qualified Migrant’s Assessment Criteria” (the “Decision”) was adopted on 3 April 2025, as part of the Highly Qualified Migrant Program. The Decision entered into force on April 4, 2025.
The Highly Qualified Migrants Program is aimed at broadening opportunities to attract highly skilled foreigners and stateless individuals to engage in paid employment in the Republic of Azerbaijan.
According to the Decision, foreigners or stateless persons (hereinafter the “applicant" or “person”) seeking classification as highly qualified migrants should apply through the "Highly Qualified Migrant" Portal (the "Portal"), which will operate based on the "one-stop-shop" principle. Submitted applications will be reviewed by the State Migration Service through the "Highly qualified migrants" subsystem, integrated into its unified migration information system. The Portal is currently under development and should be launched soon. The applications will be reviewed within 20 working. If additional investigation is needed, the review period will be extended by 10 business days, and the applicant will be informed. Applicants will be able to fill out the application form electronically in one of the following languages: Azerbaijani, Turkish, English, or Russian, and upload supporting documents such as a passport and proof of qualifications.
The assessment involves evaluation of the applicant’s knowledge and skills in his field of expertise with a passing score set at 70 (a minimum score of 70 out of 100 points in the assessment). The evaluation is conducted for one specialty. During the validity of the electronic document, evaluation for the highly qualified migrant's other specialty may also be conducted based on their respective application.
Criteria and scoring intervals are as follows:
• Experience in the field of expertise (during last 15 years): 0 – 35- (duration and relevance of work experience in the past 15 years, job position, field achievements, professional contribution)
• Compliance with the country's socio-economic development directions: 0 – 20- (how well the applicant’s skills and profession align with Azerbaijan’s priority development directions)
• Education: 0 – 15 – (university ranking, type and level of education, academic title or degree, accreditation of the institution. An applicant who has studied in an educational institution that is included in the first hundred at least in one of the ratings made by the international rating agencies such as Times Higher Education World University Rankings, QS World University Rankings and Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Ranking), in the specialty in which applicant is a specialist, will be rated at 15 (fifteen) points.)
• Financial evidence: 0 – 15 – (proof of income from employment or self-employment in the past 2 years or available funds in a bank account)
• Positive impact on the domestic labor market: 0 – 10- (applicant’s qualifications and how they can contribute to the development of the local labor market)
• Knowledge of foreign languages: 0 – 10 (valid international language certificate at least B2 level (DUOLINGO, IELTS, TOEFL, TOMER, TORFL and etc.), or having studied in Azerbaijani, Turkish, English, or Russian at a recognized institution)
If the person achieves the passing score and receives a positive opinion from the relevant state authorities, the successful applicants will receive an electronic document confirming their status as a Highly Qualified Migrant. The electronic document confirming Highly Qualified Migrant status is valid for 5 years (renewable).
As a result of being highly qualified, the Highly Qualified Migrants will be exempted from work permit requirements when working in their field of expertise, will have an extended period for holding a temporary residence permit in Azerbaijan, and receive a longer extension for that permit, and will also be eligible for applying for permanent residence permit. The Highly Qualified Migrants’ spouses and children under the age of 23 are granted the benefit of obtaining a work permit without being subject to the labour migration quota.
Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at mew@mwp.kz; ana@mwp.kz .
The Highly Qualified Migrants Program is aimed at broadening opportunities to attract highly skilled foreigners and stateless individuals to engage in paid employment in the Republic of Azerbaijan.
According to the Decision, foreigners or stateless persons (hereinafter the “applicant" or “person”) seeking classification as highly qualified migrants should apply through the "Highly Qualified Migrant" Portal (the "Portal"), which will operate based on the "one-stop-shop" principle. Submitted applications will be reviewed by the State Migration Service through the "Highly qualified migrants" subsystem, integrated into its unified migration information system. The Portal is currently under development and should be launched soon. The applications will be reviewed within 20 working. If additional investigation is needed, the review period will be extended by 10 business days, and the applicant will be informed. Applicants will be able to fill out the application form electronically in one of the following languages: Azerbaijani, Turkish, English, or Russian, and upload supporting documents such as a passport and proof of qualifications.
The assessment involves evaluation of the applicant’s knowledge and skills in his field of expertise with a passing score set at 70 (a minimum score of 70 out of 100 points in the assessment). The evaluation is conducted for one specialty. During the validity of the electronic document, evaluation for the highly qualified migrant's other specialty may also be conducted based on their respective application.
Criteria and scoring intervals are as follows:
• Experience in the field of expertise (during last 15 years): 0 – 35- (duration and relevance of work experience in the past 15 years, job position, field achievements, professional contribution)
• Compliance with the country's socio-economic development directions: 0 – 20- (how well the applicant’s skills and profession align with Azerbaijan’s priority development directions)
• Education: 0 – 15 – (university ranking, type and level of education, academic title or degree, accreditation of the institution. An applicant who has studied in an educational institution that is included in the first hundred at least in one of the ratings made by the international rating agencies such as Times Higher Education World University Rankings, QS World University Rankings and Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Ranking), in the specialty in which applicant is a specialist, will be rated at 15 (fifteen) points.)
• Financial evidence: 0 – 15 – (proof of income from employment or self-employment in the past 2 years or available funds in a bank account)
• Positive impact on the domestic labor market: 0 – 10- (applicant’s qualifications and how they can contribute to the development of the local labor market)
• Knowledge of foreign languages: 0 – 10 (valid international language certificate at least B2 level (DUOLINGO, IELTS, TOEFL, TOMER, TORFL and etc.), or having studied in Azerbaijani, Turkish, English, or Russian at a recognized institution)
If the person achieves the passing score and receives a positive opinion from the relevant state authorities, the successful applicants will receive an electronic document confirming their status as a Highly Qualified Migrant. The electronic document confirming Highly Qualified Migrant status is valid for 5 years (renewable).
As a result of being highly qualified, the Highly Qualified Migrants will be exempted from work permit requirements when working in their field of expertise, will have an extended period for holding a temporary residence permit in Azerbaijan, and receive a longer extension for that permit, and will also be eligible for applying for permanent residence permit. The Highly Qualified Migrants’ spouses and children under the age of 23 are granted the benefit of obtaining a work permit without being subject to the labour migration quota.
Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at mew@mwp.kz; ana@mwp.kz .