Azerbaijan's Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) is a talent-based immigration pathway that allows highly qualified foreign professionals to live and work in the country without a standard work permit or employer sponsorship. Established by Presidential Decree of 6 June 2024, with the legal framework codified through Migration Code amendments in December 2024 and the dedicated online portal launched in November 2025, the programme is administered by the State Migration Service through pass.gov.az. It targets professionals in priority sectors including IT, engineering, oil and gas, healthcare, finance, science, culture, and sports. A key benefit is that no pre-existing job offer is required — applicants can move to Azerbaijan and work independently in any field related to their specialty.
Eligibility is decided by a points-based assessment: applicants must score at least 70 out of 100 points. Under the revised criteria that took effect in April 2026, the scoring shifted toward demonstrated work experience and away from formal academic credentials and language ability. Points are now awarded across four factors:
The separate education and foreign-language scoring criteria used under the original 2025 rules were removed. There is no minimum income requirement and no job offer required for the initial HSMP application, but holders must work within their recognized field of expertise.
Successful applicants receive an electronic certificate confirming highly skilled migrant status, valid for up to 5 years and renewable. Separately, a temporary residence permit must be obtained through the State Migration Service; it is issued for up to 3 years and can be extended for additional 3-year periods. Processing of the HSMP status evaluation takes 20–30 business days, and residence permit processing is faster than the standard timeline for regular applicants.
Spouses and children under 23 years of age may obtain temporary residence permits. Work permits for dependants are issued outside the standard labour migration quota, so they do not count against annual industry hiring limits. Dependants also benefit from shortened processing timelines for both temporary and permanent residence permits.
Tax residency is determined by physical presence: individuals present in Azerbaijan for more than 182 days in a 12-month period are taxed on worldwide income at progressive rates up to 25%. Non-residents are taxed only on Azerbaijan-source income, with employment income taxed at a flat 14%.
The entire HSMP application is submitted online through the dedicated portal at pass.gov.az. Applicants create an account, upload required documents (authenticated and translated), and submit electronically. The portal operates on a single-window principle with real-time status tracking. Upon receiving highly skilled migrant status, the holder must separately apply for a temporary residence permit through the State Migration Service, via its electronic services portal (eservice.migration.gov.az) or ASAN Service Centers. Entry into Azerbaijan must be on a business visa. Upon arrival, the applicant must register their place of stay and submit the residence permit application.
Highly skilled migrants may apply for permanent residence after the standard qualifying period. They are exempt from the Azerbaijani language proficiency test and the rights and obligations verification that normally apply, and proof of sufficient financial means is also waived for their permanent residence applications.