Azerbaijan issues 30% less residence permits in first half of 2019

Over the past six months, 75 foreigners received Azerbaijani citizenship, and 1,694 people received residence permits. This is 31% less than in the same period of 2018, Trend.az reports.

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Georgians made up the majority of those receiving a permanent residence permit – 347 people, however there were numerous applications from Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and Iran as well.  

Obtaining a residence permit in Azerbaijan (and then citizenship) is not easy. It is necessary to live in the country for several years, provide many different documents, convincingly substantiate one’s desire for citizenship and then pass an exam in the Azerbaijani language.

Another 86 foreigners asked for refugee status – largely citizens of Libya, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran.

The United Nation reports there are 2,000 registered foreign refugees in Azerbaijan.

Only those who are at risk in their homeland can receive refugee status in Azerbaijan,explains Chairman of the Hayat public association for humanitarian support Azer Allahveranov. Poverty, unemployment and other economic issues are not grounds in the eyes of the Azerbaijani government on which refugee status can be granted.