Azerbaijan among most attractive countries for migration
By Aynur Jafarova
The demographic situation in the world is changing day by day. According to official figures, as many as 214 million people - 3 percent of the world population - lived outside their country of origin in 2010. The majority of migrants cross their borders in search of better economic and social opportunities.
Political and macroeconomic stability, security and economic growth, and favorable geographical location have turned Azerbaijan into one of the most attractive countries for migration.
Thus, the number of people applying for Azerbaijani citizenship has increased over the last two years.
In Azerbaijan, the issues related with the migration are controlled by the State Migration Service established in 2007. The main goal of the state service is to implement the state policy in the field of migration, to use labor resources rationally, to use intellectual and labor potentials of migrants, to eliminate the negative impacts of irregular migration processes, and to prevent illegal migration, including human trafficking.
In July, the State Migration Service revealed some 5,063 cases concerning infringement of requirements of administrative legislation by foreigners and stateless persons without observing rules of stay, temporary and permanent residence in Azerbaijan.
Lost documents of 16 foreigners for temporary or permanent residence were replaced with new ones. Some 314 of them were fined and their residence in the country was legalized. Decisions were made on 3,675 foreigners to leave the territory of Azerbaijan in 48 hours and on 1,058 foreigners to be removed in administrative order from the country.
The State Migration Service received 110,026 applications by foreigners upon registration on place of stay in July 2014.
In 2013, the Service issued temporary residence permits for 40,800 foreigners and stateless persons and permanent residence for 2,338 foreigners and persons without citizenship while stay of 729 people were extended in the country.
Not informed
When crossing the Azerbaijani borders, foreign guests, in particular the residents of those countries with which Azerbaijan doesn't have a visa-free regime, are not warned that they need to register if staying in the country for more than three days.
The representatives of the State Migration Service usually make contact with the migrants who enter the country, but they do not provide information about whether or not a guest should be registered.
Expert on migration issues Azer Allahveranov believes it is physically impossible for the State Migration Service to warn all the migrants crossing the Azerbaijani borders.
"All this should be conducted on an individual level and a guest who comes to the country should collect all necessary information himself/herself," he told local media.
Prior to the establishment of the State Migration Service, several non-governmental organizations were involved in enlightenment work at the checkpoints, and their representatives were handing out memos and booklets about where a foreign citizen needs to register, what documents are needed.
"However today, we rarely hear about such actions, because these companies are too expensive from a material point of view," Allahveranov said. "It would be better to launch special programs at checkpoints to provide the migrants with the necessary information. We need to develop such a new system."
How to register?
Azerbaijan has toughened its migration policy. Since April 1, 2013 foreign citizens or stateless persons who arrive in Azerbaijan for more than 3 days, should be registered at the place of stay.
For this, administration of the place where a foreign citizen or a stateless person stays or the host party should send information via the website of State Migration Service (www.migration.gov.az) , by post, e-mail ([email protected]) or directly submit an application form for registration of the place of stay and a copy of the passport (or other travel document) of this person to the State Migration Service within 3 days from the date of entry of the foreign citizen or stateless person to Azerbaijan.
Foreign citizens and stateless persons themselves may also apply for registration of the place of stay in the above-mentioned order.
The State Migration Service registers a foreign citizen or stateless person at the place of stay by entering immediate information about him/her in a single migration information system and notifies the requesting party within one business day after receiving the application.
Foreign citizens and stateless persons are registered for the following terms: a person who arrives in the country with the visa application procedure - for a period of stay specified in the visa and a person arriving without visa - for 90 days.
Stamp duty is not charged for the registration of foreign citizens and stateless persons. After departing the place of stay, the foreign citizen and stateless person or the receiving side should notify the State Migration Service about it, and he/she is removed from the register on the basis of this information.