Baku: Administrative procedures for extending the temporary stay of foreign nationals in Azerbaijan will undergo digitalization following proposed legislative amendments. According to Azeri-Press News Agency, these changes are reflected in the amendments to the Migration Code and related laws, which were discussed at a session of the Milli Majlis.

Under the proposed amendments, the process for extending temporary stays will shift to an electronic format. Decisions on extensions will be issued electronically rather than on paper. Once the necessary state fee is paid, the decision will be uploaded to the applicant's electronic cabinet within the Electronic Government Information System and sent to their registered email address.

The amendments further include provisions for electronic authentication of decisions, certification with an electronic signature, and clarification of the legal framework governing electronic services. Additionally, new grounds for refusing an application to extend a temporary stay have been introduced. Specifically, failure to submit required documents under Article 41.1 of the Migration Code will now serve as a valid reason for rejection.

The draft law also proposes changes to the law "On Registration at the Place of Residence and Place of Stay," introducing a terminological amendment. Amendments to the law "On State Duty" specify that no state fee will be charged for reissuing a decision extending a foreigner's temporary stay.

A transitional provision in the draft legislation ensures that decisions issued before the law's enactment will remain valid until their expiry date. In cases where such decisions are lost, destroyed, damaged, or if there are changes in personal details, they will be reissued electronically without a state fee, uploaded to the applicant's electronic cabinet, and sent via email.

Lawmakers emphasized that these amendments aim to support the digitalization of public services, simplify document processing, enhance administrative efficiency, and align with e-governance principles. The draft law was successfully passed in the third reading.