Baku: Administrative procedures for extending the temporary stay of foreign nationals in Azerbaijan will be digitized under the proposed legislative amendments, APA reports. This development comes as part of a series of changes discussed at the recent session of the Milli Majlis, focusing on modernizing the Migration Code and related laws.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the amendments propose that decisions on extending temporary stays will be processed electronically rather than in paper form. Once the requisite state fee is paid, applicants will receive their decisions via an electronic cabinet in the Electronic Government Information System and their registered email addresses.

The legislative changes include provisions for electronic authentication and certification with an electronic signature, alongside clarifying the legal framework for electronic services. Additionally, failure to submit required documents under Article 41.1 of the Migration Code will now serve as a legal ground for refusal of an extension application.

Furthermore, the draft law suggests terminological updates to the law "On Registration at the Place of Residence and Place of Stay." Amendments to the "On State Duty" law indicate that no state fee will be levied for the reissuance of extension decisions.

A transitional clause ensures that decisions made before the law's enactment remain valid until expiry. In cases of loss, damage, or changes in personal details, decisions will be reissued electronically without a fee, accessible through the government's electronic system.

Lawmakers highlighted that these amendments aim to promote the digitalization of public services, simplify document processing, enhance administrative efficiency, and align with e-governance principles. The draft law successfully passed its first reading after a vote.