Compared to last year, migration to Azerbaijan has increased significantly. Entering the last stages of the pandemic, lifting several restrictions and the geopolitical processes in the world have an impact on this.

Traditionally, Russia ranks first in terms of the number of visitors to Azerbaijan. If last year, 258,000 people visited our country from Russia, this figure was 309,000 in the nine months of this year. It is not excluded that the number of visitors from Russia will increase by the end of the year.

Another noteworthy fact is that there is a several times increase in the number of arrivals from Pakistan and India. Last year, 2,940 people visited our country from Pakistan, while this figure was 37,525 during the nine months of this year. Moreover, if 5,695 people came to our country from India in 2021, the number of visitors was 36,070 in 9 months of this year. There is also a several times increase in the number of arrivals from Pakistan and India. Last year, 2,940 people visited our country from Pakistan, while their number was 37,525 during the nine months of this year. In 2021, 5,695 people arrived in our country from India, and this number was 36,070 in 9 months of this year.

On the other hand, compared to the beginning of the year, the number of people visiting Azerbaijan from these countries has increased significantly. Thus, in the first quarter of this year, 2,869 people came to our country from India, in the second quarter, 12,658, and in the third quarter, 20,543. Besides, 4,987 people came to Azerbaijan from Pakistan in the first quarter, 12,963 in the second quarter, and 19,575 in the third quarter. If 478 people visited our country from India in January of this year, their number was 8626 in September. In the first month of this year, 331 people came from Pakistan, and this figure was 5432 in September.

Azer Allahverenov, chairman of the Public Council under the State Migration Service and an expert on migration issues, told APA that there was a significant increase in the number of visitors to our country compared to last year.

He noted that in particular, the number of Russian citizens coming to Azerbaijan is constantly increasing: “At the beginning of the year when the military intervention in Ukraine began, Western countries started imposing economic sanctions against Russia. This led many companies to leave the country and close down their jobs. The situation of both foreigners working in Russia and citizens of the country has become difficult. When economic sanctions began to be applied, increases in flows to Azerbaijan began to be observed. Because the activities of some companies were transferred to neighboring countries, including Azerbaijan”.

Experts noted that on September 21, the declaration of the partial mobilization also caused a large number of people to leave the territory of Russia en masse: “Several figures were voiced. It is noted that about 300 thousand Russian citizens settle in some neighboring countries. Also, an increase is felt in the number of Russian citizens coming to Azerbaijan. It is assumed that 10-15 thousand Russian citizens came to Azerbaijan over the last two weeks”.

Azer Allahverenov noted that there is also an increase in the number of those coming to our country from Pakistan and India. Reminding the closure of land borders due to the pandemic, the chairman of the Public Council said that after November 1, the special quarantine regime may or may not be extended: “If the quarantine continues, migrants whose period of stay in the country ends and who have difficulty leaving must apply again to the State Migration Service. The main thing is not to live on an illegal basis in the country’s territory”.

Mainly, the “Norma” Law Center is dealing with providing services in the direction of obtaining work and residence permits for migrants in Azerbaijan. Director of the Center, lawyer Shamil Pashayev said in an interview with APA what issues migrants mainly apply for and what kind of assistance is provided to them: “Number of foreign students is increasing year by year in Azerbaijan. This, in turn, shows its impact on migration applications. In addition, the number of migrants who wants to work in the business field and the open new workplace has increased. Especially, an increase is observed in the number of migrants coming from India, Pakistan, and recently from Russia. Because students coming from Pakistan want meals belonging to their own cuisine, the number of restaurants presenting their own cuisines is increasing.

In particular, there is an increase in the number of migrants coming from India, Pakistan, and, more recently, Russia. The number of restaurants serving their local cuisines is also increasing as students from India and Pakistan want their own cuisines. The issue of migration of chefs and other persons working in those restaurants comes up. At the same time, foreign investors are coming to our country in connection with the ongoing reconstruction works in Karabakh. As the number of foreign workers increases, so do applications for temporary and permanent residence permits. In the field of migration, there are many people who want a 1-year temporary residence permit, as well as a 5-year residence permit. In order to get a work permit, people must have a place of residence and registration. It can be both hotels and hostels, as well as rented houses. For this, those places must have official permission.”

Shamil Pashayev noted that the “Norma” Law Center provides legal assistance services in obtaining a work permit for foreigners who want to work in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and for obtaining a residence permit for foreign citizens who want to live in our country: and the implementation of the solution in accordance with the law is also carried out by us. In relation to all issues of migration, including the preparation, acquisition, and renewal of documents for employment or employment of foreigners, support for the registration of foreigners and stateless persons in the Republic of Azerbaijan, assistance in the process of obtaining visas or extending existing visas, Services such as obtaining a permanent or temporary residence permit and citizenship, legal advice on issues of dual citizenship, legal assistance in applying for citizenship, representation of clients in state bodies in case of migration issues, provision of a lawyer during the investigation of administrative violations and criminal cases are provided.

Source: Azeri-Press News Agency