Definitive Guide to Hiring in Azerbaijan‌

Hiring in Azerbaijan‌

Hiring employees compliantly in Azerbaijan‌ means doing it yourself or using an Employer of Record like Global Expansion. You should be careful using independent contractor agreements in Azerbaijan‌ so that you don’t run afoul of employment laws. To hire an employee compliantly and offer them mandatory benefits and compliant agreements, you can:

(a) Establish your own new legal entity, banking, accounting and payroll service in Azerbaijan‌ or

(b) use an Employer of Record like Global Expansion who can handle all of the details for you.

Labor Laws in Azerbaijan‌

Employment laws in Azerbaijan‌ are uniquely suited to the country’s way of life, and crucial to understand if you want to employ local talent in this country. Get the details on Azerbaijan‌ employment laws and Azerbaijan‌ policies here.

Employee Probation Period

• Generally, a probation period of up to three months is allowed

Annual Leave in Azerbaijan‌

• Generally, employees are allowed 21 days of vacation leave. 
• Some specialist and managerial positions provide 30 days of leave. 
• Two weeks of leave should be taken together.

Holidays in Azerbaijan‌

Maternity Leave Azerbaijan‌

• Pregnant women are entitled to a total of 126 days of paid maternity leave, which consists of 70 days before and 56 days after the expected date of delivery.

Paternity Leave Azerbaijan‌

• Fathers are entitled to 14 days of unpaid paternity leave after the birth of a baby.

Sick Leave in Azerbaijan‌

• For the first 14 days of illness, it is the responsibility of the employer to pay sick leave compensation. 
• After 14 days, sick leave is paid by the State Social Protection Fund.

Working Hours in Azerbaijan‌

A normal working day cannot exceed eight hours, and the normal working week is five days, with two days off.

Overtime in Azerbaijan‌

• Overtime is paid at the rate of 200% of the normal salary.

Notice Period in Azerbaijan‌

• If an employee’s job has been made redundant, the employer must give two months’ notice to the employee.
• During this 2-month period, the employee is able to take one day of paid time off per week for the purpose of finding new employment.

• Notice period in other circumstances is as follows: -
  
  
  • Less than 1 year of employment– 2 weeks’ notice  
  • 1-5 years of employment- 4 weeks’ notice  
  • 5-10 years of employment- 6 weeks’ notice  
  • 10+ years of employment- 9 weeks’ notice.

Severance in Azerbaijan‌

• Severance pay varies depending on the length the employee has been employed:  
  
  
  • Less than 1 year – 1 month’s salary
  • 1-5 years- 1.4 times the monthly salary 
  • 5-10 years- 1.7 times the monthly salary  
  • 10+ years – 2 times the monthly salary

Azerbaijan‌ Salary and Wages

• The standard rates that are applicable to the employees of the oil and gas and government sectors, and which will be applied after the seven-year grace period, are as follows:

• From 1 January 2019, the mandatory social security contribution rates for employment income (other than oil and gas and government sectors) are as follows for a seven-year period:

• The standard rates that are applicable to the employees of the oil and gas and government sectors, and which will be applied after the seven-year grace period, are as follows:
• Employee: 3%
• Employer: 22%
• All foreign employees are subject to social security contributions at these rates, except persons with diplomatic status and expatriate employees working under PSAs.
• Entrepreneurs who are physical persons are liable to social security contributions at rates that vary depending on the type of activities and region of operation of such entrepreneurs.

Immigration Azerbaijan‌

• Foreigners who want to visit Azerbaijan and who are from countries with which Azerbaijan has a visa regime should obtain entry visas from the respective embassy or consulate of Azerbaijan. 
• In general, entry visas are granted to foreign individuals for entry into the country. 
• Under recent changes to the migration legislation, several types of entry visas are available.

• These visas are based on the purpose of the visit and include, but are not limited to, the following: 
  
  
  • Visa for business trip purposes 
  • Visa for labor activity conduction purposes 
  • Touristic visa 
  • Visa for official visit 
    
    
• Visas are divided into single and multiple entries with the validity period of stay ranging from one month for single-entry visas to 180 days for multiple-entry visas.

• To obtain a visa from the diplomatic representations, embassies and consulates of Azerbaijan abroad or from the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, applicants must present the following items: 
  
  
  • Letter of invitation provided by a legal entity registered in Azerbaijan that is approved and certified by the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Azerbaijan before its submission to the respective Azerbaijan embassy 
  • A completed application 
  • Passport-size photographs 
  • A passport 
  • Applicable fee
• Expatriates must obtain a work permit to work in Azerbaijan. 
• Work permits are obtained through the “one window” principle or the migration online system
• Permits for staying in Azerbaijan temporarily or permanently are obtained through the “one window” principle or through the migration online system, which is designed to ease the application process. 
• Under the “one window” principle, all documents necessary for the registration of expatriates in Azerbaijan or for the obtaining of work permits for them are submitted to one state body (State Migration Service), which, in turn, coordinates the work with other state authorities and issues identification cards and work permits for expatriates. 
• The “one window” principle is likewise used to register expatriates who have already been granted permits for staying in Azerbaijan temporarily or permanently and to obtain special identifications for them. 
• Citizens of countries that have a non-visa regime with Azerbaijan, such as the Russian Federation, do not need a visa to enter Azerbaijan.

Value Added Tax (VAT) in Azerbaijan‌

• The standard rate of VAT is 18%.

Mandatory Benefits in Azerbaijan‌

• These are mandatory benefits as postulated by law
• These include probationary period, annual leave, public holidays, sick leave, maternity leave, paternity leave, overtime pay, notice period, and severance pay
• Statutory benefits also include social security benefits

Payments And Invoicing

• The following persons are liable for the filing of the annual PIT return to the tax authorities no later than 31 March of the following year:
  
  
  • Residents having taxable income that was not taxed at source or deriving income outside of Azerbaijan, including royalties.
  • Non-residents having taxable Azeri-source income not taxed in Azerbaijanz
• Independent entrepreneurs ceasing their business activities should submit the tax declaration within 30 days of cessation.
• A taxpayer who is not liable for submission of the tax declaration may also submit it for recalculation and refund of overpaid taxes.
• A taxpayer may apply for an extension of the filing deadline for three months, provided that due taxes were paid.
• Employers should transfer the withheld taxes on the same day of payment of income to employees.
• Independent entrepreneurs are required to make advance current payments no later than the 15th day of the month following each quarter. 
• The final payment of tax should be made by 31 March of the following year.

Payroll Accrual in Azerbaijan‌

Country Accruals Additional Information

Payroll Accruals Additional Information

Accrued Benefits in Azerbaijan‌

Why use Global Expansion to hire in Azerbaijan

Establishing a branch office or subsidiary in Azerbaijan can be time-consuming, expensive and complex. With such a robust labor market in place, one must pay great attention to detail when structuring employment because Azerbaijan labor laws are complex.

The company also has a responsibility to comply with specific employment practices dictated by Azerbaijan law to maintain its good standing as an equal opportunity employer.

Global Expansion makes it easy for you to expand into Azerbaijan. We'll help you hire your candidate of choice, handle HR matters and payroll, and ensure that you comply with local laws without the burden of setting up a foreign branch office or subsidiary. In addition, you'll have complete control and direction over your employees.

We enable you to stay in control of everything. Our Azerbaijan Global Professional Employer Organization (PEO) and Employer of Record (EOR) solution provides you with peace of mind to focus on running your company and the security to enter new markets.