Azerbaijan detains thousands of foreigners over migration breaches, deports hundreds

In the third quarter of 2025, Azerbaijan’s State Migration Service issued 7,718 decisions regarding the stay, residence, and employment of foreigners and stateless persons in the country.

According to the migration service, 3,245 foreigners were detained during the period as part of measures to combat irregular migration, Caliber.Az reports.

The foreign nationals in question were found to be living in Azerbaijan illegally—without proper documents, engaging in activities that did not match their stated purpose of stay, working unlawfully, or not residing at their registered addresses, the service stated.

Of those who violated migration laws, 429 were deported from Azerbaijan, while others were allowed to legalise their status or leave voluntarily.

Investigations also revealed three cases of organised illegal migration, which have been referred to law enforcement authorities.

By Khagan Isayev