Update
January 10, 2024

Information for U.S. Citizens in the Middle East

Intercountry Adoption

English

Country Information

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan
Republic of Azerbaijan
Exercise increased caution in Azerbaijan due to terrorism concerns and areas of armed conflict. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Reissued after periodic review with general security updates.

Exercise increased caution in Azerbaijan due to terrorism concerns and areas of armed conflict. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. 

Do not travel to:

  • The border region with Armenia.
  • The Nagorno-Karabakh region and surrounding territories due to recent hostilities.

Country Summary: Terrorist groups that continue to plot attacks pose a risk in Azerbaijan. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas. 

Until September 2020 the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding territories were under Armenian control. Following armed hostilities in the fall of 2020 and fall of 2023, Azerbaijan took control of these seven territories and Nagorno-Karabakh. Further military activity could occur in the region.  

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Azerbaijan.

If you decide to travel to Azerbaijan:

Border with Armenia– Level 4: Do Not Travel
There is the potential for fighting along the Azerbaijan-Armenia border as part of the ongoing armed conflict. U.S. citizens should avoid the area.  Exercise caution on roads near Azerbaijan’s border with Armenia. Be aware that some portions of the road may cross international boundaries without notice. Roads may be controlled by checkpoints or closed to travelers without notice. The U.S. embassy has prohibited embassy employees and their families from non-essential travel to the border region. 

Nagorno-Karabakh – Level 4: Do Not Travel
The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in and around Nagorno-Karabakh due to landmine contamination and restricted access.

... [READ MORE]

Hague Convention Participation

Hague Adoption Convention Country?
Yes
Are Intercountry Adoptions between this country and the United States possible?
Intercountry adoptions to the United States from Azerbaijan and from the United States to Azerbaijan are possible.

Hague Convention Information

Intercountry adoptions between the United States and Azerbaijan are possible; however, they remain very rare. Few children in Azerbaijan are eligible for adoption and priority is placed on domestic adoption.

Please see our section on Adoptions from the United States for more information on the process for adopting a child from the United States. We urge prospective adoptive parents residing abroad who are considering adoption of a child from the United States to consult with Azerbaijan’s Central Authority, the State Committee for Family, Women and Children’s Affairs, for its determination as to whether it considers your adoption to be subject to the Convention.

Azerbaijan is a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Convention). Intercountry adoption processing in Convention countries must be done in accordance with the Convention; the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA); the IAA’s implementing regulations; and all applicable legislation and regulations of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan is not considered a country of origin for intercountry adoption at this time. While adoption is legally possible, children from Azerbaijan are not generally placed for intercountry adoption. Only two children from Azerbaijan have received a U.S. immigrant visa based on an intercountry adoption in the past five fiscal years. The information provided is intended primarily to assist in extremely rare adoption cases from Azerbaijan, including adoptions of children from Azerbaijan by relatives in the United States, as well as adoptions from third countries by U.S. citizens living in Azerbaijan.

Below is the limited adoption information the Department has obtained from the Central Authority of Azerbaijan. U.S. citizens interested in adopting children from Azerbaijan should contact the Central Authority of Azerbaijan to inquire about applicable laws and procedures. U.S. citizen prospective adoptive parents living in Azerbaijan who would like to adopt a child from the United States or from a third country should also contact Azerbaijan’s Central Authority. See contact information below.

Please visit the Department of State’s country pages for more information on traveling to Azerbaijan and the U.S. Embassy in Baku’s website for information on consular services.

Caution: The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia issues immigrant visas for Azerbaijan nationals.

The consular officer will send a letter (referred to as an “Article 5/17 Letter”) to Azerbaijan’s Central Authority in any intercountry adoption involving U.S. citizen adoptive parents and a child from Azerbaijan if all Convention requirements are met and the child appears eligible to immigrate to the United States. This letter will inform Azerbaijan’s Central Authority that the parents are suitable and eligible to adopt, that the child appears eligible to enter and reside permanently in the United States and that the U.S. Central Authority agrees that the adoption may proceed.

Warning: Do not attempt to adopt a child in Azerbaijan before USCIS has provisionally approved your Form I-800 petition AND a U.S. consular officer issues the “Article 5/17 Letter” for your adoption case.

Remember: The consular officer will make a final decision about a child’s eligibility for an immigrant visa later in the adoption process.

U.S. Immigration Requirements

To bring an adopted child to the United States from Azerbaijan, you must meet certain suitability and eligibility requirements. USCIS determines who is suitable and eligible to adopt a child from another country and bring that child to live in the United States under U.S. immigration law.

Additionally, a child must meet the definition of a Convention adoptee under U.S. immigration law in order to be eligible to immigrate to the United States with an IH-3 or IH-4 immigrant visa.

Contact Information

Azerbaijan’s Central Authority:

Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Azerbaijan
85 Salatin Asgarova Street, Baku, Azerbaijan AZ1009
Tel: +994 (12) 596 5034
Fax: +994 (12) 496 5033
Call Center: +994 (12) 142
Contact Information: https://www.sosial.gov.az/en/contacts
Internet: https://www.sosial.gov.az/?hl=az

U.S. Embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan
111 Azadliq Avenue, Baku Azerbaijan
Tel: +994 (12) 488-3300
Fax: +994 (12) 488-3320
Email:  BakuACS@state.gov
Internet: https://az.usembassy.gov

Office of Children’s Issues
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
SA-17
Washington, DC 20520
Tel: 1-888-407-4747
E-mail: Adoption@state.gov
Internet: http://adoption.state.gov

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

For questions about filing a Form I-800A application or a Form I-800 petition:
USCIS National Benefits Center (NBC)
Tel: 1-877-424-8374 (toll free); 1- 913-275-5480 (local); Fax:1-913-214-5808
Email: NBC.Adoptions@uscis.dhs.gov

For general questions about immigration procedures:
USCIS Contact Center
Tel: 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)
Internet: uscis.gov

Last Updated: October 16, 2018

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

U.S. Embassy Baku
111 Azadliq Prospecti
AZ1007 Baku, Azerbaijan
Telephone
+(994) (12) 488-3300
Emergency
+(994) (12) 488-3300
Fax
No Fax

Azerbaijan Map