Heydar Aliyev International Airport — GYD
Heydar Aliyev International Airport (IATA: GYD, ICAO: UBBB) is Azerbaijan’s primary international aviation gateway located 20 kilometers northeast of central Baku, handling over 90% of foreign eVisa arrivals at Terminal 1 and domestic flights to Nakhchivan at Terminal 2.
Legal Context & 2026 Border Rules
For international travelers holding an Azerbaijan ASAN eVisa, Terminal 1 of Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD) is the primary port of entry. Because Azerbaijan’s land borders remain closed to ordinary passenger entry in 2026, flying into GYD (or regional airports like Ganja and Gabala) is the mandatory route for foreign visitors.
Upon disembarking at Terminal 1, travelers with a pre-approved online ASAN eVisa walk directly to the State Border Service (DSX) passport control booths with their passport and printed eVisa PDF—bypassing the self-service Visa on Arrival kiosks entirely.
Terminal 2 (located immediately adjacent to Terminal 1) handles domestic flights to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAJ) as well as select low-cost regional carriers.
What You Should Do Before & During Your Trip
- Keep your printed A4 ASAN eVisa PDF and passport in your carry-on bag for immediate inspection at Terminal 1.
- If you are eligible for and using Airport Visa on Arrival (such as qualifying GCC residents), stop at the yellow/blue ASAN Visa kiosks BEFORE joining the main passport control queue.
- Verify that the border officer stamps your entry date clearly into your passport—this date starts your 30-day stay and 15-day registration clock.
Common Traveler Mistakes
- Joining the main passport control queue without a printed eVisa if you are a VoA traveler who still needs to pay at the ASAN terminal kiosk first.
- Flying to Baku without an eVisa on a US, UK, or EU passport assuming GYD offers universal Visa on Arrival.
Frequently Asked Questions About Heydar Aliyev International Airport — GYD
Why is Baku Airport’s IATA code GYD?
GYD comes from the Russian transliteration of Heydar (Geydar Aliyev), honoring former President Heydar Aliyev after the airport was renamed from Bina International Airport in 2004.
Do I need to fill out a paper arrival card at Baku Airport (GYD)?
No. Azerbaijan uses fully electronic border clearance. Present your passport and printed ASAN eVisa PDF at the State Border Service booth, where your photo will be captured digitally.
Related Official Glossary Terms
ASAN Visa (ASAN Viza) is the official electronic visa issuance platform of the Republic of Azerbaijan, operated by the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations to issue single-entry 30-day eVisas to citizens of 90+ eligible countries.
The GCC Resident Visa facility allows foreign nationals who hold a valid residence permit in any Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member state—UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, or Oman—to obtain a conditional 30-day single-entry Visa on Arrival at Azerbaijan’s international airports, provided their GCC residency card is valid for at least 6 months (180 days) on the date of arrival.
The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (Naxçıvan Muxtar Respublikası) is a landlocked exclave of Azerbaijan bordering Armenia, Iran, and Turkey; foreign travelers already inside Azerbaijan on a single-entry ASAN eVisa can freely fly between Baku (GYD Terminal 2) and Nakhchivan International Airport (NAJ) as a domestic flight without using up their single-entry visa.
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