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Repository of Practices

Digitalization and improvement of the accessibility of migration services in Azerbaijan

GCM Objectives

GCM Guiding Principles*

*All practices are to uphold the ten guiding principles of the GCM. This practice particularly exemplifies these listed principles.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Dates

2015 - Present

Type of practice

Other

Geographic Scope

Country:

Regions:

Sub Regions:

Summary

The State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan started to receive electronic applications for registration of foreigners and stateless persons upon place of stay, extension of temporary staying period in the country, issuance of permits for temporary or permanent residence, as well as the work permits have been launched, in order to increase efficiency and transparency, to prevent the loss of time and to achieve the satisfaction of applicants.

The main beneficiaries of e-services are foreigners and stateless persons, regardless of their status, living in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan and abroad, as well as citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The number of e-services provided by the Service has reached 18. At present, foreigners and stateless persons, their representatives, as well as employers can apply electronically through the official website of the Service (www.migration.gov.az) and the e-Government Portal (www.e-gov.az). Furthermore, through e-services such as "Check the status of registration", "Track your applications", "Check the existence of travel ban", foreigners can clarify the information about their status and obtain relevant information without visiting the migration authorities.

E-services were developed and launched by the Government of Azerbaijan in 2015. Taking into account the adoption of the GCM at the end of 2018, the features and range of e-services have been improved and adapted to the principles and objectives of the GCM.

Collaborators

Main Implementer

Government of Azerbaijan

Other Organizations

State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Benefit and Impact

The e-services provide all migrants, regardless of their status, with access to basic services in order to enjoy their human rights. In particular, during the COVID-19 pandemic, e-services were widely used as the most effective way to legalize the stay and residence of foreigners in the country, as well as the implementation of migration services under a special quarantine regime.

18 services can be used on the official website of SMS in the section of electronic services in Azerbaijani, English and Russian languages. The current situation in the organization and provision of each public service in the Republic of Azerbaijan is assessed annually on the basis of the "ASAN (Azerbaijan Service Assessment Network) service index". The main purpose of the assessment is to increase the quality and efficiency of public services, ensure flexibility of management in this area through the creation of new services, increase the ability to analyze and forecast services and accelerate the process of digitalization of public services. It should be noted that the State Migration Service has been showing the highest results among government agencies on the "ASAN service index" for 4 consecutive years.

In the future, digitalization is expected to cover more services.

Key Lessons

One of the important tasks in the implementation of e-services was to introduce it to a wide audience, increase its functionality and ensure user satisfaction. For this purpose, a number of awareness campaigns, "open door days" were held with the participation of public representatives, including foreigners and stateless persons, video instructions on the use of electronic services were demonstrated in the mass media.

Recommendations(if the practice is to be replicated)

Considering the digitalization of the service sector is a reality and a requirement of modern day, we would recommend to develop e-services, which play an important role in ensuring the efficiency and accessibility of services provided to migrants, and expanding the scope of existing e-services.

Innovation

Through the e-services provided by SMS, foreigners can find answers to many questions about the migration procedures of the Republic of Azerbaijan before coming to our country. The "Electronic services" section of the Service's official website is available in 3 languages, which allows a wider audience to use these services. The latest developments in information technology have been used in the development of e-services. The success of e-services later led to the development of mobile application of the SMS. E-services are constantly being evaluated and improved. In the future, it is planned to provide more services, including a number of new services related to the social security and integration of migrants. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of services expanded and new services were launched.

Date submitted:

25 April 2022

Disclaimer: The content of this practice reflects the views of the implementers and does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations, the United Nations Network on Migration, and its members.

 

 

Digitalization and improvement of the accessibility of migration services in Azerbaijan

GCM Objectives

Dates:

2015 - Present

Type of practice:

Other

Other (Type of Practice):

Application of innovative methods for increasing accessibility of services

Geographic Scope

Country:

Regions:

Sub Regions:

Summary

The State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan started to receive electronic applications for registration of foreigners and stateless persons upon place of stay, extension of temporary staying period in the country, issuance of permits for temporary or permanent residence, as well as the work permits have been launched, in order to increase efficiency and transparency, to prevent the loss of time and to achieve the satisfaction of applicants.

The main beneficiaries of e-services are foreigners and stateless persons, regardless of their status, living in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan and abroad, as well as citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The number of e-services provided by the Service has reached 18. At present, foreigners and stateless persons, their representatives, as well as employers can apply electronically through the official website of the Service (www.migration.gov.az) and the e-Government Portal (www.e-gov.az). Furthermore, through e-services such as "Check the status of registration", "Track your applications", "Check the existence of travel ban", foreigners can clarify the information about their status and obtain relevant information without visiting the migration authorities.

E-services were developed and launched by the Government of Azerbaijan in 2015. Taking into account the adoption of the GCM at the end of 2018, the features and range of e-services have been improved and adapted to the principles and objectives of the GCM.

Collaborators

Main Implementer:

Government of Azerbaijan

Other Organizations:

State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Benefit and Impact

The e-services provide all migrants, regardless of their status, with access to basic services in order to enjoy their human rights. In particular, during the COVID-19 pandemic, e-services were widely used as the most effective way to legalize the stay and residence of foreigners in the country, as well as the implementation of migration services under a special quarantine regime.

18 services can be used on the official website of SMS in the section of electronic services in Azerbaijani, English and Russian languages. The current situation in the organization and provision of each public service in the Republic of Azerbaijan is assessed annually on the basis of the "ASAN (Azerbaijan Service Assessment Network) service index". The main purpose of the assessment is to increase the quality and efficiency of public services, ensure flexibility of management in this area through the creation of new services, increase the ability to analyze and forecast services and accelerate the process of digitalization of public services. It should be noted that the State Migration Service has been showing the highest results among government agencies on the "ASAN service index" for 4 consecutive years.

In the future, digitalization is expected to cover more services.

Key Lessons

One of the important tasks in the implementation of e-services was to introduce it to a wide audience, increase its functionality and ensure user satisfaction. For this purpose, a number of awareness campaigns, "open door days" were held with the participation of public representatives, including foreigners and stateless persons, video instructions on the use of electronic services were demonstrated in the mass media.

Recommendations(if the practice is to be replicated)

Considering the digitalization of the service sector is a reality and a requirement of modern day, we would recommend to develop e-services, which play an important role in ensuring the efficiency and accessibility of services provided to migrants, and expanding the scope of existing e-services.

GCM Guiding Principles*

*All practices are to uphold the ten guiding principles of the GCM. This practice particularly exemplifies these listed principles.

Innovation

Through the e-services provided by SMS, foreigners can find answers to many questions about the migration procedures of the Republic of Azerbaijan before coming to our country. The "Electronic services" section of the Service's official website is available in 3 languages, which allows a wider audience to use these services. The latest developments in information technology have been used in the development of e-services. The success of e-services later led to the development of mobile application of the SMS. E-services are constantly being evaluated and improved. In the future, it is planned to provide more services, including a number of new services related to the social security and integration of migrants. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of services expanded and new services were launched.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Date submitted:

25 April 2022

Disclaimer: The content of this practice reflects the views of the implementers and does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations, the United Nations Network on Migration, and its members.

 

 

*References to Kosovo shall be understood to be in the context of United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).