Citizen Applications in the Field of Cultural Heritage to Be Accepted Through Digital Means

As part of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan’s “e-Culture” Digital Development Strategy, measures are continuing to improve the quality of services provided to citizens in the field of cultural heritage.

In this regard, the State Service for the Protection, Development and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture is introducing a new model designed to ensure that citizen applications are received more promptly, transparently and in accordance with the “single-window” principle.

Without visiting physical service locations, citizens can create a personal account on the “MyCulture” portal, access electronic services, submit applications online and track their processing status in real time.

The introduction of electronic services facilitates the integration of processes into the digital environment, increases operational efficiency, minimises time loss and enables applications to be managed through transparent and traceable mechanisms. Ultimately, this contributes to greater citizen satisfaction.

In addition, citizen applications are accepted at the Citizen Reception Centre located at 84 Uzeyir Hajibeyli Street, Baku — Government House, Entrance 4, first floor.

The Centre’s activities are aimed at expanding citizens’ access to electronic services, encouraging the submission of applications through the digital platform at https://my.culture.az, ensuring that services are delivered promptly and transparently, minimising direct contact between citizens and public officials, and increasing citizen satisfaction.

Individuals applying to the Citizen Reception Centre receive technical and informational support from “Heritage Friend” volunteers on the use of the electronic system. They are also assisted with preparing applications and other required documents.

These measures have been implemented in accordance with the “Azerbaijani Culture – 2040” Cultural Concept of the Republic of Azerbaijan and form part of broader efforts to improve citizens’ access to cultural services.

It should be noted that the State Service provides the following electronic services through the “MyCulture” portal at https://my.culture.az:

– Approval of relevant projects for restoration, conservation, repair, reconstruction, regeneration and other works on immovable historical and cultural monuments or their individual parts;

– Approval for converting residential premises belonging to state-protected immovable historical and cultural monuments into non-residential premises, or non-residential premises into residential premises;

– Permission to carry out construction and other economic activities in areas where immovable historical and cultural monuments are discovered during such works;

– Approval for construction and landscaping works in reserves and protected zones surrounding monuments;

– Approval for the purchase and sale of immovable historical and cultural monuments;

– Approval for leasing privately owned immovable historical and cultural monuments, as well as residential and non-residential premises belonging to them.

The State Service invites citizens to submit their applications through the digital system.