Growth and anisotropic transport properties of off-axis MgB2 thin films

•Two methods, namely Van der Pauw resistance measurements in tandem with equivalent-circuit simulations and resistance measurements in standard linear-four probe configuration, have been employed and directly compared to determine the anisotropy of the normal-state resistivity of the film.•A refined equivalent-circuit model has been put forward to yield a better simulation of the Van der Pauw resistance and a better evaluation of the resistivity anisotropy of the film.•The anisotropy of the superconducting critical current density has been probed and the temperature dependence of the anisotropy ratio has been revealed and discussed in the context of multiband transport of MgB2.