Armenia-EU visa liberalization process advancing, expert missions underway

The Armenia-European Union visa liberalization process is making active progress, with the arrival of a second EU expert mission to assess the country’s readiness for lifting visa requirements, a senior official has confirmed.

Speaking at a press conference, Nelly Davtyan, Head of the Migration and Citizenship Service at Armenia’s Ministry of the Interior, stated that the expert mission is a crucial step in the ongoing dialogue between Yerevan and Brussels. The first EU mission conducted its assessment in February, while the second is currently underway, Caliber.Az reports citing Armenian media.

“We will have two reports after these visits. We will have the opportunity to submit proposals and make corrections regarding the reports. The action plan will be developed by June, which will no longer be a negotiable document. As much as we picture what the document is going to say based on the experience of other countries, we will be able to make concrete predictions about the requirements under the defined targets when we will have the document,” Davtyan said.

Among the most challenging reforms, she highlighted the introduction of biometric passports as a key infrastructural milestone. “The most difficult infrastructure, which was a novelty for Armenia, was the introduction of the biometric passport, with the work around it in process,” she noted.

While refraining from offering specific dates for visa liberalization, officials underscored that each phase of the process is being approached with diligence, transparency, and alignment with EU standards. The dialogue with the EU formally began in September 2024, marking a significant step in Armenia’s broader European integration efforts.

The EU has long emphasized that visa liberalization is contingent upon meeting strict requirements related to document security, border management, migration control, and the protection of fundamental rights. 

By Vafa Guliyeva