Armenia to tighten entry procedures for citizens of India, Iraq, Egypt

The Armenian government has announced new restrictions on entry procedures for citizens of India, Iraq, and Egypt, which will come into effect in a month.

This decision was made during a government meeting on October 24, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media sources.

“Citizens of these countries are proposed to be issued electronic visas if they have temporary or permanent residence status (or a valid entry visa) in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Russia, Japan, the European Union, the Schengen zone countries and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council [GCC]. Citizens of these countries will also be issued visas upon presenting a return air ticket,” the justification of the decision reads.

According to the decision, another requirement is an invitation to enter Armenia provided by a legal entity, state body, diplomatic mission of a foreign state or international organization, which must be presented in the form of an application, letter, or petition.

Applicants will also need to provide proof of sufficient financial resources, such as a bank statement, as part of the E-VISA application process. Furthermore, possession of medical insurance will be mandatory, especially in light of tuberculosis cases recently confirmed by Armenia’s Ministry of Health among some Indian nationals, the justification says.

The government noted that many foreigners entering Armenia on visas subsequently seek residency status based on education, employment, or entrepreneurial activities. Therefore, if an applicant specifies these categories as their purpose for visiting Armenia in their visa application, it could significantly influence their chances of obtaining residency status.

These measures aim to curb the flow of illegal migrants into Armenia, which has been associated with various negative consequences, including increased crime rates. The Armenian government also expressed concerns that the country could become a transit zone for illegal migrants aiming to reach European countries, potentially undermining the visa liberalization process with the EU, the decision adds.

By Khagan Isayev