The RA Ministry of Internal Affairs reports that work on liberalizing EU entry visas is in an active phase.
On September 9, 2024, a joint statement by RA Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan and European Commission Vice-President and Commissioner for European Way of Life Margaritis Schinas announced the official launch of negotiations on the liberalization of EU entry visas.
On December 11, 2024, the Deputy Director-General for Migration and Home Affairs of the European Commission, Johannes Luchner, and Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan met in Yerevan, and the operational phase of the dialogue on the liberalization of RA-EU entry visas was launched.
Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan is the Armenian side's chief negotiator in the visa liberalization process.
EU Ambassador Vasilis Maragos expressed appreciation for the work done by Armenia and noted that the implementation of the Action Plan (AP) will set the timetable for when Armenian citizens will have the opportunity to travel to the European Union without a visa.
So far, the following work has been carried out by Armenia:
The first and second EU expert missions visited Armenia on February 10-14 and April 7-11, 2025.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs developed the visit agenda and coordinated the process closely with the EU delegation. It also coordinated the work of the interested departments for proper preparation and provided the experts with the necessary documents and materials.
To organize the work more effectively, an interdepartmental working group was formed under the coordination of the Minister of Internal Affairs, and an expert working group under the coordination of the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs.
Representatives of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, Directorate-General for Neighbourhood Enlargement Negotiations, European External Action Service, FRONTEX, as well as the EU Delegation also participated in the missions.
Following the EU expert missions, as a result of the analysis of the current situation and problems, reports were prepared, based on which the European Commission developed the Action Plan, which is a non-negotiable document and will be subject to implementation.
First mission (February 2025 visit)
The directions I and II of the Action Plan were discussed:
- document security,
- border management,
- migration management,
- asylum policy.
Meetings in relevant RA departments, visits to RA border crossings: Bagratashen, Ayrum, as well as “Zvartnots” airport, the existing and newly built shelter for asylum seekers in Abovyan, a department of the MSIS Center and a document printing center.
Second mission (April 2025 visit)
Areas III and IV of the Action Plan were discussed:
- organized crime,
- corruption and financial crimes,
- cooperation between judicial and law enforcement bodies in criminal matters, including personal data protection,
- external relations and fundamental rights.
Meetings in relevant RA departments, visits to the Unified Call Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Patrol Service, separate meetings at the Educational Complex of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the RA Academy of Justice.
On June 10-12, during her working visit to the Kingdom of Belgium, Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan had meetings with the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, and the EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Haja Lahbib, reaching agreements on the visit of an expert delegation to Armenia to advance the visa liberalization process.
On 24 June 2025, a delegation from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, led by Pawel Busiakiewicz, visited Armenia. Meetings were held at the Ministries of Internal Affairs, Justice and Foreign Affairs.
The Action Plan, summarized by the European Commission, is currently being agreed with the EU Member States; it will be officially transmitted to Armenia in autumn 2025.
Armenia views the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan as a strategic framework for its reforms in the field of migration mobility and public security.
Armenia is committed to implementing these reforms with the aim of ensuring dignified and easy travel opportunities for its citizens to the European Union.
