EU experts visit Armenia again over visa liberalization

PanARMENIAN.Net - EU experts have made a second visit to Armenia to evaluate the country’s progress toward visa liberalization, according to Nelly Davtyan, head of the Migration and Citizenship Service at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. She recalled that their first visit took place from February 10 to 14, as reported by CivilNet.

She emphasized that the implementation of a biometric identification system is a crucial requirement in this process.

“The introduction of a biometric system is a direct demand from our European partners as part of the visa liberalization process. For Armenia, this has become a strategic goal that would ensure citizens’ ability to travel freely,” said Davtyan.

Starting in the second half of 2026, Armenia is expected to begin issuing biometric passports and ID cards.

Davtyan noted that the introduction of this system is among the most complex of the EU's demands, but Armenia is progressing through specific stages of implementation. An action plan is set to be presented in June, followed by the preparation of an annual report on completed steps. Only after fulfilling all requirements will it be possible to transition to a visa-free regime.

Currently, Armenia does not have a functioning biometric system, and as a result, there is a lack of verified personal data in the state registry. The new initiative will allow citizens with biometric documents to cross borders in a dignified manner.

“A new border management system will be launched within one to two months, enabling the exchange of biometric data between countries. This will minimize inconveniences at checkpoints by allowing individuals to simply scan their biometric documents and proceed. Those without such documents will need to provide biometric data on the spot,” Davtyan added.

She also addressed concerns about personal data security in the event that private entities are involved, assuring that the legal framework will be reviewed.

“To protect legal identity and prevent data theft, we will significantly raise infrastructure protection standards, aligning them with international norms,” said Davtyan.