Minister of Internal Affairs, Arpine Sargsyan, has stated that the official launch of the operational phase has been given
Minister Arpine Sargsyan addressed the issue of visa liberalization with the EU. She mentioned that the official start of the operational phase has been given.
She noted that the transition from talks to the practical phase was facilitated by the reforms implemented in Armenia, which were appreciated by the partners. According to the minister, there are several important aspects in this matter, including public safety, protection of personal data, and others.
The dialogue between Armenia and the European Union on visa liberalization began in September 2023, when European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas visited Yerevan. This step contributes to the deepening of relations between Armenia and the EU by simplifying the entry of Armenian passport holders into the Schengen Area.
If the EU decides to liberalize the visa regime as a result of the dialogue, Armenian citizens will be able to visit the Schengen Area for up to 90 days without a visa for tourism, family, or business short-term visits. The visas will apply only for tourism, with short-term visas being issued.
The visa liberalization process may take several years. For example, in the case of Georgia, the process took about 5 years, and for Ukraine, it took 9 years.