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Armenian passport

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Armenian passport
Հայկական անձնագիր
The front cover of a contemporary Armenian Biometric Passport, since 2012.
Front personal-information page of an Armenian biometric passport, since 2012.
TypePassport
Issued by Armenia
First issued1994 (first version)[citation needed]
2012 (current version)[1]
PurposeIdentification & International Travel
EligibilityArmenian citizenship
Expiration10 years after issuance
Cost10 000 ֏

The Armenian passport (Armenian: Հայկական անձնագիր, romanized: Haykakan andznagir) is a passport issued to Armenian citizens to enable them to travel outside Armenia, and entitles the bearer to the protection of Armenia's consular officials overseas. Armenian citizens have visa-free or visa on arrival access to 65 countries and territories as of 2023.

Between the years 1994 and 2005, all Soviet Union passports were completely replaced with Armenian passports, invalidating Soviet Union passports' use in Armenia since 2005.[2] Today, Armenian passports are also used as proof of identity within the country, along with Armenian ID cards.

Physical appearance

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An ordinary Armenian passport is dark blue, with the Armenian coat of arms emblazoned in gold in the center of the front cover. The words Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն "Republic of Armenia" and Անձնագիր "Passport" in Armenian and English languages also appear on the front cover. The passport is valid for 10 years from the time of issue, with the further possibility of extending validity for an additional 5 years. The possibility of extending the passport by 5 years was eliminated in August 2017.[3] It contains 32 pages for special notes and visas, and information about its holder in both the Armenian and English languages.

Since 1 June 2012, two new ID-documents were introduced, which replaced the ordinary passports of Armenian citizens. One of the documents – the ID card — to be used locally within the country, and the second document – the biometric passport — to be used for traveling abroad. An electronic chip on the passport will contain digital images of fingerprints and photo of passport holder. Both biometric passports and eID cards are produced by Polish Security Printing Works (Polska Wytwornia Papierow Wartosciowych).[4][5][6] Old style (non-biometric) passports were re-introduced in 2016 on a temporary basis (until 1 January 2019).

From 2023, the process of issuing biometric passports and ID cards was largely suspended due to the end of the contract with the Polish firm, which was responsible for the production of the chips. In September 2024, it was announced that the Armenian government had initiated a tender to find a new firm that will issue biometric passports and ID cards. It is expected that the decision will be made by March 2025, with the new system becoming available by March 2026.[7]

Identity information page

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Armenian Passport includes the following data:

  • Անձնագրի սեփականատիրոջ լուսանկարը / Photo of Passport Holder
  • Տեսակը (P) / Type (P)
  • Երկրի կոդը (ARM) / Country Code (ARM)
  • Անձնագրի համարը / Passport No.
  • Ազգանունը / Surname (1)
  • Անունը/անունները / Given Names (2)
  • Ազգությունը / Nationality (3)
  • Ծննդյան ամսաթիվը / Date of Birth (4)
  • Սեռը / Sex (5)
  • Ծննդավայրը / Country of Birth (6)
  • ամսաթիվը թողարկման / Date of Issue (7)
  • Ամսաթվի թողարկումը / Date of Expiry (8)
  • Կատարող մարմնի կոդը / Issuing Authority code (9)

Limitations on passport use

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Main article: Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

As a result of the first Nagorno-Karabakh War between Artsakh, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan refuses entry to holders of Armenian passports, as well as passport-holders of any other country if they are of Armenian descent. It also strictly refuses entry to foreigners in general whose passport shows evidence of entry into the Republic of Artsakh, immediately declaring them permanent personae non gratae.

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  • Non-biometric passport (1994-2012), front cover
    Non-biometric passport (1994-2012), front cover
  • Non-biometric passport (1994-2012), bio data page
    Non-biometric passport (1994-2012), bio data page
  • Armenian ID card
    Armenian ID card

Visa requirements

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Main article: Visa requirements for Armenian citizens
See also: Armenia–European Union relations § Visa liberalization dialogue
Visa requirements for Armenian citizens
  Armenia
  Visa free
  Visa issued upon arrival
  eVisa
  Visa available both on arrival or online
  Visa required prior to arrival
  Admission refused
  • In 2023, Armenian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 65 countries and territories, ranking the Armenian passport 81st in the world according to the Henley Passport Index.[8]
  • As of 2023, holders of an Armenian passport may enter all Commonwealth of Independent States and Eurasian Economic Union member states without a visa (except Azerbaijan).
  • The former Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Piotr Świtalski stated that, the action plan for beginning visa liberalization between Armenia and the EU will be on the agenda of the next Eastern Partnership summit in 2017 and dialogue for visa-free travel of Armenian citizens to the EU's Schengen Area will begin in early 2018.[9] The former Ambassador also stated that Armenian citizens could be granted visa-free travel to the EU by 2020.[10]
  • As of 1 January 2013, Armenia dropped the requirement of entry visas for citizens of all 27 EU member states as well as the 4 members of the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland). By approving the unilateral abolition of visas for EU and EFTA citizens, Armenia seeks to accelerate negotiations with the EU on visa-free travel for Armenian citizens travelling to the Schengen Area in return. According to the planned agreement with the EU, the current procedure for obtaining Schengen visas for citizens of Armenia would be relaxed, until visa-free travel is finalized. The new simplified procedure is provided for members of official delegations, researchers and students, journalists, those in sports or the arts, and for close relatives of citizens legally residing in the EU. It is also intended to reduce visa costs by 35 euros or free for these categories, as well as for children and pensioners. For more info see: E-visa system.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Общество / Культура: У граждан Армении могут быть два вида паспортов. Barev.NET (in Russian). 20 October 2009. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
  2. ^ "ГРАЖДАНЕ АРМЕНИИ, ИМЕЮЩИЕ ПАСПОРТА СОВЕТСКОГО ОБРАЗЦА, МОГУТ ПОЛУЧИТЬ НОВЫЕ ПАСПОРТА РЕСПУБЛИКИ АРМЕНИЯ ДО 25 НОЯБРЯ". armenpress.am (in Russian). 2005-10-25. Archived from the original on 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  3. ^ "Validity of old-styled Armenian passports will not be extended anymore". arka.am. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
  4. ^ "Republika Armenii ma e-dowody i paszporty z PWPW S.A." PWPW.PL.
  5. ^ PLUS journal - PLUS-daily - Project of Biometric Passports in Armenia
  6. ^ У граждан Армении могут быть два вида паспортов » Новости Армении каждый час ::: Www.Barev.Net
  7. ^ "Armenia provides update on biometric passport, ID card tender". Biometricupdate.com. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  8. ^ "Henley & Partners Passport Index". Archived from the original on 2019-07-05. Retrieved 2019-04-03.
  9. ^ "Visa Liberalization With Armenia on 2017 Eastern Partnership Summit Agenda". Asbarez. 2017-03-15. Archived from the original on 2016-07-16.
  10. ^ "EU envoy says Armenia may obtain visa-free travel by 2020". Pan Armenian. 2018-03-09. Archived from the original on 2017-11-28.
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