The issue of long waits for visas at European Union embassies has significantly worsened due to an unprecedented surge in Armenian tourist flows, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated during a government meeting on January 9.
According to Pashinyan, the number of Armenians wishing to visit EU countries has far exceeded all projections made by European partners.
The Prime Minister attributes this sharp rise in travel to reforms in Armenia's aviation sector, which have made trips more accessible. “Today, people say: why go for a coffee in Jermuk (a resort town in southern Armenia) when you can spend the night in Rome?” Pashinyan remarked, emphasizing the stark contrast with previous years when consulates were not overwhelmed.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan explained that addressing the issue of visa queues largely depends on technical challenges. Embassies are encountering bureaucratic obstacles when attempting to expand their consular staff. “For example, an embassy requests an additional consular position, and their foreign ministry has no objections, but approval is required from the Ministry of Finance,” Mirzoyan clarified.
Pashinyan wryly noted that bureaucratic delays are not unique to the Armenian government but are also common in European structures. However, he stressed the importance of resolving the visa issue for Armenian citizens.
This development coincides with the ongoing dialogue between Armenia and the EU regarding visa liberalization. In July 2023, EU foreign ministers decided to initiate this process alongside providing Armenia with assistance under the European Peace Instrument.
By the end of the year, the operational phase of the visa liberalization dialogue had begun. In 2025, the European Union is expected to present Armenia with a concrete action plan for visa regime liberalization.
