Armenia to cancel entry visas for citizens of number of countries 

ArmInfo.  Armenia will waive entry visas for citizens of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Oman and for foreigners with residence status in these countries, as well as in the United States, the EU, the Schengen Agreement countries, and the  UAE. The decision was made on May 22 at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Armenia.

As stated in the explanatory note to the document, at present, a visa-free regime for visiting the Republic of Armenia is established for citizens of the countries envisaged by the draft: the United States of America, the European Union, the Schengen Agreement countries, the United Arab Emirates, the State of Qatar and the State of Kuwait. However, taking into account the strategic goals of activating the economic component of the foreign policy of the Republic of Armenia and developing tourism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers it expedient to establish a visa-free regime for visiting the Republic of Armenia also for citizens of the Kingdom of  Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman.

It is noted that the above-mentioned countries have developed  economies and high-income populations. Foreigners with resident status in their territories also have economic activity, business interests and financial opportunities. In this context,  liberalization of the entry visa regime will contribute to increasing the investment attractiveness of the Republic of Armenia by attracting more investors, businessmen and business visits from this group. In addition, liberalization of the visa regime for persons entering the Republic of Armenia within the framework of the project can stimulate the growth of tourist flows, which in turn will be an additional stimulus for the local economy, especially in the areas of tourism, hotel industry, services and restaurant business.

The adoption of the decision will allow citizens of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman to visit and stay in the territory of the Republic of Armenia for up to 180 days during the year, exempting them from the need to obtain an entry visa, and foreigners with a residence status valid for 6 months from the date of entry into the Republic of Armenia from the United States of America, the European Union, the Schengen Agreement countries, the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the  State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Kuwait or the Sultanate of Oman, to visit and stay in the territory of the Republic of Armenia for up to 180 days during the year, exempting them from the need to obtain an entry visa until December 31, 2025, for the purpose of monitoring.