Armenia preparing a reform of migration system: changes will affect visas, residence permits and entry rules
14.10.2026,
19:28
The main directions for transforming the migration management system of Armenia within the framework of the draft migration strategy were discussed on Wednesday at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
YEREVAN, October 14. /ARKA/. The main directions for transforming the migration management system of Armenia within the framework of the draft migration strategy were discussed on Wednesday at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
According to the press service of the RA government, regarding the main reforms of the system, Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan noted that in recent years Armenia has turned into a country receiving migrants and has faced an influx of people. In this regard, migration management is becoming one of the key areas of government policy.
“The need to clarify migration management at the strategic level is due to two important circumstances. Firstly, the stricter the conditions for obtaining citizenship become, the greater the flow of foreigners will be directed to the residence permit institution, especially if the main tool for tightening the requirements is the establishment of conditions related to residence and permanent residence,” Sargsyan noted.
Secondly, according to her, the migration trends themselves in our country have changed significantly, forming a new picture. “For decades, Armenia has been a country of emigration, but over the last decade it has turned into a country of entry and transit. This trend has become especially pronounced since 2022,” the minister said.
According to her, in 2025, for the first time, a positive balance of border crossings by Armenian citizens was recorded, which remained in the first half of this year.
According to the minister, in the current conditions it is necessary, in particular, to more effectively combat illegal and irregular migration, introduce preventive measures, build capacity and strengthen relevant institutions and mechanisms.
As part of the discussion, the main directions for transforming the migration management system of Armenia were presented: the formation of a unified migration management system, the creation of a digital, compatible and secure migration management system, targeted transformation of entry regimes, issuing visas and issuing residence permits, strengthening the capacity of border management and law enforcement.
Pashinyan instructed to introduce relevant provisions into the draft strategy, taking into account the decisions made and to ensure further progress of the document towards adoption.
According to the press service of the RA government, regarding the main reforms of the system, Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan noted that in recent years Armenia has turned into a country receiving migrants and has faced an influx of people. In this regard, migration management is becoming one of the key areas of government policy.
“The need to clarify migration management at the strategic level is due to two important circumstances. Firstly, the stricter the conditions for obtaining citizenship become, the greater the flow of foreigners will be directed to the residence permit institution, especially if the main tool for tightening the requirements is the establishment of conditions related to residence and permanent residence,” Sargsyan noted.
Secondly, according to her, the migration trends themselves in our country have changed significantly, forming a new picture. “For decades, Armenia has been a country of emigration, but over the last decade it has turned into a country of entry and transit. This trend has become especially pronounced since 2022,” the minister said.
According to her, in 2025, for the first time, a positive balance of border crossings by Armenian citizens was recorded, which remained in the first half of this year.
According to the minister, in the current conditions it is necessary, in particular, to more effectively combat illegal and irregular migration, introduce preventive measures, build capacity and strengthen relevant institutions and mechanisms.
As part of the discussion, the main directions for transforming the migration management system of Armenia were presented: the formation of a unified migration management system, the creation of a digital, compatible and secure migration management system, targeted transformation of entry regimes, issuing visas and issuing residence permits, strengthening the capacity of border management and law enforcement.
Pashinyan instructed to introduce relevant provisions into the draft strategy, taking into account the decisions made and to ensure further progress of the document towards adoption.
