Armenian passport

Physical appearance

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. 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). Old style (non-biometric) passports were re-introduced in 2016 on a temporary basis (until 1 January 2019).

As of 2023, the process of issuing biometric passports and ID cards was largely suspended due to the expiration of the contract with the Polish firm responsible for producing the chips. In September 2024, it was announced that the Armenian government had initiated a tender to find a new company to issue biometric passports and ID cards. The tender was finalized in March 2025, with the French company IDEMIA being chosen as the winner. The new system of biometric passports and ID cards is expected to be rolled out in the second half of 2026. The new system will be aligned with EU standards, aiding Armenia's goals in European integration and visa liberalization.

Identity information page

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

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.

Gallery

Паспорт Армения.jpg|Non-biometric passport (1994-2012, and 2023-current time), front cover Паспорт Армения 2.jpg|Non-biometric passport (1994-2012, and 2023-current time), personal data page TarjetaIDArmenia.jpg|Armenian ID card

Visa requirements

Main article: Visa requirements for Armenian citizens

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• As of April 2025, Armenian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 68 countries and territories, ranking the Armenian passport 72nd in the world according to the Henley Passport Index.
• 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. The former Ambassador also stated that Armenian citizens could be granted visa-free travel to the EU by 2020.
• 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.

References

References

1. link. (20 October 2009). Barev.NET
2. (2005-10-25). "ГРАЖДАНЕ АРМЕНИИ, ИМЕЮЩИЕ ПАСПОРТА СОВЕТСКОГО ОБРАЗЦА, МОГУТ ПОЛУЧИТЬ НОВЫЕ ПАСПОРТА РЕСПУБЛИКИ АРМЕНИЯ ДО 25 НОЯБРЯ".
3. "Validity of old-styled Armenian passports will not be extended anymore".
4. "Republika Armenii ma e-dowody i paszporty z PWPW S.A.".
5. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090721164816/http://www.plusworld.org/daily/page1_3156.php PLUS journal - PLUS-daily - Project of Biometric Passports in Armenia]
6. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110723022941/http://news.barev.net/society/16123-U-grazhdan-Armenii-mogut-byt-dva-vida-pasportov.html У граждан Армении могут быть два вида паспортов » Новости Армении каждый час ::: Www.Barev.Net]
7. "Armenia to Launch New Biometric ID System in 2026 with EU Standards". idtechwire.com.
8. "Henley & Partners Passport Index".
9. (2017-03-15). "Visa Liberalization With Armenia on 2017 Eastern Partnership Summit Agenda".
10. (2018-03-09). "EU envoy says Armenia may obtain visa-free travel by 2020".