Armenia’s PM Sets Two-Year Deadline for EU Visa-Free Travel

YEREVAN — Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says the long-standing issue of visa liberalization with the European Union will be resolved within two years at most. Speaking on Friday, Pashinyan acknowledged that Armenian citizens have repeatedly complained about difficulties securing visas to visit EU countries.

“You know why they have trouble getting visas?” Pashinyan asked. “People tell us, ‘You have such good relations with the EU and can’t sort out a visa problem?’ But here’s the real reason: Between 2018 and 2025, the number of Armenian citizens traveling to the EU jumped by 500 percent. European embassies simply can’t keep up with the flood of applications.”

The announcement comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently accused the EU of trying to pull Armenia into an anti-Russian camp to inflict maximum damage on Moscow. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and head of the United Russia party, went further, claiming Pashinyan is actively dragging Armenia toward the EU while trying to hold onto the benefits of the Eurasian Economic Union.

For ordinary Armenians, however, the focus remains on simpler travel. If Pashinyan’s timeline holds, visa-free access to Europe could become a reality by 2027.