As a national of a country wishing to travel to Armenia, you may not be eligible for the Armenian e-visaalso known as an e-visa. In this case, don't panic! There are other options for obtaining a Armenian visa and make the most of your stay in this magnificent country.
Find out about alternatives to the Armenian e-visa
First of all, it is important to understand why you are not eligible for an Armenian e-visa. There may be various reasons for this:
- Your nationality Certain nationals are not authorised to apply for an Armenian e-visa on the basis of the reciprocity agreement between their country and Armenia;
- The period of validity of your passport Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your planned departure from Armenia;
- The purpose of the journey The Armenian e-visa is only valid for tourist, cultural, sporting or business visits. If you wish to work in Armenia, study, or join a member of your family, you must apply for another type of visa.
Contact the Armenian embassy or consulate
If you are not eligible for an e-visa, the first step is to contact theArmenian embassy or consulate to find out what options are available to you for obtaining a visa. This will also give you information on the documents required and the costs involved in obtaining a visa.
Traditional visa application
For some nationals, the alternative to an e-visa may be a traditional visa application. In this case, you will need to complete a visa application form and submit the required documents to the Armenian embassy or consulate. It is advisable to do this in advance, as it can take several weeks before your visa is issued.
Preparing to travel without a visa
If you are unable to obtain a visa for Armenia, it may be a good idea to look at alternative destinations where no visa is required for nationals of your country. Below are a few examples of visa-free destinations (depending on your nationality, of course):
- Schengen countries in Europe (for European nationals): France, Germany, Italy, Spain, etc;
- South-East Asia Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, etc;
- South America Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, etc.
Requesting transit without a visa
If you are planning a short stopover in Armenia before travelling to another country, you may be eligible for a transit without visa. To do this, you must be in possession of a confirmed flight ticket for your next destination and not leave the international zone of the airport. It is advisable, however, to check with the Armenian embassy or consulate whether this option is available to nationals of your country.
Take account of additional requirements
For some travellers additional requirements may be imposed by the Armenian authorities when entering the country. These requirements include
- Proof of medical insurance covering the duration of the stay;
- Proof of sufficient funds to support yourself for the duration of your stay in Armenia;
- A certificate of vaccination against certain diseases, such as yellow fever, depending on where you are coming from.
It is therefore vital to find out about these requirements before travelling to Armenia, to avoid problems when entering the country.
Do not attempt to enter Armenia illegally
If you are not eligible for an Armenian e-visa and cannot obtain another type of visa, you are strongly advised not to try to enter Armenia illegally. The Armenian authorities are very strict when it comes to immigration, and any breach of the rules can result in severe penalties such as :
- Immediate expulsion from the country;
- A ban on returning to Armenia for a specified period;
- Fines or imprisonment in certain cases.
An agency service 