Residents of Russia travel to Armenia to walk through the Great Cascade architectural park, admire Ararat and visit ancient temples. This hospitable country is open to tourists from the Russian Federation; they do not need a visa. But those who plan to stay in the state for more than six months will need a permit.
Haghpat Monastery, Armenia. The village of Haghpat and the monastery are located on a plateau high above the Debed River and the Yerevan highway. The Haghpat monastery is a complex of buildings standing close to each other and forming a composition of small churches, a basilica, a bell tower, with a huge gavit almost completely obscuring the buildings. The Haghpat complex is an example of the urban planning art of ancient Armenia.
Do Russians need a visa to Armenia in 2020?
Russian travelers can freely visit Armenia: in 2000, the countries entered into an agreement on a visa-free regime. Starting from 2021, crossing the border with a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation is allowed. This rule applies to citizens who will arrive at Shirak and Zvartnots airports. Ukrainians and Belarusians can enter with a foreign passport.
The contents of the package of necessary documents for staying on the territory of a foreign state directly depend on the following factors:
- purpose of the trip;
- types of transport;
- period of stay in the country;
- presence of children.
The main requirement is that the documents must be valid for at least three months after leaving the state. You can only enter Armenia with a Russian passport through the airport.
Tumanyan Park, a famous place in Yerevan. The park has been a recreation area for Yerevan residents since Soviet times, but in the 90s the trees in the park were cut down and the park fell into disrepair. After reconstruction, the park was greatly transformed and became a favorite place not only for Yerevan residents, but also for tourists.
Do Russians need a foreign passport to Armenia?
Since February last year, Russian citizens are not required to have a foreign passport to enter Armenia.
Russians have the right to cross the border using an internal passport.
The main requirement for the documents provided is that the validity period must be at least 3 months longer than the period of stay in the country.
Important clarification! An internal passport will only allow you to cross the border at airports. To travel by land you need a foreign passport.
Visa categories
In 2021, Armenia issues visas for Russians and citizens of other countries of the following types:
- guest;
- official;
- diplomatic;
- transit;
- e visa.
Each of them has its own characteristics. For example, a transit visa is issued to foreign citizens in case of travel through Armenia to another state. Its validity period is 1 year. The document gives the right to stay in the country for no more than 3 days with the possibility of extension up to 4 days.
The cancellation of visas to Armenia for Russians is not a basis for an indefinite stay in the country.
Guestbook
National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater.
The theater was created in the thirties of the last century. From the very beginning, the theater developed the national opera and became the center of operatic art in Armenia. Operas by Russian and German composers were also staged here. This entry permit is issued to foreign citizens who arrived in the country for the purpose of:
- sightseeing, cultural monuments;
- running a business;
- visiting friends and relatives who live in Armenia (entry can be made using a passport);
- treatment;
- short-term stay;
- carrying out transport operations.
A visitor visa will allow Russian citizens to stay in the country for more than 6 months, but not more than one year. After submitting documents to visa centers, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia checks invitations for tourists.
Official
Such a visa to Armenia for citizens of the Russian Federation is needed for those who have a Special or Official passport. Permission is granted for:
- unhindered multiple entry into Armenia for up to 3 years (for workers without diplomatic status and members of their families);
- residence in Armenia for up to 1 year (for citizens arriving at the invitation of the government or foreign diplomatic authorities).
An official visa is valid for 1 year and allows you to live in the country using internal passports.
Diplomatic
Issued by holders of a diplomatic or service passport.
Ancient monastery of Haghartsin. Haghartsin Monastery is located in the Tavush region of Armenia, in the forested valley of the Ijevan ridge. The monastery buildings were erected in the 10th-13th centuries. Three churches, a refectory and the remains of the tomb of the royal Bagratid family have survived to this day.
This permission could be:
- Reusable (valid for 3 years). Provided for workers of government diplomatic structures and international companies and members of their families;
- Disposable. Gives you the opportunity to visit the country throughout the year. Issued to representatives of official delegations and their families, as well as other persons associated with them.
In the case of a one-time diplomatic visa, foreign citizens can stay on foreign territory for no more than 120 days.
E - visa
Residents of a number of countries can apply for an electronic visa (E-visa). To receive it, you need to fill out a form on the website and wait three days. Russia is not among the states to which this service is available.
Categories of visas to Armenia
Armenians issue the following types of entry permits:
1. Visitor visa. Intended for those who travel for tourism purposes, to stay with relatives, and to receive treatment. Valid for 1 year, single and multiple entries are provided;
2. Official. Issued to holders of official, special passports;
3. Diplomatic. The type of permit is aimed at persons with diplomatic status;
4. Transit visa. Implies permission to stay in Armenia for 3 days, valid for a year, not relevant for Russians.
The possibility of obtaining an electronic visa on a special E-Visa website has been implemented.
The cost of an entry permit depends on the length of stay in the country and the number of entries. For example, for an annual multiple-entry visitor visa you need to pay 83 USD, official and diplomatic visas are issued free of charge.
See also: How to emigrate to Germany
Necessary documents for obtaining a long-term visa
Mirror radio telescope.
A unique telescope was built at the Byurakan Observatory in 1981-1985. Using explosions, a pit was made at the edge of a natural gorge; a concrete bowl was laid in it, on which the telescope mirror was installed. To obtain a long-term visa to Armenia, citizens of the Russian Federation need to prepare a set package of documents. The list of papers includes:
- a properly compiled questionnaire according to the established template;
- international passport;
- standard size photograph;
- receipt of payment of the consular fee.
Basic photo requirements:
- the face is located on a light background;
- the image is clear;
- lack of a smile and other facial expressions.
Most Russians visit Armenia under a visa-free regime.
Statue of David of Sasun and Yerevan railway station. The monument to David of Sassoun, riding a horse, was erected in the square near the railway station on a block of basalt. Under the horse’s hooves is a bronze bowl from which water flows as a symbol of the limit of the long-suffering of the Armenian people.
Documents for the child
For tourists traveling with children, they are additionally required to bring with them the child’s birth certificate or their international passport.
Zvartnots Temple in Yerevan. Zvartnots translated from ancient Armenian means “Temple of Vigilant Angels”, from the Armenian zvartun - angel. The temple was founded in 641, construction took about 20 years.
If a child goes through customs control accompanied by third parties, it is necessary to draw up and notarize a document indicating consent to remove the minor from the country.
If a trip to Armenia is carried out with one parent, you must provide a notarized written consent from the second.
What can you import to Armenia?
When traveling, you should follow the rules of entry into Armenia for Russians.
There are no restrictions on the export and import of foreign currency, but it is mandatory to fill out a special declaration, which is issued at customs. This document must be kept with you during the entire trip.
It is prohibited to transport cash in excess of $10,000 within the country. The national currency of Armenia is not prohibited for import or export.
See also: Visa to Cambodia for Russians in 2021
It is not allowed to transport items belonging to antiques and other valuables without special notification.
It is important to know! Experienced tourists recommend declaring an amount of $2,000, since customs officers may have additional questions when entering with such an amount. If the cash equivalent is declared, such problems will not arise.
Refusal of a visa
Russian citizens are rarely denied entry to Armenia using a Russian passport. However, a negative answer can be obtained for the following reasons:
- lack of a foreign passport to enter Armenia;
- expired travel document;
- being on the black list.
Armenian State Economic University. The university was founded in 1930 as a cooperative economic institute. Subsequently, in June 2006, it received university status. ASUE has educational and scientific connections with many universities around the world and is rapidly expanding the geography of these connections.
If you attempt to smuggle prohibited goods, you may not only be denied entry, but also face criminal liability.
Rules for entry into Armenia for citizens of the Russian Federation
Since citizens of the Russian Federation do not need to obtain a visa in advance to travel to Armenia, they must present a foreign or internal passport at the border.
We recommend reading these articles:
Work in Israel for Russians vacancies 2021 without knowledge of the language
Schengen visa for Russians in 2021, price and processing time
Schengen countries list 2021
It is important to know! If you enter with a foreign passport, then the validity of the document should not expire during the entire trip. The maximum period of stay on the territory of the state is 180 days. When crossing the border, customs control officers may require:
· a document allowing you to travel outside the Russian Federation;
· passport of a resident of the Russian Federation or identity card, valid temporarily in case of loss of an official notification;
· for children under 14 years of age, birth certificate; · diplomatic or service passport (for those traveling to the state for work).
At the airport or when traveling by car, a customs officer will definitely ask about the purpose of travel and the approximate time of stay in the country. Since entry into Armenia with a Russian passport is carried out quickly, similar documents will be required to leave the state.
Crossing the Armenian border
Russians can arrive in Armenia by plane, car or bus. Each option has its own characteristics. Citizens of Russia have the right to submit for verification their choice of:
- internal passport of the Russian Federation (for air travel);
- international passport;
- official or diplomatic passport;
- seafarer's certificate together with the ship's role or an extract generated from it.
There are countries where you must have a health insurance policy when traveling to them. It is not required when entering Armenia.
Church of St. John. Christian church and monastery. During the construction of the temple, the traditions of ancient Armenian architecture were used as much as possible. More than 40 masters were engaged in stone carving.
Despite this, it is not advisable to travel without medical insurance, since situations vary. If a foreign citizen needs emergency medical care, and he did not take care of taking out a policy before entering the country, he will have to pay the costs from his personal budget. In this case, it is more economical to take out insurance in your home country.
Traveling by car
To successfully pass the checkpoint, you must prepare the following mandatory documents:
- international driver's license;
- documents confirming the official registration of the car;
- a notarized power of attorney for the right to use the vehicle (if the control is carried out not by the owner, but by a third party).
The borders of Armenia are open to foreign citizens arriving from Georgia. If a tourist travels from Azerbaijan or Turkey, he will have problems with entry. Also keep in mind that you cannot cross the border by car with an internal passport of a Russian citizen. This service is only valid for air travel.
Zvartnots airport building. The airport is located in the Malatia-Sebastia region, 12 km west of Yerevan and is the main international transport hub of Armenia, the busiest airport in the country. During its modernization, new warning displays, an automated baggage check-in system and a biometric passenger flow control program were installed.
Additionally, you should prepare for small financial costs. The road tax charged for importing a vehicle with Russian license plates for 15 days is about 14 thousand drams, for a month - 20 thousand drams.
Due to the fact that Armenia is not a member country of the Green Card auto insurance system, and domestic compulsory motor liability insurance does not operate on its territory, there is a need to issue a local insurance policy directly at the border.
The price of insurance directly depends on the engine power of the vehicle, as well as the period for which registration is planned. The average cost varies from 4 to 6 thousand drams.
Rules for issuing an entry visa to the Republic of Armenia
For Russian citizens, entry into Armenia is visa-free.
To enter the country, adult Russian citizens, provided they are traveling by air and on a direct flight, can use a valid internal passport.
If traveling by land, you must have a foreign passport valid for the entire duration of the trip.
To enter the country, minor Russian citizens must have a valid foreign passport, which is valid for the entire duration of the trip.
- List of countries whose citizens are unilaterally exempted from visa requirements.
- List of countries with which Armenia has a visa-free regime in accordance with bilateral and multilateral agreements.
- List of countries whose citizens can obtain a visa when crossing the border of Armenia.
- List of countries whose citizens can apply for an entry visa to the Republic of Armenia only on the basis of an invitation. This restriction does not apply to citizens of these countries of Armenian nationality.
Citizens of countries for which a visa-free regime has been established may remain on the territory of the Republic of Armenia for no more than 180 days within one year, unless other periods are established by laws or international agreements of the Republic of Armenia.
Citizens of other states, holders of all categories of passports (diplomatic, official, service, general civil or travel documents), as well as holders of the UN Laissez-Passer, must obtain an entry visa to the Republic of Armenia.
When leaving Armenia together with children, each child, regardless of age, must have a valid foreign passport, as well as a birth certificate as a document confirming the degree of relationship with the legal representative. It is necessary to prepare all the necessary documents for this in advance so that there are no unpleasant misunderstandings at the border. A child's birth certificate is required. Information about children who have not yet reached 14 years of age must be entered in one of the parents’ international passports. If the child is already 6 years old, his photograph must be pasted into such a document. In the case where the child went on a trip with only one of his parents, the second of them must confirm his consent to travel by providing a power of attorney for the child to travel. A copy of the consent does not need to be certified.
Nagorno-Karabakh and features of your stay
Lake in the city of Vanadzor.
It is the third largest city in Armenia, the administrative center of the Lori region. The former name was Karaklis, which is translated from Turkish as “black church”: such a church existed in the city until 1828. The city received its current name in 1993. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic declared itself an independent state. The world does not perceive Nagorno-Karabakh as a separate state. Identical self-proclaimed states adopt the characteristics of a republic:
- Transnistria;
- South Ossetia;
- Abkhazia.
Nevertheless, during your stay in Armenia you can freely get acquainted with the sights of Nagorno-Karabakh. In most cases, customs officers do not mark Russian tourists. After entering Nagorno-Karabakh, you are required to register with the consular service of the republic.
It is not recommended to ignore the state’s migration rules, otherwise the foreign citizen may be deported from the country and prohibited from re-entering.
Pagan temple of Garni. This is the only monument preserved on the territory of Armenia dating back to the era of paganism and Hellenism. The temple was destroyed by an earthquake in 1679 and restored during Soviet times. Massive steps stretch across the entire width of the façade, giving the building majesty and solemnity.
Information on the rules for issuing an entry visa to the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR)
Entry into the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic of foreign citizens is permitted with valid foreign passports or other documents replacing them, in the presence of an NKR entry visa, with payment of the appropriate state fee.
Visas to enter the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic for foreign citizens are issued by the NKR representative office in the Republic of Armenia. In exceptional cases, an entry visa can be issued at the NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Stepanakert.
For citizens of Georgia and CIS countries (except Turkmenistan) there is a visa-free regime. All you need to do is present your passport and all the necessary documents will be processed at the border upon entry.
