The European Commission has published its first progress report on Armenia’s implementation of the Visa Liberalisation Action Plan (VLAP), highlighting the Armenian government’s strong political commitment to advancing reforms required for future visa-free travel with the European Union.
According to Armenia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, the report was officially handed over to Armenia on May 5, 2026.
The Armenia-EU visa liberalisation dialogue officially began in September 2024, while the Action Plan was delivered to Armenia in November 2025. The roadmap includes 74 benchmarks to be implemented in two stages: establishing the necessary legislative and policy framework, followed by ensuring their practical implementation and enforcement.
The first report assesses Armenia’s progress in fulfilling the initial set of benchmarks, focusing on legislative and policy developments in four key areas: document security; border, migration and asylum management; public order and security; and external relations and fundamental rights.
Despite the relatively short period since the Action Plan was introduced, the European side positively assessed Armenia’s efforts, noting that the government has already initiated or planned a significant portion of the required legislative and policy reforms.
In the field of document security, Armenia adopted a new Law on the State Population Register in July 2025, paving the way for the creation of a unified and secure electronic population database. The report also notes the signing of a public-private partnership agreement aimed at modernising Armenia’s national biometric identification system to ensure future passports and identity documents comply with the highest standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
Regarding border management, migration and asylum, Armenia is currently developing its Integrated Border Management Strategy for 2026-2029. The country has also made progress in digitalising administrative services. Since January 2026, an electronic citizenship case management system has become operational, while digitalisation of work and residence permit procedures for foreign nationals is ongoing.
The report further highlights Armenia’s continued cooperation with EU member states and third countries in the field of readmission, as well as efforts to strengthen border referral mechanisms and establish an electronic asylum case management system.
In the area of public order and security, the report states that Armenia has significantly strengthened its anti-corruption legal and institutional framework since 2018 in line with international standards. The launch of work on the “Crime Prevention Strategy 2026-2033” was cited as evidence of Armenia’s intention to reinforce crime prevention capacities through evidence-based policymaking and institutional coordination.
The European Commission also positively assessed the establishment of the Crime Statistics and Research Centre within Armenia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, which will analyse crime patterns, forecast potential risk zones and provide recommendations for crime prevention policies.
The report notes that a new anti-trafficking action plan is expected to be adopted in 2026, while the creation of an independent personal data protection authority aligned with European standards was also welcomed by the EU.
On fundamental rights, Armenia is drafting a law on the prevention of and fight against discrimination to bring national legislation in line with European standards. The report also highlights the adoption of new child rights legislation in 2025 aimed at providing stronger protection against violence and exploitation.
While welcoming the positive momentum, the European Commission stressed that progress will continue to be assessed through a results-based approach and will depend on the effective and consistent implementation of all benchmarks.
The report also contains recommendations intended to help Armenia address identified gaps, emphasising the need for practical and sustainable implementation of adopted laws and policies across all sectors.
According to the report, ties between Armenia and the EU continue to deepen. The number of Schengen visas issued to Armenian citizens increased from 51,000 in 2019 to 86,300 in 2024, while the share of multiple-entry visas rose significantly to 43.5%. The visa refusal rate has also declined, reflecting growing trust toward Armenian travellers.
The visa liberalisation dialogue will continue until all benchmarks are fully met. The European Commission, together with experts from EU member states, will continue monitoring Armenia’s progress, with additional assessment missions expected to take place in Armenia in the near future.
The EU also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Armenia’s reform agenda through dedicated technical and financial assistance, including under the Resilience and Growth Plan for Armenia.
