Travellers in Armenia can get 10-year biometric passports for $80; old ones stay valid

Armenia started issuing biometric passports on 1 November under a new digital application system that the authorities describe as the most significant reform in the country's visa liberalisation process with the European Union. European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said the new documents would make border crossings easier and move Armenian citizens one step closer to visa-free travel to EU countries.

Key facts

• The new system launched on 1 November; the service is delivered by the private company HayPass.
• A biometric passport is valid for 10 years and costs 28,650 drams ($80); the accompanying identity card costs 5,950 drams.
• Applications are submitted online, followed by an in-person appointment for photographs, fingerprints and signature samples.
• Passports can be collected from the same service centre 14 days later.
• Current passports do not have to be replaced and remain valid until they expire.
• HayPass runs 14 service centres; the government plans to expand to 23 by March 2027.

What is changing?

The entire document application process has moved from paper to digital format. According to Nelly Davtyan, head of the Migration and Citizenship Service, the previous procedure took 25 minutes, while registration under the new system takes 3–5 minutes.

HayPass received 7,700 applications within a few days of launch, and about 2,700 people had already visited its offices to submit their biometric data. Migration and Citizenship Service staff who inspected regional branches reported that they were operating normally, with no queues.

How do I apply?

Applicants submit their application and complete preliminary registration online. They then receive a QR code by email and must attend a service centre at their appointed time so that their documents and personal details can be verified. Staff take photographs and fingerprints and record signature samples at the appointment, and the finished passport is collected from the same centre 14 days later.

Two service centres opened on the first day, in the Yerevan Mall and Mega Mall shopping centres in Yerevan. Twelve regional branches started operating the following day. Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan said the government aims to have two branches in each region.

How much does it cost?

The biometric passport costs 28,650 drams ($80) and the accompanying identity card 5,950 drams. Sargsyan said these payments cover the company's services and that the state makes no profit from them, adding that nothing has been paid to HayPass from the state budget. The minister said the private partner has already invested €20 million in the project.

The government plans discounts for certain social groups, but has not yet specified how much of the cost it would cover.

Do I have to replace my current passport?

No. The authorities do not require citizens to exchange existing passports for biometric ones, and current passports can be used until they expire.

Which other documents will become biometric?

The Interior Ministry says further documents will also become biometric: identity cards, diplomatic passports, residence permits, identity cards and passports for stateless persons, and identity cards and travel documents issued to refugees under international conventions.

Why is this happening?

The Interior Ministry says the new system will ensure reliable identity verification and reduce the risk of document forgery or misuse of another person's personal data. Davtyan said the previous system depended entirely on human factors and that numerous inaccuracies were found in the State Population Register during preparation. She said the system was built in strict compliance with international standards.

Kos said Armenia "is choosing closer ties with Europe" and that work was under way to make that choice benefit its citizens.

What this means for travellers

Armenian citizens planning travel can now apply for a 10-year biometric passport through the online process and a single in-person appointment. Those who already hold a passport do not need to exchange it before it expires. The European Commission has said the new documents should make border crossings easier, but no date has been set for visa-free travel to EU countries.

What happens next

Armenia also plans to offer "gold number" passports from next year, with repeating-digit numbers priced higher and special combinations sold at auction. The number of service centres is due to reach 23 by March 2027. Neither the Armenian authorities nor EU officials have given a timeline for completing the visa liberalisation process, although both say it is moving at an accelerated pace.