Armenia has announced a visa-free entry scheme for nationals of 111 countries, effective from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2027, but only for travelers who hold a valid residence permit from an approved country. The policy, detailed on Armenia's official portal, allows eligible visitors to stay for up to 180 days within any one-year period.
Qualifying Residence Permits and Duration
The scheme does not apply to all residence permits. Only permits issued by the United States, European Union member states, Schengen Area states, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, or Oman are recognized. Additionally, the permit must remain valid for at least six months from the date of entry into Armenia.
Eligible travelers can enter Armenia without a visa and stay for up to 180 days within any one year. The arrangement is temporary, running from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2027, after which the policy may be reviewed or extended.
Full List of 111 Eligible Countries
The list spans countries across Africa, the Americas, Asia, the Pacific, and the Middle East. The complete list is as follows:
- Algeria
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brunei Darussalam
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cabo Verde
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Congo
- Costa Rica
- Côte d'Ivoire
- Cuba
- Democratic People's Republic of Korea
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- India
- Indonesia
- Iraq
- Israel
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Lao People's Democratic Republic
- Lebanon
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Mongolia
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- North Macedonia
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- State of Palestine
- Suriname
- Syrian Arab Republic
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- United Republic of Tanzania
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Viet Nam
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Context and Related Policies
This announcement follows a recent report by Legit.ng that China's visa-free travel arrangements with 48 countries will expire on December 31, 2026. Citizens of those affected countries may need to obtain visas to visit China after that deadline, according to the report.
Armenia's new visa-free scheme is part of broader efforts to ease travel for certain nationals, with the condition of holding a qualifying residence permit. The policy is set to remain in effect for one year, and travelers should verify their permit's validity and the list of approved issuing countries before planning a trip.
