Armenia expects visa-free EU travel within two years, says PM Pashinyan

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced that Armenia expects to achieve visa-free travel with the European Union within two years. The statement was made during a campaign meeting with voters.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has announced that Armenia anticipates establishing a visa-free regime with the European Union within two years. The declaration came during a campaign rally meeting with voters as part of the country's ongoing electoral campaign.

Pashinyan's statement signals Armenia's continued westward pivot, as the South Caucasus nation has been gradually distancing itself from Russian-led political and security structures in recent years. Achieving visa-free status with the EU would represent a major milestone in Armenia's European integration efforts.

The prospect of visa liberalization typically requires candidate countries to fulfill a range of criteria, including strengthening border management, document security, anti-corruption measures, and human rights standards. Armenia has been engaged in closer dialogue with EU institutions on these fronts.

For Estonia and the broader Baltic region, Armenia's growing alignment with European institutions is viewed positively, as it reflects a wider trend of former Soviet states seeking closer ties with the West amid tensions with Russia. If realized on the proposed timeline, Armenian citizens could gain the right to travel across the Schengen Area without prior visa applications by 2027.