Armenia to Pause Embassy Passport Services Ahead of Biometric Rollout Tied to EU Visa-Free Travel Push

Armenia will temporarily suspend passport issuance and replacement services at its embassies and consulates worldwide beginning Oct. 5 as the country prepares to launch a new biometric passport system.

The suspension will also cover passport services provided by video call, according to notices issued by Armenian diplomatic missions. Authorities have not said when services abroad will resume.

The disruption comes ahead of a major change in how Armenia issues identity documents. The country is set to begin issuing its new biometric passports on Nov. 1, replacing a system officials say no longer meets the security and technological standards Armenia is seeking to adopt.

The new passports will contain electronic chips carrying biometric information that can be digitally verified at border crossings. The Interior Ministry says the technology will make identity checks faster and reduce the risk of forged documents. Armenia is also working to introduce automated e-gates that would allow eligible travelers to clear passport control electronically.

The overhaul is closely tied to Armenia’s effort to secure visa-free travel with the European Union. Document security, including the issuance of biometric passports that meet International Civil Aviation Organization standards, is one of the requirements in the EU-Armenia Visa Liberalization Action Plan. The plan also calls for biometric passports to eventually be available through Armenian consulates abroad.

Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan has said the government plans to complete the visa liberalization action plan by 2029, after which the European side would assess Armenia’s progress and decide on further steps. The government has described the biometric system as one of the most significant and resource-intensive parts of that process.

Armenia’s parliament adopted legislation establishing the new identity document system on May 11. The government says the new travel documents will comply with ICAO standards and provide stronger protection against identity fraud and counterfeiting.

Existing Armenian passports will remain valid until they expire, meaning citizens will not be required to replace their current documents simply because the new system is being introduced.

For Armenians abroad, however, the transition will temporarily remove one route for obtaining or replacing a passport. Diplomatic missions said they will announce separately when passport services at embassies and consulates are ready to resume under the new system.

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