Armenia Updates the 1997 Visa-Free Travel System with Russia to Improve Data Exchange

Armenia and Russia have agreed to update the rules that manage how their citizens travel between the two countries. The Armenian government approved the new changes during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday. These changes apply to the long-standing visa-free travel system in place since 1997.

The visa-free regime between the two countries allows Armenian and Russian citizens to visit each other’s countries without needing a visa. People can travel, stay, and move freely using just their valid passports. This policy remains unchanged. However, the way both countries handle and share travel-related data will now be improved.

The latest amendment focuses on how the two governments exchange documents and personal data related to travel. Specifically, the change updates the list of documents that Armenian citizens can use to enter, leave, and move within Russia. 

The phrase in the document list “with an indication of the period of validity in foreign states” has been removed, as it often caused confusion and is no longer needed.

More importantly, the new agreement introduces a better system for data exchange between Armenia and Russia. Until now, there was little coordination between the two governments when it came to tracking who enters or exits the country. Information sharing was slow, and sometimes incomplete. The updated procedure will now allow both countries to share personal information more quickly and accurately.

Government departments that manage immigration—like Armenia’s Police and Migration Service and Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs—are expected to work together more closely. They will now be able to check and verify travel documents in real time. This means better tracking of movements across borders, stronger security, and improved enforcement of residency rules.

Officials believe these updates will make the visa-free travel process more secure, while still protecting the freedom of movement for citizens of both countries. The changes are meant to prevent people from taking advantage of the system and to make sure all travelers follow the rules.

This new step is also part of a broader plan to modernize how Armenia and Russia work together. By using digital systems and secure data-sharing tools, the two countries are taking a step toward deeper cooperation. The agreement improves how migration is managed and boosts public safety, without adding any new restrictions for travelers. 

Armenian and Russian citizens can continue to travel between the two countries without visas. However, their personal travel information will now be handled in a more organized and secure way, helping both countries manage border movements more effectively.

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