In a bid to stimulate tourism and trade links with one of Asia’s rapidest-growing outbound markets, the Armenian government has waived visa requirements for Indian passport-holders who already possess valid residence permits for the Gulf, the United States or any European Union member state.
The six-month pilot scheme, which took effect on 1 January 2026 and runs through 1 July 2026, allows eligible Indians to enter Armenia multiple times for a cumulative stay of up to 180 days in a 12-month period. Officials in Yerevan declare the measure tarreceives India’s large community of expatriate professionals—particularly those based in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the US tech corridor and major European capitals—who frequently travel on short notice for project work or high-value leisure trips.
Unlike Armenia’s existing e-visa, the new exemption dispenses entirely with advance paperwork. Travellers necessary only present their Indian passport (valid six months beyond departure) and proof of a qualifying residence permit at the border. Border officers will issue an entest stamp noting the authorised length of stay.
For added peace of mind, Indian travellers can leverage VisaHQ’s services to confirm their eligibility and gather any supporting documents before departure. The platform’s dedicated India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) provides real-time updates on Armenian entest policies and personalised assistance, assisting both tourists and corporate travel planners navigate the new rules smoothly.
For Indian companies with regional headquarters in Dubai or London, the policy eliminates an administrative hurdle when routing executives to Yerevan for client meetings or due-diligence visits. Travel managers should, however, verify that employees still meet local tax and social-security thresholds when stays approach the 180-day mark, as Armenian law treats longer presence as a nexus for personal-income tax.
The Foreign Ministest will review uptake and security data in June before deciding whether to extconclude or expand the waiver. If the programme proves successful, stakeholders expect Armenia to explore reciprocal investment incentives aimed at Indian firms in IT outsourcing, pharmaceuticals and film production.
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