The number of Indian citizens granted residence status in RA is increasing

Last year, the number of Indian citizens entering Armenia, as well as those who received residency status in Armenia, increased.

The Migration Service of the RA Migration Service has presented data on the citizens of the Republic of India in Armenia. The service informed that the summary statistical data of 2018 will be available only after January 20, however, even the analysis of the available data shows that there is an increase in the number of border crossings of Indian citizens to Armenia.

Thus, in 2015 their border crossings were: entry – 3951, exit – 3899, difference – 52, in 2016 – 4226 and 4148, difference – 78, in 2017 – 11589 and 11278, difference – 311, and in 2018 according to the data of the first half of the year, inflows were 10,237 and outflows were 9,122, the difference was 1,115.

As for Indian citizens who have received residence statuses, there is also an increase in this case. In 2015, 1119 citizens of the Republic of India received residence status. 1086 in 2016, 938 in 2017, and 2018. according to the preliminary results, that number is close to 2000 (the final data will be determined after January 20). It should be noted that the citizens of India have received the status of temporary residence at best, and the main basis for obtaining it was education.

The increase in the number of Indian citizens entering Armenia is also due to the visa policy. By the decision adopted in February 2017 (N 103-Н), the Government of the Republic of Armenia made it possible for citizens of India to obtain an entry visa of the Republic of Armenia only at the diplomatic missions and consular institutions of the Republic of Armenia in foreign countries, also without an invitation, and for those citizens of India who have a residence status in the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait and the Sultanate of Oman, to obtain the entry visa of the Republic of Armenia at the border crossing of the Republic of Armenia. in points.

And in 2017 in November, the RA government adopted a new decision (N 1435-Н) according to which the procedure for issuing an entry visa to the Republic of India for citizens of the Republic of India was made easier, making it possible to obtain an entry visa to the Republic of Armenia without an invitation, both at the RA embassies and at the border checkpoints of the Republic of Armenia or through the electronic visa (E-Visa) system, which led to an increase in the number of Indian citizens visiting Armenia.

The Armenian government is constantly taking steps to improve the process of issuing visas to Armenia and control mechanisms of illegal migration, including in the legal field. However, the principle of exclusion of national discrimination is strictly at the basis of all these actions.

It should be noted that according to the Law of the Republic of Armenia “On Foreigners”, visas to visit the Republic of Armenia are issued with the right to stay in the Republic of Armenia for a period of up to 21 days (the state fee is 3,000 AMD) and for a period of stay of up to 120 days, with the possibility of extending it for a maximum period of up to 60 days (the state fee is 15,000 AMD).