The multi-month queues for Schengen visas among RA citizens are due to the unprecedented increase in the flow of passengers to the European Union countries. Compared to 2017, in 2025 it has increased by about 580 percent.

This was announced by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in a press conference on April 18, referring to the acute visa queuing crisis. According to the head of the government, the budget planning of the European partners was not intended for such a sharp increase. As the main solution to the situation, official Yerevan is negotiating visa liberalization. Pashinyan emphasized that today Armenia is the only country that is in active negotiations with the EU on this issue, and the topic will be raised again at the upcoming summit.

Currently, the queuing process has become so complicated that citizens sometimes have to pay an amount equal to the cost of the tourist package just to enter the embassy.

Referring to his controversial parliamentary statement regarding the 2-euro air tickets to Larnaca, the Prime Minister explained that the prices of the airlines are floating, but at the time of his speech, such a price was really fixed. Speaking about pensioners, the head of the executive expressed hope that the increase of pensions by 10 thousand drams will allow the elderly to travel both within the country and abroad.

He admitted that today pensioners are still just overcoming the threshold of the minimum consumer basket, but he emphasized that active leisure and travel at retirement age are one of the most important components of public well-being, which the state strives to achieve.

—