In 2026, positive migration balance recorded for first time,  including for Armenian citizens

ArmInfo. The year 2025 has proven to be a turning point for Armenia in terms of migration and citizenship, Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan announced at a press conference on February 13.

According to her, 5,201,747 people arrived in Armenia last year,  while 5,171,290 departed. These figures, whether for Armenian  citizens or foreigners, are considered exceptional when compared to  2010, when the process of calculating the balance of arrivals and  departures began. In fact, the minister continued, 2025 marked the  first recorded positive balance, amounting to 30,477 people. Sargsyan  noted that it is more important to note the positive migration  balance of Armenian citizens, which amounted to 8,660 cases, the  first time this has happened since 2010. A slight exception was 2020,  when, due to the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, various  countries imposed forced expulsions of Armenian citizens who were  returning to their homeland.

The current migration situation, as the Minister of Internal Affairs  noted, is a testament to the state's internal security and the  Armenian government's efforts to establish peace with Azerbaijan.

In the context of migration processes, Arpine Sargsyan noted the  ongoing visa liberalization negotiations with the European Union. She  emphasized the short timeframe for resolving this issue - from the  start of negotiations until the EU submits an action plan to the  Armenian side. In this regard, everything necessary is being done to  ensure that each EU report on the action plan is positive.

The introduction of new biometric passports and ID cards in Armenia  plays a significant role in the success of visa liberalization  negotiations. As Arpine Sargsyan noted, this task is being addressed  through a public- private partnership. Work is being conducted in  seven industry-specific working groups, covering everything from the  design to the security of the new documents. International experts  are currently working on developing new ID card standards to ensure  the production of documents that will comply with the EU directive by  2027.

To provide Armenian citizens with the new documents, 22 offices are  planned, two of which will be located in large shopping centers.

It is worth noting that production of the new biometric passports and  ID cards in Armenia will begin in the second half of 2026. Their  production will be carried out by a consortium of French companies,  IDEMIA Identity Security France and A.C.I. Technology S.a.r.l., which  won an international tender. The documents' appearance has already  been approved by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.