The Ministry of Environment has initiated legislative amendments aimed at significantly simplifying entry into Armenia for participants of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17).
The draft proposal suggests temporarily exempting certain categories of individuals from the requirement to obtain an entry visa to Armenia, as well as from paying the associated state fee, Factor.am reported.
The initiative is intended to support the proper organization of the major international event scheduled to be held in Armenia in October 2026. The COP17 conference, planned for October 18–30, 2026, is expected to bring hundreds of official delegations from foreign states and international organizations to the country.
In this context, simplifying entry procedures is viewed as an important step to ensure the smooth arrival and participation of representatives of these delegations.
The proposed amendments include several key facilitation measures. In particular, heads of official delegations and accompanying persons would be exempt from the visa requirement. For participants who would not fall under a visa-free regime, a simplified visa procedure would apply, including through an electronic system. In addition, conference participants would be exempt from paying the state fee for visa issuance.
If adopted, the changes would increase state budget expenditures by the amount of revenue that would otherwise have been collected through visa fees. Nevertheless, the government views this step as a necessary investment aimed at enhancing Armenia’s international reputation and ensuring the conference is organized at a high level.
It is expected that the initiative will significantly reduce bureaucratic procedures for thousands of visitors and contribute to the successful hosting of COP17, while strengthening Armenia’s position as a reliable host for major international events.
Armenia was selected as the host country on October 31, 2024, during the previous conference held in Cali, Colombia. The draft justification notes that given the importance of the event and the limited timeframe for preparations, the prime minister instructed that preparations for COP17 be treated as a government priority.
