What is the Reason for the Unprecedented Queues at the Passport Office: Clarification

The Passport and Visa Department of the Police of the Republic of Armenia and the territorial passport services are operating in an overloaded mode due to the simultaneous presence of several factors. This clarification was issued by the Police of Armenia in response to complaints regarding the queues at the passport offices.

The police report that the number of applications for obtaining passports for traveling abroad for recreation is increasing, as well as applications for marking validity in foreign countries. Additionally, there is a rise in applications from Armenian citizens arriving from foreign countries for obtaining or exchanging passports.

“However, 2022 is significantly different from previous years, as the number of applications for obtaining citizenship of the Republic of Armenia from our compatriots living in foreign countries has increased unprecedentedly. In the period from January to June 2021, the number of citizenship applications was 3,448, whereas it reached 9,917 in the same period of 2022,” the statement reads.

Moreover, it is noted that there has also been a significant increase in applications for obtaining Armenian passports. A large number of applicants are Armenian citizens living in foreign countries who apply for Armenian passports or replace their expired passports while staying in Armenia during the summer.

According to the police, this year, the number of foreigners arriving in Armenia for long-term residence and work has also increased, leading to a rise in the number of applicants from foreign countries to Armenian diplomatic bodies for obtaining Armenian citizenship and passports.

All these factors have resulted in long queues at the Passport and Visa Department and the territorial passport services. “The Passport and Visa Department is making every effort within its human and material resources to ensure proper service for applicants and to process cases within the legal timeframes and procedures. Additionally, the possibility of providing certain services electronically is being discussed,” officials from the police assure.

At the same time, they urge that individuals receive queue tickets from the devices regulating the queues only for themselves.