On the one year anniversary of the establishment of Armenia’s e-visa program, Minister Oskanian convened a meeting with the heads of the various organizations involved in its implementation. They include the National Security Service, the Border Guards, the Zvartnots Airport management, and the Ministry’s Consular Services.

Minister Oskanian thanked them all for participating in a ground-breaking program which has resulted in 2,200 people from 30 different countries traveling to Armenia by applying and receiving visas on their computers at home and work.

The Minister expressed his appreciation for the flexibility and understanding required to inaugurate such a new system. Although it is currently available only at Zvartnots Airport, the participants agreed that it is worth expanding the service to the other border points as well.

The visa, available through www.ArmeniaForeignMinistry.am is available to anyone from any part of the world. Visas are approved within 48 hours and the entire process is paperless. The Foreign Ministry intends to further develop this process and make other consular services available on line. The United Nations Development Program, which supported the e-visa program as an example of e-governance and better, smoother relations between government and public, has indicated its readiness to assist the ministry again as it expands to other services as well.