GOVERNMENT PROPOSES FACILITATING ENTRY OF DIASPORA ARMENIANS TO ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan
Oct 27, 2009

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 27, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA National Assembly on October
26 discussed in the first reading the government’s bill on making
amendments and additions to the RA Law on Legal Status of Foreigners.

In the words of the main speaker, RA Minister of Diaspora Ms. Hranush
Hakobian, the adoption of the bill will make it easier for Diaspora
Armenians to receive an entry visa to the Republic of Armenia, while
the Diaspora Armenian students will be able to solve the problem of
residence permit without interrupting their studies. Particularly,
it is envisaged that "the authorized state governance body of the RA
government may establish a later date for submission of an application
for extending the temporary residence permit for the purpose of
education". Under the current law, a temporary residence status is
granted for a period of up to one year, each time with the opportunity
to extend it for one year, and the application for extension must be
submitted at least 30 days before the expiry of the permit.

Under the current law, a temporary residence status is granted to
any foreign citizen if he (she) proves the existence of circumstances
substantiating his (her) residence in Armenia for a year or over. The
envisaged circumstances of this kind include their studies, the
availability of a work permit, marriage to an Armenian citizen or a
foreign citizen legally residing in the Republic of Armenia, the fact
of being a close relative (parent, brother, sister, spouse, child,
grandfather, grandmother, grandchild) of an Armenian citizen or a
foreign citizen legally residing in the Republic of Armenia, and the
fact of carrying out entrepreneurial activity in Armenia. The bill
proposes stipulating the circumstance of being of Armenian descent
in addition to the above mentioned circumstances. This condition,
among the current grounds, will also be envisaged for obtaining a
permanent residence permit for 5 years.

Besides, it is envisaged that the foreigner, who was subjected
to administrative responsibility for breaking the law and has not
fulfilled the obligation imposed on him (her) by the administrative
act, may receive an entry visa or a residence permit in one year
after being subjected to administrative responsibility.

Responding to the questions of reporters, the minister said that in
many cases dual citizenship does not resolve the above mentioned
problems for the reason that some countries do not allow dual
citizenship. According to her, firstly, in such cases the citizen
cannot use this right, and secondly, Armenia tries to offer all the
forms: temporary and permanent permits, special status for 10 years,
and dual citizenship.

H. Hakobian said that naturally, dual citizenship is the highest
status when the foreigner receives the rights and obligations of an
Armenian citizen, paying only 1-1.5 thousand drams for the drawing up
of the document. She announced that since the law’s adoption, only
1,640 persons have been granted dual citizenship, but the process
has become more active in the past 7 months.

The minister also reminded that in accordance with the law passed on
April 1, 2009, the payments for an entry visa have been considerably
reduced: payments of 3 thousand drams and 15 thousand drams are
charged for 21 and 120 days, respectively.