ENTRY OF DIASPORA ARMENIANS TO ARMENIA TO BE FACILITATED

Noyan Tapan
Feb 3, 2010

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 3, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The RA National
Assembly on February 2 passed unanimously in the first reading a
government-submitted bill envisaging an addition to the RA Law on the
State Register of the Population. By the bill, it will be stipulated
in the law that persons, who were granted Armenian citizenship and
who have no place of permanent residence in Armenia and live mostly in
foreign states, shall be put on the state register of the population at
the address of their place of permanent residence in the foreign state.

When presenting the bill, the main speaker, RA Minister of Diaspora
Hranush Hakobian said that in case of adoption of this bill,
our compatriots will not have to "find someone in Armenia, to get
registered at their house and go through all the red tape."

The National Assembly also passed the bill on making amendments
and additions to the Law on Foreigners in the second reading and
completely. According to Ms. Hakobian, it will facilitate the process
of receiving an entry visa to Armenia by Diaspora Armenians, while
Diaspora Armenian students will be able to solve the problem of their
stay permit without interrupting their education.

In particular, it is envisaged that the Armenian government may
establish a shorter period for the submission of applications for
extending a temporary stay permit for educational purposes. Under the
current law, this permit is given for a period of up to one year,
each time with the opportunity to extent it for one year, and the
application for extension shall be submitted at least 30 days before
the expiry of the permit.

Besides, it is envisaged that a foreigner, who was subjected to
administrative responsibility for violation of the law and who has
not carried out his obligation under the administrative act, may
receive an entry visa or a stay permit if one year has passed since
the imposition of administrative responsibility.

The parliament also passed another bill on making amendments and
additions to the RA Law on Foreigners. The bill aims to improve the
business environment in Armenia by providing economic entities with
the opportinity to employ a foreigner for the necessary period.