Armenia
Last update 04 September 2023Diplomatic missions
Risk index
Level 3: Increased level of risk (recommendation not to travel in certain areas of the country unless necessary)
3
Select passport type
As of 10 January 2013, a visa-free regime for a stay of 180 days within one year (360 days) comes into force.
Republic of Armenia
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Republic of Armenia
Address: 16 Sofia St., Nor Aresh, Yerevan
Telephone: +37410458233
Out-of-hours hotline: +37496405210
Working hours: 09:30 – 18:00 (local time)
(07:30 – 16:00 Bulgarian winter time)
(08:30 – 17:00 Bulgarian summer time)
E-mail: [email protected]
Consular Office:
Telephone: +37410454582
Working hours: 09:30 – 18:00 (local time)
Opening hours: 10:00 – 13:00 (local time)
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/armenia
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in the Republic of Bulgaria
Address: 3 Zagorichane St., 1111 Sofia
Telephone: +359 2 946 12 72; +359 2 946 12 73
Fax: +359 2 946 12 74
Е-mail: [email protected]
General information
Entry into the territory of the Republic of Armenia should only be through official border crossing points (BCPs)
Security level:
In Armenia, the level of crime is relatively low. At the same time, there have been isolated cases of pickpocketing, handbag thefts, thefts from cars and burglaries. You are advised not to carry your passport, credit or debit cards, travel tickets and money together. Make sure they are in a safe place.
We recommend that you use ATMs located in bank buildings.
The borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan and Armenia and Turkey are closed. Bulgarian citizens are advised to avoid non-urgent travel in the vicinity of these border areas. If you are travelling between Armenia and Georgia, it is better to travel on the roads that continue west into Armenia or the road through the Lori region. The land border with Turkey is also closed, but direct flights from Yerevan to Istanbul are currently operating. A direct Sofia-Yerevan-Sofia route operated by Wizz Air will start in May 2023. In general, travel in the South Caucasus can be difficult due to poor road infrastructure and requires careful planning.
In principle, the level of terrorist danger in Armenia is low. The likelihood of terrorist attacks is minimal. However, it is advisable to be cautious about possible acts of terrorism, especially in public places, including those frequented primarily by tourists, foreign nationals and expatriates.
Healthcare:
Medical conditions in Armenia are generally not good, especially outside Yerevan. No treatment is recommended except for mild diseases where there is no risk of misdiagnosis. The network of pharmacies in the country is relatively well developed. There is no shortage of medicines in the capital Yerevan, including European and Bulgarian medicines. In general, the purchase of medication is also possible without a prescription.
Specifics of the local legislation:
Armenia is a Christian country and women usually dress in normal European style clothing. Outside the capital Yerevan, people are more conservative and inappropriate clothing could draw more attention to you than usual. Drug use in Armenia is severely punished, including fines and long-term imprisonment. Homosexuality was decriminalised in 2003 but is viewed with disapproval by many Armenian citizens. Citizens with homosexual tendencies are advised to exercise prudence and caution when visiting Armenia. Although in many places you may see men and women holding hands and kissing, keep in mind that this is common in Armenian culture and is not an indicator of people's sexual orientation. You are advised to refrain from photographing military sites, equipment or other installations under any conditions. These are sensitive areas for Armenia and travellers could be detained and questioned if they try to film them.
Customs requirements:
Customs requirements for Armenia may be downloaded from: https://www.petekamutner.am/Content.aspx?itn=csCICustomsInfo
Road traffic:
You can drive in Armenia if you have an international driving licence. In general, local driving standards are not good. If you plan to drive in Armenia, you should be prepared for drivers who drive irresponsibly and disregard the rules of the road. Road traffic is left-positioned, but there are too many right-hand drive vehicles in use, introducing additional risk factors. The vehicle fleet is largely in poor condition, including public transport vehicles. Local drivers actively use horns as a means of signalling to others. Be especially careful when driving in cities at night. It is common practice for drivers to drive their cars without their lights on, which further creates risky situations. Over the weekend, the number of drivers who have consumed alcohol increases. You need to be very careful if driving on the main road between Yerevan and the resort areas of Sevan and Tsakhgkadzor. Police stop drivers who drive dangerously, but police presence outside Yerevan is limited. Pedestrians are often very careless and cross at unauthorised places. Road rage is becoming a serious problem for Armenian streets and highways. In order to limit your risk of becoming a victim of aggression, yield to aggressive drivers.
With the exception of a few main thoroughfares, roads are generally in poor condition, especially during the winter months (November to February). Some roads shown on road maps as main roads are unpaved and narrow, and other roads, recently made, are not marked on road maps. Secondary roads are in poor condition and often lack road markings. There are few signposts in the towns and outside them. Truck traffic is heavily congested on the main roads connecting Yerevan with Iran and Georgia. It can take considerable time for police and emergency medical services to reach some remote regions. Fuel quality in Armenia ranges from good to very poor. We recommend that you do not buy fuel from dealers who sell it straight from barrels or trucks.
If you are a pedestrian, you should be especially careful when crossing the road and even when using pedestrian crossings. We recommend that you prefer to cross via underpasses and overpasses. Public transport is often overloaded and poorly maintained. Shuttles are more dangerous than other modes of public transportation. These vehicles (minibuses) are poorly maintained and there are frequent cases of road accidents with them. If you are travelling by train, make sure your valuables are safe and do not leave the compartment you are travelling in unattended.
From May 2023, a direct air service between Sofia and Yerevan will be launched by Wizz Air. You can also travel between the two capitals via flights via Vienna, Warsaw, Athens, Frankfurt, Paris, Rome, Milan, Doha and Dubai. Flights between Yerevan and Istanbul have been operating since the end of 2022 and are not always scheduled (it is advisable to check the schedule of these flights in advance). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs draws the attention of Bulgarian citizens travelling to Armenia that the country is part of the Commonwealth of Independent States and by virtue of its membership is obliged to apply the laws and regulations adopted in the Commonwealth. Individuals who have suspicions or concerns about problematic situations with them when travelling to other CIS Member States should be mindful of the fact that information is shared within the community about their behaviours and actions that have taken place on the territory of another Member State. Procedures for possible extradition and deportation are carried out with priority given to the CIS arrangements.
Practical advice:
The borders between Armenia and Azerbaijan and Armenia and Turkey are closed. If you are travelling between Armenia and Georgia, it is better to travel on the roads that continue west into Armenia or the road through the Lori region. The land border with Turkey is also closed, but direct flights from Yerevan to Istanbul are currently operating. In general, travel in the South Caucasus can be difficult due to poor road infrastructure and requires careful planning.
The Bulgarian Embassy can only grant you consular protection if you are on the territory of the Republic of Armenia within its internationally recognised borders.
Overall, the level of terrorist threat in Armenia is low. The likelihood of terrorist attacks is minimal. However, it is advisable to be cautious about possible terrorist acts, especially in public places, including those frequented mainly by tourists, foreign nationals and expatriates.
Bulgarian citizens are advised to avoid places where demonstrations, marches and protests may be held. Avoid being near crowding. If you find yourself near a rally or other gathering of large groups of people, be very alert and cautious at all times. Feel free to ask for assistance from the local security authorities who can escort you out of the area without any problems in case of public protests or demonstrations. In principle, the law enforcement forces are positive towards foreign tourists visiting the country and have the capacity and readiness to provide assistance if needed.
We advise all Bulgarian citizens to register at the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Armenia upon arrival.
You are advised to carry a copy of your passport with you at all times so that you can be identified.
We advise you to take out travel and medical insurance before your trip to Armenia.
Local currency:
Armenian Dram (AMD).
As of January 2023, EUR 1 = AMD 430 (the exchange rate varies daily according to Central Bank regulations). You can exchange money at banks and currency exchange offices. A passport is required for exchanges at bank offices, at exchange offices it is required for transactions over EUR 200. The most widely used currencies in Armenia are the US dollar, the euro and the Russian ruble. Prices of goods and services are in Armenian drams and by law payment must be in Armenian drams. There are numerous ATMs in Yerevan from which you can withdraw money with Maestro or Visa cards. Credit or debit cards can be used to pay in most of Yerevan's major shops or restaurants.
Travel papers and visas
Holders of all types of Bulgarian passports (diplomatic, service and ordinary) do not need a visa to enter Armenia. Entry into the country is only possible with a valid foreign passport.
By its Decision 1255-H of 04 October 2012, the Government of the Republic of Armenia introduced a visa-free regime for the citizens of the EU Member States, including Bulgaria, as well as for Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. According to this decision, as of 10 January 2013, Bulgarian citizens holding valid passports may enter and stay in the territory of the Republic of Armenia without a visa for a period of 180 days within one year.
Competitive service
The Consular Office with the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Yerevan is open from 10:00 to 13:00 on working days from Monday to Friday. The Consular Office provides the following consular services:
Acceptance of applications for renewal of Bulgarian identity documents — identity cards and foreign passports; documents for renewal of driving licenses; acceptance of documents for Bulgarian citizenship; notarial services — certification of signature and content of documents.
Consular emergencies and cases of a humanitarian nature are dealt with by the Consular Office with priority.
Admission to the Consular Office with the Embassy in Yerevan is without prior appointment.
For information on consular matters you can call +37410454582. For emergencies outside office hours, a mobile hotline +37496405210 is available.
Certifications and legalizations:
Bulgaria and Armenia are parties to the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents. Therefore, the documents/deeds drawn up in each of the two countries should bear an Apostille by the respective Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as be translated and duly authenticated in order to serve before the authorities of the other country.