Alpha News

Turkey and Armenia to Ease Visa Procedures

Published December 29, 2025, 18:16

Turkey and Armenia have agreed to ease visa procedures for holders of diplomatic, special, and service passports, starting from January 1, 2026. This decision marks another step towards the full normalization of relations between the two countries, a process that began in late 2021 with the appointment of special envoys. Turkey had closed its border with Armenia in 1993 following the first Nagorno-Karabakh war, also severing diplomatic ties. The recent visit by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Turkey in June was described as 'historic' and signaled a new phase in the effort to rebuild relations. The easing of visa requirements includes the issuance of free electronic visas for holders of the specified passports. Both sides emphasized their commitment to complete normalization of relations without preconditions. Turkish Special Envoy for Normalization Serdar Kılıç expressed hope that the move would be beneficial for both countries. The resumption of commercial flights between Turkey and Armenia in 2022, with airlines such as FlyOne and Pegasus, was a previous step towards restoring ties. The easing of visas is expected to further facilitate contacts and cooperation between the two nations.