More and more airlines are discovering Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, for themselves. For example, Eurowings only recently added a non-stop connection. The demand is high simply because many Armenians work in the DA-CH region, for example.

In cooperation with Air Arabia, the government of Armenia wants one under the name Fly Arna bring new low-cost airlines into the air. Not much is known about possible destinations, because there is a small problem with possible EU flights. The European Union has long been a “black list” of the Armenian Aviation Authority. Specifically, this means that Armenian carriers have to use wet-lease services or obtain individual special permits.

Such requirements do not apply to EU carriers and these are increasingly expanding traffic in the direction of Yerevan. From Vienna, for example, there are two providers, Austrian Airlines and Wizz Air, that serve this route. The capital of Armenia is extremely interesting for tourists due to its numerous sights, but the spectacular city is still greatly underestimated in the EU area. Quite different in Russia, because most of the air traffic in Yerevan comes from the Russian Federation.

Entry requirements can be met easily

In times of Corona, there are a few things to consider when traveling to Armenia. The passport alone is no longer sufficient, as additional documents must be presented. As a rule, EU citizens do not need a visa to enter Armenia. The identity card, which is particularly widespread in Germany, is not sufficient, because there is an entry and exit stamp in the passport.

At present it is comparatively easy for “foreigners” to enter Armenia for tourist purposes. The following are required:

• negative PCR test, not more than 48 hours old or
• Proof of complete vaccination against Covid-19 (e.g. EU vaccination certificates)

Residents and citizens of Armenia can also enter without the above-mentioned documents, but must undergo a PCR test for a fee and quarantine until the results are available. This is not particularly recommended for tourists. Theoretically, you can take the test at Yerevan Airport for a fee, but the authorities expressly recommend that you bring a negative result with you. Alternatively, proof of vaccination can be presented. Unfortunately, those who have recovered do not (yet) receive any relief.

It should be noted that the border police and the health authorities of Armenia insist that the "Corona documents" must be written in either English, Russian or Armenian. For example, if you only have the PCR results in German, you have to have it replaced before departure. Tip: With the free "Everything gurgles" PCR tests in Vienna you get the findings or the EU certificate in German and English. This is accepted by the Armenian authorities.

Plan more time and take waiting times into account

It is expressly recommended that at least one hour should be allowed for entry and exit. This has to do with the fact that the border authorities are moving slowly, but this is not down to the officials, because the actual control process takes a maximum of one minute. It is more the travelers themselves who stand in each other's way and disagree about who was there first. That costs a lot of time, because behind such arguments everyone else has to wait for the staff to intervene. It should be noted very positively that families with small children and people with disabilities are given priority by airport security personnel both when entering and when leaving.

When entering Armenia, double checks are carried out. This means that the real immigration control by the police ends with a stamp in the passport. The official also sifts through the "corona documents". After the usual "detour" through the duty-free shop, employees of the health authority will have another look at the Covid documents. However, this then happens very quickly. You take a look at the documents, compare the name on it with the one in your passport and wish you a nice day. The point behind this “double check” is not entirely conclusive.

Please inform again before departure

Finally, it is important to draw attention to the fact that for all detailed reports on entry regulations - especially those with video - Aviation Direct employees have "tried" them personally and clarified any open questions with the border police or the relevant competent authority. However, it should be noted that the provisions can change very frequently. Regardless of the destination country, you should therefore check the official homepages of the government of the destination shortly before departure.