EU Ambassador Calls for No Additional Payments for Appointments at Embassies

Andrea Victorin, head of the European Union delegation in Armenia, urges citizens not to pay for obtaining free appointments at the embassies of EU member states for Schengen visa applications. He made this statement during a press conference.

“I have received very clear information that many travel agencies are booking the free slots, and that is why we are facing this situation today. This is a problem, and work needs to be done in this direction,” said the head of the EU delegation.

Victorin assured that steps are already being taken, with some EU member states altering their procedures, such as Germany and Lithuania. He noted that the situation is complex, but by collaborating with the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and EU member countries, it is possible to improve the visa issuance process.

It should be noted that the queues for obtaining a Schengen visa have increased in our country in recent months. Those applying at visa support centers sometimes have to wait several months for a free slot. For example, there is currently no available appointment at the Italian embassy until October.

Tourists who already have tickets and need a visa are being offered to pay extra to accelerate their appointment. The fee varies depending on how urgently the visa is needed, starting from 15,000 drams and reaching up to 50,000 drams.