Another country has introduced a temporary 180-day visa-free entry policy for citizens of 113 countries, including Pakistan, as part of its 2026 tourism and mobility strategy.
The visa entry was announced by Armenia and the new policy will be effective from January 1 to July 1, 2026.
Visa-Free stay duration
Eligible travellers can:
- Enter Armenia without a visa
- Stay for up to 180 days within a 12-month period
- Travel for tourism, business, or long-term visits (subject to eligibility criteria)
Border authorities will verify documents upon arrival.
Who is eligible?
To qualify for Armenia’s visa-free entry, travellers must hold a valid residence permit issued by one of the following:
- United States
- European Union member states
- Schengen Area countries
- Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, including:
- United Arab Emirates
- Saudi Arabia
- Qatar
- Kuwait
- Bahrain
- Oman
Residence permit requirements
Your residence permit must:
- Be valid for at least six months
- Be issued in Latin characters
- Follow the Gregorian calendar format
Failure to meet these requirements may result in denial of visa-free entry.
Why did Armenia introduce this policy
Officials say the temporary exemption aims to:
- Boost tourism in early 2026
- Encourage business travel
- Strengthen international connectivity
- Attract long-stay visitors
The move is part of Armenia’s broader economic and tourism development plan.
Not eligible? Here’s the alternative
Travellers who do not qualify for visa-free entry can still apply for an Armenian e-Visa, which offers:
- 21-day stay option
- 120-day stay option
Applications can be submitted online through Armenia’s official e-visa portal.
Pakistan’s passport ranking claim record spot in 2026
On the other hand, Pakistan is regaining its global respect with every passing day, as the green passport ranking has claimed record spot in 2026.
The green passport jumped to 98th spot from the 100th in the first month of 2026 due to diplomatic efforts and country’s record global agreements.
Visa-free/eTA countries
Pakistani passport holders can travel without the need of any visa or just with eta in over 30 countries.
Visa-free Countries
Barbados, Dominica, Haiti, Micronesia, Montserrat, Rwanda, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu
Visa-on-arrival (VOA) countries
Burundi, Cambodia, Cape Verde Islands, Comoro Islands, Cook Islands, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Maldives, Mozambique, Nepal, Niue, Palau Islands, Qatar, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu
Electronic Travel Authorisation countries
Kenya, Seychelles, Sri Lanka
Also read: Pakistan passport latest fee, January 2026 updates
