Armenia launches 30 second e-gate clearance at Zvartnots Airport

Travelers passing through Yerevan will soon clear passport control through self-service kiosks instead of staffed immigration booths.

Automated screening at Zvartnots Airport

The Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs plans to launch contactless e-gates at Zvartnots International Airport by the end of 2026. Hardware vendor IDEMIA Smart Identity has already installed passenger e-gate lanes in the departure hall, the ministry confirmed.

The automated kiosks process each passenger in 20 to 30 seconds. A traveler scans their passport chip, submits fingerprints if prompted and undergoes facial recognition before the barrier opens. The government plans to expand e-gates to all land and air border crossings during 2027, followed by further passenger throughput upgrades by 2028.

Who can use the electronic checkpoints

The system integrates with Armenia's rollout of new biometric passports in fall 2026, while accommodating foreign travelers carrying ICAO-compliant biometric passports. Manual booths will remain operational alongside e-gates for holders of older passports, non-biometric documents and entries requiring officer inspection.

There is no extra fee to use the automated gates. Remote workers visiting Armenia on recurring 180-day visa-free stays should verify that their passport contains an active biometric chip or budget extra transit time for standard immigration queues when flying into Yerevan.