The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs: one of the department`s important tasks for 2027 will be the implementation of the project to liberalize the visa regime with the European Union

ArmInfo. The budget of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia in 2027 will amount to 144.1 billion drams, which is 44.446 billion drams, or 40%, more than in the current year. This was stated by RA Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan on November 4 during budget hearings at a joint session of the National Assembly committees.

According to her, of this amount, current expenses will amount to 142.634 billion drams, and capital expenditures - 1.496 billion drams. The minister noted that there have been no significant changes in the department's expenses compared to 2026. A slight increase in budget resources is due to legislative requirements that the Ministry of Internal Affairs is obligated to comply with. Specifically, this concerns the implementation of a certification system for Rescue Service employees. Capital expenditures have also increased slightly, due to the implementation of an investment program to modernize the Seismic Protection Service and the completion of construction work.

The agency intends to implement seven programs: implement measures to improve technical and seismic safety, police and rescue services, finance the work of an educational institution, continue the management of strategic reserves, develop a policy in the field of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and implement Migration and citizenship policy.

Sarkissian noted that one of the department's important tasks for 2027 will be the implementation of the visa liberalization project with the European Union, ensuring internal security (police and rescue services), and others. The minister linked a slight increase in budgetary funds for the implementation of migration and citizenship projects to the introduction of new biometric passports and identification cards on November 1, 2026. These funds, already spent this year, will need to be reimbursed in 2027. Currently, there are 14 citizen service offices in the country; by March 2027, this number will increase to 23.

The head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs also pointed to a program for the introduction of an automated checkpoint system. She expressed hope for the implementation by the end of this year. The first such system was launched at Zvartnots International Airport.

Sarkissian stated that a huge amount of work is being done in the area of migration, and a new strategy is expected to be approved by the end of 2027. The government's program also includes a rethinking of the institution of citizenship. A legislative initiative in this area has already been developed and is in circulation and will soon be submitted for discussion to the National Assembly.

The Minister of Internal Affairs also reported that, as of November 1, over 83,000 persons forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh have submitted applications for Armenian citizenship, of which 32,690 have been granted citizenship by presidential decree. Regarding citizenship, the Minister noted that work will continue to digitalize the system, including for foreigners, for whom a new application system has already been introduced, including for residence permits. All these processes will be carried out electronically.

Next year, work to improve the state population registry will continue. A new registry will be launched on January 1, 2027, opening up new opportunities for citizens.

Also in 2027, work will be completed on digitalizing the Ministry of Internal Affairs' analytical center, which will collect all information on the overall crime picture. The Minister noted that work to provide police and rescue services with material and technical resources will continue next year. "What has been accomplished in these structures to date cannot be considered satisfactory," Sargsyan noted.