Since April 3 of this year, Armenian citizens will have to submit  applications for Schengen visa through German embassy to "VisaMetrik"  center

ArmInfo.. Since April 3 of this year, Armenian citizens will have to apply for a Schengen visa for a visit to Germany, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Sweden, not to the German Embassy in Armenia, but to the special  center "VisaMetrik". This was stated at the press conference at the  German Embassy in Yerevan by Ambassador Matthias Kiesler.

At that, he stressed that this procedure does not apply to obtaining  a national visa. "A visa to Germany will be provided in the same  manner," Kiesler noted.

Speaking about the company "VisaMetrik", the diplomat said that she is a Russian-Turkish consortium, whose head office is in Turkey. At the same time, the diplomat stressed that the company was selected on a strict  competitive basis, taking into account objective criteria. The  competition was held for the South Caucasus region as a whole, and  not for a single Armenia. The Center also operates in Central Asia.  The ambassador hastened to reassure the citizens of the Republic of  Armenia, when submitting applications and activities of the center,  the rules and standards of safety will be strictly observed. "The  Armenian office will be headed by a citizen of Armenia, the employees  will also be citizens of Armenia, no personal information can get  into third hands," the diplomat assured. At the same time, he  stressed that the processing of applications and the decision to  grant a visa will continue to be in the prerogative of the German  embassy.

Explaining the reasons for the innovations, the diplomat noted that,  in view of the large number of appeals to the diplomatic mission,  queues accumulated for obtaining visas. The citizens had to wait 6-8  weeks to receive an answer. "After the cooperation with VisaMetrick,  waiting time will be reduced to 48 hours, the quality of services  will improve," the diplomat said. It is expected that after the  transition to a new system it will be possible to increase the number  of applications received by half. In general, 2/3 applications for a  Schengen visa through the German embassy are submitted according to a  similar scheme.

In 2017, the German Embassy received 15,200 applications for visas,  of which 14,000 were granted. As the ambassador assured, the  diplomatic department tries to provide as much as possible long-term  visas (1 year or more). They accounted for about 24% of the total  number of visas provided. 59% of the visas granted were for visits to  Germany, 12% for visits to Austria, the Netherlands and Belgium,  Sweden and Luxembourg accounted for 29% of visas.

The "VisaMetrik" center will operate at 26 1 Vazgen Sargsyan St.  from Monday to Friday (from 8:30 to 18:00). Center services will cost  the citizens of Armenia 20 euros. Citizens' questions will be  answered in a special call-center. The center will also have a VIP  service. Citizens of the Republic of Armenia can also contact their  questions via the website of the organization visametric.com   Armenia Germany hy /. In online mode, forms can also be filled  out. Citizens can also track their applications for this site.  The  embassies of Lithuania, Greece and Italy are already working in  Armenia on this scheme.