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Last Updated:
September 29, 2007 11:23
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Still Valid: November 15, 2007 23:28 EST |
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1. RECENT UPDATES The level of Travel Warning in this report has not changed. Sections 1 and 2 of this Travel Report have been updated. BACK TO TOP 2. WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Armenia
The land border with Turkey is closed, although there are regular flights between Yerevan and Istanbul. Exercise high degree of caution in the land border areas. Regional Warning
You are advised against non-essential travel to Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding areas due to tensions resulting from the political situation and military presence. The border with Azerbaijan is closed. A cease-fire has been in effect since May 1994. However, armed clashes along the border and cease-fire line may occur sporadically. There are numerous landmines surrounding the conflict zones with Nagorno-Karabakh. OFFICIAL REGISTRATION RECOMMENDATION: We offer a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that we can contact and assist you in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform you of a family emergency at home. Registration can be done on-line or by contacting a Canadian government office abroad. For more information, see our FAQs on Registration of Canadians Abroad. BACK TO TOP 3. SAFETY AND SECURITY It is the responsibility of individual travellers to make informed travel choices. The Government of Canada takes very seriously the safety and security of Canadians abroad and provides credible and timely advice in its Country Travel Reports. Situations vary from country to country, and there may be constraints on government resources, which can limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide assistance, particularly in countries where the potential for violent conflict or political instability are high. In the event of a crisis situation that requires evacuation, the Government of Canada’s policy is to provide safe transportation to the closest safe location. Canada will assist Canadians in leaving a country as a last resort, when all means of commercial or personal transportation have been exhausted. This service is provided on a cost-recovery basis. Onward travel is at the individual’s personal expense. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety. The purpose of this Travel Report is to provide Canadians with up-to-date information to enable them to make well-informed decisions. Terrorist violence and street crime may occur. Since 2004, incidents of pickpocketing, mugging, and theft from cars have increased. Do not show signs of affluence. Passports and valuables should be kept in safe-keeping facilities. Travellers should arrange to be met at the airport. Political rallies in Yerevan sometimes turn violent. Avoid large crowds and demonstrations. BACK TO TOP 4. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS The following information on entry and exit requirements has been confirmed with the Armenian authorities and was valid on May 10, 2006. However, entry and exit requirements are subject to change. It is the sole prerogative of each country to determine who is allowed to enter. All countries have special requirements for persons intending to reside for extended periods (usually more than 90 days) or who plan to work, study, or engage in non-tourist activities. To obtain information on specific entry requirements, contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the country or countries to be visited. Violations of entry and exit requirements may result in serious penalties. Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Office of Protocol provides contact details for the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, where you can obtain further information on entry and exit requirements. A valid Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit Armenia. The passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date or your expected departure from the country. Transit Visa: Required (for stays up to three days) Tourist Visa: Required (for stays up to 21 days) Visitors Visa: Required (for stays up to 90 days) Business Visa: Required Although visas can be obtained at major ports of entry, travellers should obtain their visa from the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia before departure in Canada to avoid the possibility of being refused entry or experiencing lengthy delays upon arrival. Armenian visa applications may also be submitted on-line through the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship (CCC) is not a travel document. Airlines are known to refuse boarding to dual national Canadian passengers returning to Canada, travelling on a passport that requires a visa to enter Canada, regardless of whether the passenger presents a valid CCC as proof of Canadian citizenship. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document for the purpose of international travel. It proves your admissibility to enter Canada. Selling, altering, or allowing another person to use your passport is a criminal offence. It could lead to the laying of charges and imprisonment if convicted. It could also lead to the denial of future passport services. Special and diplomatic passport holders should verify visa requirements for this and other countries, as they may differ from those that apply to regular passport holders. Any adult travelling with children may be required to show evidence of parental/custodial and/or access rights. Foreign and Canadian authorities may also require evidence that the adult has the consent of the parents, legal guardian, and/or the court to travel with the children. Some countries may not permit children to enter or, in some cases, leave the country without proper documentation such as a letter of consent or a court order. Although same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, many countries do not recognize them. Attempting to enter as a same-sex married couple may result in refusal by local officials. For more information, contact the foreign government office accredited to Canada. BACK TO TOP 5. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CONTACTS You can obtain consular assistance and further consular information at the following address: Armenia - YEREVAN, Consulate of Canada Address: 1 Amirian Street, Hotel Marriott, Suite 306, Yerevan Tel.: 374 (10) 56-79-90 or 374 (91) 40-12-38 (cell.) Fax: 374 (10) 56-79-90 E-Mail: concda@gmail.com The Embassy of Canada in Moscow, Russia, has consular responsibility for Armenia. The address is as follows: Russia - MOSCOW, Embassy of Canada Address: 23 Starokonyushenny Pereulok, Moscow, 119002 Russia Tel.: 7 (495) 105-6000 Emergency toll-free to Ottawa: 810-800-201-41012 Fax: 7 (495) 105-6004 E-Mail: mosco@international.gc.ca Internet: http://www.moscow.gc.ca For emergency assistance after hours, call the Embassy of Canada in Moscow and follow the instructions. You may also call the Department in Ottawa at 613-996-8885. It is not possible to make collect calls from Armenia. However, pay phones can be used for international calls. Phone cards are available at newsstands and retail outlets. Most post offices have international telephone facilities. Cabins are equipped with a meter, and payment is made after the call. Internet telephones are now available at Internet cafés. BACK TO TOP 6. LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS You are subject to local laws. A serious violation may lead to a jail sentence. The sentence will be served in local prisons. However, Canada and Armenia are signatories to the European Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, which enables a Canadian imprisoned in Armenia to request for a transfer to Canada, in order to serve the remainder of his sentence in a Canadian prison. The transfer requires the agreement of both Canadian and Armenian authorities. Canadians arrested or detained have the right to contact the responsible Canadian government office (embassy, high commission, etc.) listed in Section 5 above. Arresting officials have a responsibility to assist you in doing so. Canadian consular officials can provide a list of local lawyers upon request. The procedures required in legal proceedings or police investigations may be different from the procedures in force in the Canadian legal system. Canadians wishing to undertake such proceedings can expect to face long delays and additional efforts in order to resolve their case. The Government of Canada cannot intervene in ongoing legal proceedings in other countries, unless requested to do so by local authorities. Such requests are rare. Dual nationality is not legally recognized, which may limit the ability of Canadian officials to provide consular services. Canadians with Armenian citizenship may also be subject to national obligations, such as taxes, and should check their status with the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia. The Department publishes a booklet entitled Dual Citizenship: What Travellers Should Know, specifically targeted at Canadians with dual nationality. Homosexual activity is legal but is not widely accepted in Armenian society. Possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs may result in jail sentences and heavy fines. Photography of military installations or government buildings may result in a penalty. Travellers should seek permission from local authorities before taking photographs. BACK TO TOP 7. LOCAL TRAVEL AND CURRENCY Long-distance travel by train should be avoided. Trains are unreliable and may be stalled for hours at Georgian and Armenian customs. Exercise caution when travelling by train. Store personal belongings and documents in a safe place and do not leave the compartment unattended. Some roads are poorly maintained outside Yerevan. Emergency roadside assistance services are non-existent. Do not travel after dark. Poor driving standards, inadequate road signs, and poor road conditions make travelling hazardous. Police may set up roadblocks to search vehicles. Winter travel can be extremely hazardous at higher elevations. Public transportation networks are overcrowded and poorly maintained. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended. The economy is primarily cash-based. The currency is the Armenian dram (AMD). U.S. dollars are generally accepted. There are no limitations on exchange of foreign currency. However, amounts exceeding US$10,000 must be declared at border crossings. Credit cards and traveller's cheques are not accepted everywhere. Check with your bank for information on Automated Banking Machine ( BACK TO TOP 8. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE Armenia is located in an active seismic zone. Landslides can also occur. You should know the address and telephone number of the Embassy of Canada in Moscow, Russia, and the Consulate of Canada in Yerevan in the event of an emergency. BACK TO TOP 9. TRAVEL MEDICINE PROGRAM The Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) report on disease outbreaks that occur throughout the world. For the latest travel health advisories and related information, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Travel Medicine Program Web site. The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly recommends that your travel plans include contacting a travel medicine clinic or physician six to eight weeks before departure. Based on your individual risk assessment, a health care professional can determine your need for immunizations and/or preventive medication and advise you on precautions to avoid disease. Travellers are reminded to ensure that their routine (childhood) immunizations (e.g., tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and measles) are up to date. Standards of medical care may differ from those in Canada. Treatment may be expensive, and payment in advance may be required. Travellers are advised to arrange for medical insurance prior to departure. Prescription medications should be kept in the original container and packed in carry-on luggage. The Public Health Agency of Canada also recommends that travellers who become sick or feel unwell on their return to Canada seek a medical assessment with their personal physician. Travellers should inform their physician that they have been travelling or living outside of Canada. BACK TO TOP 10. ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION Medical facilities are limited outside Yerevan and serious medical cases may require evacuation to a country equipped with adequate facilities. BACK TO TOP 11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Returning to Canada Traveller's Checklist Health and Travel Insurance: Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover all expenses if you get sick or are injured while abroad. It may cover nothing or only a portion of the costs. Understand the terms of your supplementary insurance policy. Some credit cards offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage. Carry details of your insurance with you. Also, tell your travel agent, a friend or relative, and/or travelling companion how to contact your insurer. Get a detailed invoice from the doctor or hospital before you return to Canada. Always submit original receipts for any medical services or prescriptions received abroad. Most insurance companies will not accept copies or faxes. See Canada's Health Portal. Cancelling a scheduled trip abroad could cost you money. Before cancelling a scheduled trip, you should discuss the matter with your travel agent, your travel insurer, or the airline. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. Adoption: Provincial and territorial authorities in Canada are responsible for authorizing international adoptions. If you are thinking of adopting a child from another country, you must first obtain information about the adoption regulations of the province or territory in which the child will reside. While adoption is a provincial/territorial responsibility, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is responsible for allowing an adopted child entry into Canada. Entry can be refused if the child does not hold the appropriate immigrant visa. A visa may be denied, even if the adoption has already been completed. For more information contact CIC at 1 888 242-2100 (in Canada only), check the CIC Web site or contact your provincial or territorial government. BACK TO TOP 12. ANNEX N/A BACK TO TOP |
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