Armenia’s government on Thursday allowed ethnic Armenian immigrants from Syria to use their drivers’ licenses issued by Syrian authorities in the country for one year.
They will also be able to receive Armenian licenses without any driving tests after the one-year period.
Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian said the decisions proposed by the Ministry of Diaspora are part of the government’s efforts to help Syrian Armenians “easily adapt” to life in their ancestral homeland.
Syrian driving licenses have not been valid in Armenia until now because of not meeting requirements set by international conventions.
It is not yet known how many of about 2,000 Syrian nationals of Armenian descent who have reportedly taken refuge in Armenia to date have drivers’ licenses. According to the Ministry of Diaspora, about a dozen of them have asked it to help them legally drive a car in the country.
Sarkisian’s government earlier facilitated visa procedures for Syrian Armenians fleeing violence in the Middle Eastern state. They can now receive Armenian visas at Armenia’s Zvartnots airport and border crossings. Also, Syrian Armenians seeking Armenian citizenship were allowed to receive their passports at Armenian diplomatic missions in Damascus and Aleppo.
They will also be able to receive Armenian licenses without any driving tests after the one-year period.
Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian said the decisions proposed by the Ministry of Diaspora are part of the government’s efforts to help Syrian Armenians “easily adapt” to life in their ancestral homeland.
Syrian driving licenses have not been valid in Armenia until now because of not meeting requirements set by international conventions.
It is not yet known how many of about 2,000 Syrian nationals of Armenian descent who have reportedly taken refuge in Armenia to date have drivers’ licenses. According to the Ministry of Diaspora, about a dozen of them have asked it to help them legally drive a car in the country.
Sarkisian’s government earlier facilitated visa procedures for Syrian Armenians fleeing violence in the Middle Eastern state. They can now receive Armenian visas at Armenia’s Zvartnots airport and border crossings. Also, Syrian Armenians seeking Armenian citizenship were allowed to receive their passports at Armenian diplomatic missions in Damascus and Aleppo.