ACCELERATED ACCREDITATION FOR FOREIGN MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES
All international media representatives wishing to enter Artsakh to cover the current conflict must be accredited by both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh.
In order to do so, please carefully follow this step-by-step guide.
1. In an email addressed to media@mfa.am and press@mfa.nkr.am, send the following attachments:
a) Letter addressed to the Media and Public Diplomacy Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, signed by the head of the agency or editor-in-chief, with official seal (․pdf format) which includes:
- Name of news organization or media outlet
- Name, surname and position of each team member who will be traveling to Armenia
b) Letter addressed to the Information and Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Artsakh, signed by the head of the agency or editor-in-chief, with official seal (․pdf format) which includes:
- Name of news organization or media outlet
- Name, surname and position of each team member who wishes to travel to Artsakh
- Anticipated dates of entry to and exit from Artsakh
c) Photocopy of passport (․pdf or ․jpg format) of each team member who will be traveling to Armenia and Artsakh
d) Official size photo (51x51mm in ․jpg format) to be used for badge for each team member who will be travelling to Armenia and Artsakh
e) Completed visa application form for Artsakh (Click here for application form).
2. Once your accreditation is approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia AND the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh, book your flight and send your flight details to media@mfa.am.
3. Upon arrival in Armenia, it is mandatory to take the COVID-19 diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test (price: 20000 AMD/approximately 40 USD) at the Zvartnots International airport UNLESS you don’t have a certificate of PCR test negative results (validity: 72 hours).
4. Once you have your negative test results, proceed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia (3 Vazgen Sargsyan Street, Government House N 2). Here you will receive:
- Armenia MFA press accreditation
- Assistance acquiring a driver, fixer, and any other logistical issues
5. After receiving your Armenia MFA accreditation pass, visit the Office of Permanent Representation of Artsakh in the Republic of Armenia (17/2 Nairi Zaryan Street, Yerevan). Here you will receive Artsakh entry visa.
6. You may depart for Artsakh once you have:
- Armenia MFA Press Accreditation
- Artsakh MFA Press Accreditation
- Artsakh entry visa
- Local fixer (recommended)
IMPORTANT NOTES:
Accreditation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia DOES NOT grant you permission to enter Artsakh, and may also restrict your movement within the Republic of Armenia, in line with martial law ordinances. Please ensure that you follow the steps outlined above.
- To ensure that your application is processed as efficiently as possible, please apply to the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of both Armenia and Artsakh simultaneously, prior to your arrival.
- All international media representatives entering Artsakh must be accompanied by a local fixer that has been certifiably trained by the MFA of Armenia on safety and security regulations and current martial law ordinances.
- In an effort to ensure maximum press freedom, local fixers can be arranged at your own initiative, through your own networks, local press clubs, or media NGOs, and will be provided the requisite training and certification, as necessary. If you are unable to arrange for a local fixer yourself, please state this in your email and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can assist in matching you with one.
- The COVID-19 diagnostic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is mandatory upon arrival to Armenia. If your test result is positive, you will be quarantined for two weeks, after which you may proceed once you have a negative test result.
- For your safety, all international media representatives are required to bring their own personal protective equipment (PPE) to Artsakh. In exceptional cases, if your news organization cannot provide you with one (i.e. you are freelancing on behalf of a media outlet), please make note of this in your email, and the MFA of Armenia may be able to provide you with PPE, subject to availability. Please do not assume PPE will be readily available and provided. Your entry into Artsakh may be delayed or restricted without PPE. For this reason, it is recommended that every effort be made to bring PPE with you.