The newly established Migration and Citizenship Service has a principal mission of development and implementation of the Government's policy on migration, citizenship and asylum. The Service is responsible for the overall migration management in Armenia, including examination of applications and issuing of all types of residence permits, asylum applications, ID documents and visas. Merging two state institutions is a complex process that requires careful planning, coordination, and support to ensure a smooth and successful transition. This is in particular important when this reform is being implemented in the area related to migration management. The project aims at further supporting the Government of Armenia’s ongoing reforms in migration management as well as to sustain and further enhance the Government’s recent achievements in this area. Further expert and technical assistance, support in elaboration of strategic legal framework in the area of migratory crisis management and preparedness, further improvement of quality of services provided to the general public through capacity building and some procurement of technical equipment were identified as main areas of the intervention. The project will support the accomplishment of the above-listed priorities by providing necessary international and national legal and technical expertise, additional IT support and equipment of MCS front offices.

The overall project objective is to contribute to the improved delivery of migration management services to foster well-managed and secure mobility.
Based on the priorities of the Government of the area of migration and EU programming documents, the project establishes the following specific objectives:
Specific objective 1: Legal basis and necessary digital infrastructure is in place to improve quality of migration and citizenship services to the public (online and offline), including citizens of Armenia, foreign citizens and stateless persons.
Specific objective 2: Strategic framework on dealing with emergency migration situations developed.

1. Digitalisation of migration and citizenship services supported by developing specific electronic case management systems
2. Staff (involved in migration management) capacity development and quality control tools developed/improved.
3. Capacities on e-visa issuance are built in the relevant units of MCS
4. Temporary holding facility for irregular migrants designed
5. Development of strategy on Crisis Management of Mass Influx of Forced Migrants supported.