Türkiye and Armenia have agreed to ease visa rules for diplomatic, service, and special passport holders starting January 1, 2026. This was announced by both governments in late December 2025. The deal lets eligible officials apply for free electronic visas, removing cost and usual visa barriers. This smoothens travel for government delegations and key personnel working on bilateral matters like trade, culture, and security. Analysts see this move as part of ongoing efforts to normalize relations after decades of frozen ties and a closed border since 1993. Both countries hope this will lead to more high-level talks and cooperation in 2026. Although the new visa rules apply only to official passport holders, the symbolic impact is strong. It lowers bureaucratic hurdles and builds trust between Ankara and Yerevan. Experts believe this could pave the way for easier travel for ordinary citizens if political goodwill continues. The visa easing also follows regional trends, such as Armenia granting visa-free entry to Gulf Cooperation Council residents and Türkiye allowing visa-free travel for Chinese tourists from January 2026. Overall, this step is a practical signal of growing confidence and a modest but meaningful move towards better relations and possible future border reopening between Türkiye and Armenia.