New regulations change residence permit eligibility, application procedures and obligations for foreign nationals.
New rules governing residence status for foreign nationals in Armenia take effect on November 1, revising eligibility criteria, permit categories and application procedures.
In particular, two categories of residence status will remain: temporary and permanent. Special residence status will no longer be granted, although transitional guarantees will remain in place for those who previously obtained it.
Temporary residence status will be granted for up to one year, while permanent residence status will be valid for five years.
Armenian ethnicity will remain a separate ground for obtaining permanent residence status.
Other grounds for permanent residence include investing in Armenia, providing exceptional services to the country, family ties or entrepreneurial activity, subject to additional conditions established by law.
Applications and related administrative proceedings will be handled through a unified electronic platform. Decisions will be made within 30 days of submitting an application.
Permanent residence status based on exceptional services to Armenia will be granted by a decision of the prime minister.
How will the application and document issuance process work?
Applicants seeking residence status on the grounds of Armenian ethnicity must first register on the platform and submit the required documents. Once a preliminary review confirms that the documents are complete and meet the requirements, applicants will be scheduled for an in-person application submission. Applicants will be notified through the platform if additional documentation is required, according to Armenia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.
If the applicant fails to complete the required actions within five days of receiving the notification, the proceedings will be automatically suspended.
Residence cards and certificates confirming lawful residence must be collected in person, with applicants providing fingerprints and an electronic sample of their signature. For children under 16, documents will be collected by a parent or legal representative.
If a person’s authorized period of stay or residence expires while their application is being processed, their presence in Armenia will be considered lawful until the proceedings are completed and a decision is issued.
Data protection and obligations
Government authorities’ access to personal data will be restricted according to their official functions.
Foreign nationals will be permitted to hold only one status confirming lawful residence.
Those absent from Armenia for 183 days or more will be required to notify the authorities through the platform no later than 10 days after reaching that threshold.
This requirement will not apply to permanent residents who obtained their status through investment or exceptional services to Armenia.
What provisions apply to previous applicants and existing residence status holders?
Applications submitted before November 1 will be reviewed under the previous regulations.
Individuals who have obtained special residence status will retain the rights and obligations associated with that status until it expires.
Those who previously obtained more than one residence status and the corresponding documents will be allowed to use them until their validity periods expire.
The regulations also provide for a requirement to hold a work visa in order to work in Armenia.
