The entry, stay, and residence of foreigners in the Republic of Armenia, as well as their transit through the territory of Armenia and departure from Armenia, are regulated by the Law of the Republic of Armenia on Foreigners.
A foreigner is considered an individual who is not a citizen of the Republic of Armenia, who either holds the citizenship of another state (foreign citizens) or does not have the citizenship of any state (stateless persons).
According to the general rule, foreigners in the Republic of Armenia have the same rights, freedoms and duties as citizens of the Republic of Armenia. The status of residence in Armenia gives a foreign citizen (a person without citizenship) the opportunity to enter Armenia, stay in its territory for the period specified in the resident card, engage in business, etc.
Within the framework of this overview, we will answer the most frequently asked questions about the residency status of foreigners in RA.
What kind of residency statuses are provided in the Republic of Armenia for foreigners?
Three residency statuses are established for the stay and residence of foreigners in the Republic of Armenia: temporary, permanent and special. The documents confirming these residency statuses are, respectively, a temporary resident card, a permanent resident card and a special passport.
What is Temporary Residence Status?
Temporary residence status is a permit issued by the state authority authorized by the Government of the Republic of Armenia, granting a foreigner the right to reside in the territory of the Republic of Armenia for a specified period.
In which cases foreigners can obtain a temporary residence status and for what period?
The status of temporary residence is granted to every foreigner, if he/she proves that there is a circumstance justifying his/her residence in the RA territory for a period of one year or more. Such circumstances are, for example, studying, having a work permit, being the spouse or close relative (parent, child, brother, sister, grandmother, grandfather, grandchild) of RA citizen or a foreigner with a permanent or special residence status of the RA, engaging in entrepreneurial activities, being Armenian by nationality. etc.
Temporary residence status is granted for a period of up to 1 year, with the possibility of extending it by one year each time. The application for extending temporary residence status must be submitted at least 30 days before the expiration of the current status.
What is Permanent Residence Status?
Permanent residence status is a permit issued by the state authority authorized by the Government of the Republic of Armenia, granting a foreigner the right to reside permanently in the territory of the Republic of Armenia.
In which cases foreigners can obtain a permanent residence status and for what period?
Permanent residence status is granted to a foreigner if he:
- proves the presence of his close relatives (parent, spouse, brother, sister, child, grandmother, grandfather, grandson) in RA,
- is provided with housing and means of existence in RA,
- lived in RA for at least 3 years before submitting an application for permanent residence status, according to the law,
or
- carries out business activities in RA,
or
- is Armenian by nationality.
Permanent residence status is granted for a period of 5 years, with the possibility of extending it for the same period each time.
What is Special Residence Status?
Special residence status is a permit from the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, granting a foreigner the right to reside in the territory of Armenia for the duration specified in the document confirming this status.
In which cases foreigners can obtain a special residence status and for what period?
Special residence status is granted to foreign nationals of Armenian descent, as well as other foreigners engaged in economic and cultural activities in the Republic of Armenia, by the decree of the Prime Minister of Armenia.
Those granted special residence status are issued a special passport of Armenia, which allows them to enter the country and reside there without a visa. Foreign nationals with special residence status in Armenia enjoy the same rights, freedoms, and obligations as the citizens of Armenia, except for the right to vote. They are also exempt from the obligation to serve in the Armenian Armed Forces.
For those who survived the Armenian Genocide, the special passport is issued free of charge through a simplified procedure.
It is issued for a period of 10 years and may be issued more than once.
How much is the state fee and how should it be paid?
A state fee is charged for the issuance of documents related to the residence status of foreign citizens in Armenia.
The state fee for the issuance (extension) of a temporary residence card is 105,000 AMD, for the issuance of a permanent residence card is 140,000 AMD, and for a special passport is 150,000 AMD.
The state fee for residence status can be paid through the state payment system E-Payments, at banks, or on-site via payment terminals.
How much time is allocated for the consideration of a residence status application?
The application for temporary and permanent residence status is reviewed within two months from the submission date. The application for special residence status is reviewed within 3-4 months.
To which body must the foreigner apply in order to obtain a residence status and in what terms is the decision made?
In order for a foreigner to obtain a temporary or permanent residence status in RA, the documents provided by law are to be submitted to the Passport and Visa Department of the RA Police, which in turn makes a decision within 30 days on granting or denying the residence status. The necessary documents to obtain a special residence status are submitted to the Passport and Visa Department of the RA Police but the decision is made by the Prime Minister of RA.
Does the same procedure apply for EAEU citizens?
Those citizens of EAEU member states who are working in RA (as well as their family members) are exempt from the requirement to obtain any kind of authorization for the entire term of the employment contract. In order to confirm the legality of their residence in the territory of the Republic of Armenia, they are given a certificate confirming the legality of their stay. The said certificate can be applied for electronically via https://workpermit.am/.
Is it possible to obtain residence status in Armenia by making an investment?
Although making an investment in business is not considered the classic way to obtain residence status in Armenia, it is still possible to obtain residence status through this method. Investors who are ready to start a new business or invest in an already existing company in Armenia have the opportunity to obtain residence status. One of the easiest ways to facilitate this process is by registering a company or an individual entrepreneur (IE), which not only contributes to the development of the economy but also creates new jobs and increases the country’s economic activity.
If you have any other questions about obtaining a residence status in the Republic of Armenia or the described processes, our team will be more than happy to share with you our experience and knowledge in this field.
