Armenia has tightened the rules for issuing residence permits and permanent residence to foreigners
The Insider
The Parliament of Armenia approved a package of amendments that significantly complicates
obtaining a residence permit and permanent residence permit (permanent residence permit)
for foreigners. Information about this published on the official website of parliament.
All document flow is transferred to an electronic system, and if the applicant responds within
three days, the entire review is canceled.
Permanent residence — only after three years of living in the country
According to changes to the law «On Foreigners», which will come into force on November 1,
2026, it will be possible to apply for permanent residence only after three years of residence
with a residence permit (which, in turn, is issued for only one year). This actually closes the
previous «simplified scheme», when foreigners registered as individual entrepreneurs (IP)
could receive permanent residence for five years after just a few months of paying taxes.
If a foreigner has a temporary or permanent residence permit and he left Armenia for 183 days
(six months) or more, then he is obliged to inform the migration authority about this through a
single electronic platform no later than 10 days after the 183 days of absence have passed.
New financial requirements for residence permits
Now foreign individual entrepreneurs will need to confirm their financial activity to obtain a
residence permit. The options are as follows:
— have at least 1 million drams in your business account (approximately $2,640)
or
— show a turnover of at least 1 million drams 60 days before submitting the application.
Residence permit through investment —, but with the risk of revocation
Individuals will also be able to obtain the right to a residence permit if:
— they invested at least 2 million drams in the authorized capital of the Armenian company
or
— they bought shares and securities of Armenian companies for the same amount.
However, such a residence permit may be canceled if the market value of the purchased
securities drops below 1 million drams.
Also, a residence permit will be able to deprive a foreigner of an individual entrepreneur if he
does not pay taxes within six months.
New type of visa
A work entry visa is being introduced — this is a visa for foreigners, which gives the right:
— to come to Armenia for work (including short-term work)
— to apply for a residence permit for work while already in Armenia
— to obtain a residence permit document on the basis of clause «b», part 1 of Art. 15 of the
law (that is, a residence permit based on work/work permit).
You can stay in the country for up to 120 days, but cannot extend it. It can be single or multiple
(depending on what is issued), but still within these 120 days. It can only be obtained once a
calendar year.
The special status for foreigners of Armenian origin is cancelled
The amendments also cancel the issuance of a special residence permit for foreigners of
Armenian origin. Previously, such a document was issued for 10 years at once with the
possibility of renewing it an unlimited number of times.
Quotas and increase in state duties
It was also previously reported that from May 8, annual quotas for residence permits and
permanent residence will be introduced. If the limit is exceeded, applications will begin to
receive automatic refusals.
From the same date, state duties increase:
for a residence permit — 150 thousand drams instead of 105 thousand
for permanent residence — 250 thousand drams instead of 140 thousand
In this case, money will be charged for reviewing the application, and not for issuing the
document — that is, in case of refusal, the fee will not be refunded
