At a glance
- 100% foreign ownership — no local partner or residency requirement
- Online registration in 1–2 business days with no state fee
- No minimum share capital required by law
- Company seals optional — digital signatures are the legal standard
- Beneficial owners must be declared within 40 days of registration
- Multiple tax regimes available — from 0% microbusiness to 18% corporate income tax
Last updated April 2026
Armenia has become one of the fastest and most affordable jurisdictions for foreign entrepreneurs to register a company. With fully digital registration, zero state fees for LLCs, and a growing ecosystem of over 100,000 active legal entities, the country offers a straightforward path to incorporation — whether you are based in Malaysia, Europe, the Middle East, or anywhere else.
This guide walks through the complete process based on our experience helping a Malaysian entrepreneur register an Armenian LLC remotely, from choosing the right entity type to post-registration compliance. Everything here applies equally to any foreign founder.
Why Armenia works for foreign entrepreneurs
Armenia offers a simple, pro-business incorporation framework that works well for cross-border founders:
- 100% foreign ownership of an LLC is permitted under Armenian foreign investment law, with no local partner requirement and no residency prerequisite for founders.
- Fully online registration through the state portals (e-register.am and the National Services Gateway) typically completes in 1–2 business days.
- No state registration fee for forming an LLC and no minimum share capital requirement — though the system requires entering a positive, non-zero amount.
- Company seals are optional. Digital electronic signatures issued through Armenia’s public key infrastructure are the legally binding standard for all filings.
- Growing business ecosystem: Armenia had over 100,000 active registered legal entities as of late 2025, with continued growth in foreign-founded companies across IT, services, and regional trade.
Choosing your business structure
Armenia offers several entity types for foreign founders. The three most common options are the LLC, the Private Entrepreneur (PE), and the Branch Office. Each has different costs, liability exposure, and use cases.
| Feature | LLC | Private Entrepreneur | Branch Office |
|---|---|---|---|
| State registration fee | Free | AMD 3,000 (~$8) | AMD 50,000 (~$127) |
| Timeline | 1–2 business days | Same day | 2–5 business days |
| Separate legal entity | Yes | No | No |
| Liability | Limited to capital | Unlimited personal | Parent company liable |
| Minimum capital | None (any positive amount) | None | None |
| Best for | Scaling, hiring, investors | Solo freelancers, IT contractors | Foreign company direct presence |
The LLC is the most popular choice for foreign founders. It provides limited liability, a clear governance structure, and is the preferred entity for banking, B2B contracts, and attracting investors. Our Malaysian client chose an LLC for these reasons.
A Private Entrepreneur (PE) is simpler and faster to register, with no charter or capital requirements. Foreign citizens can register as a PE without a residence permit — a passport and notarized Armenian translation are sufficient. The main drawback is unlimited personal liability. PEs are well suited to digital nomads, freelancers, and small IT service providers.
A Branch Office is an extension of a foreign parent company rather than a new entity. It requires apostilled parent company documents and is typically used when a company wants a direct operational presence in Armenia. A fast-track registration option is available for an additional AMD 30,000 (~$76) government fee.
Step-by-step LLC registration process
The entire LLC registration can be completed online through the National Register of Legal Entities (e-register.am) or the National Services Gateway. Here is the standard process:
- Create an account on e-register.am or the National Services Gateway. Foreign founders who do not have an Armenian e-ID will need a local representative with a Power of Attorney (POA) to file on their behalf.
- Choose your company name in Armenian, Russian, and English transliteration. Name reservation is optional but recommended.
- Enter company details: founders, director(s), registered office address, main economic activity (NACE code), and authorized capital amount.
- Select the standard charter template. Online registration is only available with the standard form charter — custom charters require in-person filing.
- Upload incorporation documents: charter and founding resolutions. Bilingual Armenian–English documents are acceptable when prepared to local standards.
- Sign and submit electronically. The representative signs the application package with a qualified electronic signature.
- Receive your registration certificate and company extract from e-register.am, typically within 1–2 business days. The statutory maximum processing time is 2 working days.
Our team acted as the local representative for our Malaysian client, preparing all documents, coordinating the POA, and handling the electronic filing end-to-end.
Required documents and apostille requirements
For a standard single- or multi-founder Armenian LLC, you will need:
- Valid passport for each founder and director (original or apostilled copy)
- Notarized Armenian translation of each passport
- Company charter and founding resolutions (Armenian or bilingual Armenian–English)
- Registered address details in Armenia (legal address)
- Email and phone number for official correspondence
- Power of Attorney if filing remotely through a representative
Apostille and legalization
Armenia is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Foreign documents (such as corporate registration certificates for a parent company or POAs prepared abroad) must be apostilled if both countries are Hague members, or consularly legalized otherwise. All foreign-language documents must then be translated into Armenian and notarized.
For individual founders, the passport itself does not require apostille — only a notarized Armenian translation is needed. Passport translations should be completed in Armenia by licensed Armenian translators for best results.
A POA prepared in Armenian (or bilingually including Armenian) does not require notarization or legalization. Foreign-language POAs prepared outside Armenia must be apostilled or consularly legalized and translated into Armenian.
Registration fees and timeline
| Item | LLC | PE | Branch |
|---|---|---|---|
| State fee | Free (AMD 0) | AMD 3,000 (~$8) | AMD 50,000 (~$127) |
| Fast-track option | AMD 30,000 (~$76) | Not applicable | AMD 30,000 (~$76) |
| Typical timeline | 1–2 business days | Same day | 2–5 business days |
| Minimum capital | None | None | None |
| Company seal | Optional | Optional | Optional |
All fees listed above are government charges. Professional service fees for document preparation, translation, notarization, and filing support are separate — contact us for a consultation.
What to do after registration
Once your company is registered, there are several important steps to complete in the first weeks and months.
Tax registration and regime selection
Your company receives a tax identification number upon registration. Within 20 days of incorporation (or by February 20 for existing companies), you must elect a tax regime. Armenia offers three main options:
- Microbusiness (0% tax): Available for annual turnover up to AMD 24 million (~$61,000). Most services — including consulting, legal, and accounting — are excluded from this regime. Available to both LLCs and PEs.
- Turnover tax (1–12%): For annual turnover up to AMD 115 million (~$291,000). IT and software companies registered in the High-Tech Registry qualify for a 1% rate (effective 2025–2031). Other services pay 5%, trade pays 1.5%, and production pays 3.5%. This regime replaces corporate income tax and VAT. Professional services (legal, accounting, consulting) are excluded as of July 2025.
- General taxation: 18% corporate income tax on profit, plus 20% VAT on taxable supplies. Required for companies exceeding the turnover tax threshold or operating in excluded activities.
For a detailed breakdown of each regime, see our guide to taxes in Armenia.
Opening a corporate bank account
After incorporation, you will need a corporate bank account to operate. The process typically involves submitting your registration certificate, charter, director identification, and completing a KYC interview. Banks most receptive to foreign-owned LLCs include Ameriabank, Ardshinbank, ACBA Bank, and Evoca Bank.
The director will generally need a Public Service Number (PSN) to open the account. Any foreigner physically present in Armenia can obtain a PSN from the Migration and Citizenship Service with their passport — a residence permit is not required. KYC documentation requirements are a common source of delays, so allow extra time for this step. For more details, see our banking in Armenia page.
Beneficial owner (UBO) declaration
Under Armenian anti-money laundering law, all legal entities must declare their beneficial owners electronically within 40 days of state registration. Annual confirmation is required by February 20 each year. For foreign beneficial owners, notarially verified translations of passports must accompany the declaration.
Legal address and virtual office
Every Armenian company must have a registered legal address. For foreign-founded companies that do not need physical office space, a virtual address service provides a Yerevan-based registered office for official correspondence. Our firm provides legal address services on annual contracts, including receiving and forwarding government correspondence.
Residency through your business
Foreign entrepreneurs who register a company in Armenia can apply for a business-based residence permit. This allows long-term stay, the right to work and study, and the ability to sponsor family members.
The current process involves registering your business, operating it for several months to demonstrate genuine activity, and then applying through the paper-based system. Tax payment is the single most important factor immigration authorities consider when assessing whether a business is genuine.
Important change from November 1, 2026
A new unified digital platform will replace the current paper-based system. For LLC owners, a minimum authorized capital of AMD 2,000,000 (~$5,100) will be required to qualify for a business-based residence permit. For PEs, either AMD 1,000,000 (~$2,500) in bank balance or AMD 1,000,000 in turnover over the prior 60 days will be required. All business-based applications will initially receive 1-year temporary permits, with conversion to permanent residency after 3 years. Biometric collection in Armenia will be mandatory.
If relocating key staff, consider visa requirements and work permit options in advance.
Case study: Malaysian entrepreneur LLC registration
Client snapshot
- Client: Malaysian entrepreneur expanding into remote service delivery
- Objective: Register an Armenian LLC remotely to serve global clients
- Entity chosen: LLC — for limited liability, professional credibility, and banking access
- Process: We prepared bilingual incorporation documents, coordinated the notarized POA, and filed online via state portals
- Timeline: Registration completed within 2 business days
- Compliance: Beneficial owner declaration filed within the 40-day window; tax regime elected within 20 days
- Post-registration: Corporate bank account opened, legal address arranged, accounting and tax reporting set up
This client’s experience is typical. The entire process — from initial consultation to a fully operational company — took approximately three weeks, including banking. Malaysian citizens face no special restrictions when registering a company in Armenia and are treated the same as any other foreign founder.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreign citizen own 100% of an Armenian LLC?
Yes. Under Armenian foreign investment law, foreign citizens and companies can own 100% of an Armenian LLC with no local partner requirement and no residency prerequisite. This applies to all nationalities, including Malaysian citizens.
How long does online company registration take in Armenia?
Online LLC registration through e-register.am typically completes in 1–2 business days. The statutory maximum is 2 working days. In-person registration with standard documents can be completed same-day. PE registration is usually processed same-day.
Is there a minimum share capital or state fee to form an LLC?
No. There is no state registration fee and no minimum capital requirement for forming an Armenian LLC. The electronic registration system requires entering a positive, non-zero capital amount, but there is no statutory floor. Any amount chosen by the founders satisfies both the legal and system requirements.
Can I register a company in Armenia without visiting the country?
Yes. Foreign founders can register an LLC remotely through a local representative using a Power of Attorney. The POA should be notarized and apostilled (if prepared abroad in a foreign language), then translated into Armenian. Our firm has certified digital access to the state registration system and handles the entire process remotely.
What tax regime should I choose for my Armenian company?
It depends on your activity and expected revenue. IT and software companies can access a 1% turnover tax rate. Small businesses under AMD 24 million (~$61,000) in annual turnover may qualify for the 0% microbusiness regime (with activity restrictions). Other businesses typically use the turnover tax (1–12%) or general taxation (18% CIT + 20% VAT). You must elect your regime within 20 days of registration. We recommend consulting with a tax advisor to choose the optimal structure.
Can I get a residence permit through my Armenian company?
Yes. Both LLC shareholders and registered PEs can apply for business-based residence permits. From November 1, 2026, LLC owners will need a minimum authorized capital of AMD 2,000,000 (~$5,100), and PEs will need AMD 1,000,000 (~$2,500) in bank balance or recent turnover. Tax payment history is the single most important factor in the application assessment.
Registering a company in Armenia is fast, affordable, and fully accessible to foreign entrepreneurs. Whether you choose an LLC for its limited liability and professional credibility, or a PE for its simplicity and low cost, the process can be completed remotely with the right support. Explore our business registration services, learn about Armenian tax regimes, or review your residency options. Ready to get started? Contact us for a free consultation.
