Armenian Citizenship and Passport

The Citizenship Law of Armenia allows for dual citizenship, and obtaining an Armenian passport can provide a number of benefits such as having a valuable travel document and enjoying preferential treatment in Russia and other EAEU countries. This can also serve as a "insurance policy" in case of worsening economic or political situations in one's home country, as well as providing opportunities for owning land in Armenia and government assistance such as education and medical treatment. The process of acquiring an Armenian passport is fast and easy, and children of Armenian citizens can also acquire citizenship regardless of their place of birth or residence. 

1. Dual Citizenship Permitted. Armenia has expressly allowed dual citizenship for its citizens, meaning that it is possible to hold more than one passport at the same time.
2. Valuable Travel Document. As of 2023, the Armenian passport ranks 80th according to Henley & Partners Passport Index, and allows visa-free travel to 65 countries, including places with limited access to nationals of Western countries, such as Russia, China, Iran, Uzbekistan, and others. The EU/Schengen countries still have a visa regime with Armenia, but visa-free travel may become possible in a few years. The United States offers 10-year B visas to Armenian citizens as well as E-2 business visas.
3. Increased Freedom and Opportunities. Holding a second passport can provide you with more freedom and opportunities, and can serve as a valuable "insurance policy." Armenia is known for its safety and low crime rates. If the economic or political situation in your home country deteriorates, having an Armenian passport can allow you and your family to temporarily or permanently move to Armenia. Additionally, a second passport can help you avoid problems arising from your country's foreign policies and domestic regulations, such as banking difficulties or increased tax burdens. It can also be useful for privacy or in situations where your first passport is expired, lost, or confiscated. Lastly, a second passport is necessary if you ever decide to renounce your current citizenship.
4. Citizenship Transfers to Future Generations. After acquiring Armenian citizenship, your minor children can automatically receive Armenian passports, and your spouse may become eligible to apply for citizenship. According to Armenian law, a child born to an Armenian father or mother can easily acquire Armenian citizenship, regardless of their place of birth or residence. In other words, your children and grandchildren will be eligible to obtain Armenian passports even if they do not live in Armenia.
5. Preferential Treatment in EAEU Countries. Because of the free movement of labor in EAEU countries (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia), citizens of Armenia are exempt from work permit requirements and can take advantage of preferential treatment in areas of labor law, social protection, medical treatment, taxation, immigration, and more.
6. Quick, Simple, and Inexpensive Naturalization Process. The process of acquiring an Armenian passport typically takes about four months. Once your application is approved, you can receive your Armenian passport and national ID in a matter of days. Minimal documents are required, and police certificates, proof of address, and tax returns are not necessary. Government fees are also low, even when using optional fast-track services.
7. Land Ownership. As an Armenian citizen, you have the privilege of owning agricultural, forest, and other types of land in Armenia, which is generally not available to foreigners.
8. Government Support. Armenia offers a range of social programs for its citizens, including government-financed education and medical treatment, welfare benefits for the elderly, disabled, and other classes of socially vulnerable people.
9. Tax Benefits. Obtaining an Armenian passport and establishing stronger ties with Armenia could qualify you for non-resident status in your home country or other countries and provide access to tax benefits available to non-residents. You can obtain documents such as a proof of registered address in Armenia, social security number, taxpayer identification number, and tax residency certificate, among others.
10. Easy Renunciation. If you ever decide to give up your Armenian citizenship, it is easy to do so as long as you have no outstanding debts or obligations to the government.

While ethnic Armenians are exempt from meeting language or residency requirements for Armenian citizenship, certain formal requirements must be met to establish Armenian origin. An Armenian name or fluency in the language is insufficient. You must produce a document proving that you, your parent, or grandparent are of Armenian ethnicity. The most common way to do this is by presenting a baptism certificate from a church organization that confirms Armenian ethnicity. In some countries, government-issued documents such as birth certificates or family records may also indicate Armenian ethnicity. A list of accepted churches whose baptism certificates are recognized by the government is available in Annex 4 to Government Decree No. 1390/2007 (in Armenian). If it is uncertain whether your church is on the approved list of church organizations, you may need to obtain a confirmation letter from one of the following authorities: the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Holy See of Cilicia, Armenian Evangelical Church, or Armenian Catholic Church.

In line with recent changes to the citizenship law, dioceses in Armenia have been added to the list of authorized dioceses that can issue baptism certificates for citizenship-by-descent applications. As a result, churches within Armenia now have the authority to issue such certificates, which can also include a notation indicating the applicant's Armenian ethnicity.

While the Armenian law does not provide a complete list of documents to prove Armenian origin, it is crucial that the document is legalized by the Armenian embassy/consulate in the issuing country. For example, if a baptism certificate is used to establish Armenian origin it needs to be certified by the Armenian embassy before applying for citizenship. A certified copy of your birth certificate in Armenian will also be required.

According to article 47 of the 2015 Constitution, ethnic Armenians can obtain citizenship upon moving to Armenia. Suggested amendments to the Citizenship Law were recently published by the National Security Service (NSS) that may make it more difficult for ethnic Armenians to apply for citizenship. The NSS recommends restricting eligibility to those with a residence permit, but it is uncertain if/when these changes will be approved. To take advantage of current, more liberal regulations, it is advisable to proceed with the petition promptly.

If you have been living in Armenia permanently for the past three years, you are eligible to apply for Armenian citizenship. However, the term "permanent resident" is not clearly defined by the Citizenship Law. In practice, the police will accept and process a citizenship application if the applicant has maintained an Armenian resdence permit (temporary, permanent, or special) during the three-year period.

In addition to the residency requirement, you will need to pass a test on your knowledge of the Armenian Constitution. This is a multiple-choice test with 33 questions, and you only need to answer 17 of them correctly to pass. The test is administered in Armenian, and you will be asked to fill out a biographic form in Armenian as well. This means that you may need to spend some time (perhaps a couple of months) learning basic Armenian.

It is important to note that meeting the above requirements does not guarantee that your citizenship application will be approved. If your application is rejected, you can reapply after one year. Additionally, if your application is rejected, you can appeal the decision in court. However, administrative court proceedings are likely to take up to one year or even longer.

Investing, setting up a business, working, or studying in Armenia may grant you lawful residency. For more information, check the residency page.

For more information, please check this page on citizenship by residency. 

Citizenship by exception can be granted in 2-3 months to those who provide exceptional services, including substantial donations or investments. The Prime Minister's office can directly present candidates to the President, and each case is evaluated on individual merits. Factors that may influence the decision include investment size, charitable contributions, job creation, tax payment, nationality, and ties to the country.

If you were a permanent resident of Armenia as of July 13, 1995, and a citizen of the former Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic without any other citizenship, you are automatically recognized as an Armenian citizen.

If you do not have any other citizenship, you can apply to be recognized as an Armenian citizen. You can apply if you are an ethnic Armenian and a former citizen of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic who does not reside in Armenia, or if you reside in Armenia and were a citizen of the former U.S.S.R. or an ethnic Armenian.

If you are unsure about whether you are recognized as an Armenian citizen, you can send a written inquiry to the Passport Office. They will typically confirm your status in writing within a few weeks. You may also authorize your lawyer or representative to send this inquiry on your behalf.

Before Armenia legalized dual citizenship in 2005, many ethnic Armenians obtained special passports to avoid renouncing their existing citizenship. Even today, some foreigners prefer to apply for special residency instead of becoming full citizens, often due to concerns about military service.

The special residence permit is valid for 10 years and can be extended indefinitely, and allows the holder to live, work, study, and engage in any other lawful activity in Armenia without additional paperwork. One notable advantage of the special passport is that its holder can own agricultural and other land directly in his/her own name, without the need to establish a legal entity. The special residence permit looks different from temporary/permanent residence permits as it is issued in the form a passport, not a card. Special passports are typically issued to ethnic Armenians, but in some exceptional cases, non-Armenians engaged in economic or cultural activities in Armenia may also be eligible. Children under 16 can also get special passports. The time required to obtain a special passport is around 60-90 days. Unlike applying for citizenship, you can apply for a special passport through a representative by granting them a power of attorney. 

Individuals of Armenian descent/origin can also qualify for temporary and permanent residence permits. Some ethnic Armenians may prefer a residence permit over citizenship, particularly if it is difficult to produce a legalized birth certificate. Additionally, obtaining a residence permit rather than citizenship can help individuals avoid registering with the military office or avoid having to renounce their current citizenship, particularly if their country of origin does not allow dual citizenship.

If you are an Armenian citizen, you can request immediate citizenship for your minor children. However, if you do not live in Armenia, the consent of the child's other parent may be required, and if the child is 14 years old or older, his/her consent is also necessary. Passports for children can be issued without your presence if you provide a power of attorney to your lawyer or other representative in Armenia. Starting in 2018, it became possible for an ethnic Armenian child to obtain Armenian citizenship even if neither parent is an Armenian citizen.

Adult sons and daughters generally have to go through a separate naturalization process and meet the requirements outlined in the Armenian Citizenship Law.

If your are a spouse or a parent of an Armenian citizen, you may be eligible to apply for citizenship if you meet the criteria specified above under "Citizenship for Spouses and Parents".

Once you are granted Armenian citizenship, your spouse, parents, children, siblings, grandparents or grandchildren can apply for a temporary residence permit which is valid for one year. After three years of residence in Armenia, a permanent residence permit, which is valid for five years, may also be available. In exceptional cases, a special residence status, valid for ten years, may be granted (see above under "Special Passport and Other Residence Permits").

In addition to the government fees outlined below, it is important to keep in mind that there may be additional expenses associated with the citizenship application process. These can include legal fees, translation and notarization fees, and other costs specific to your case. We recommend contacting us for an estimate of your overall budget.

Once your citizenship is granted and the President of the Republic signs your citizenship decree, you may apply for an Armenian passport and an identification card. You have the option of choosing between a regular passport or a biometric passport (the issuance of biometric passports is currently suspended until 2024). If you initially apply for a regular passport, you can later apply for and obtain a biometric passport and have both passports valid. However, please note that the biometric passport shows your "place of residence," so if you prefer not to have this information on your passport, it is better to choose the regular passport.

You can also obtain an identification document (ID card), which is issued as a plastic card and displays your social security number (public services number).

Applicants are typically notified of the rejection by text message, which does not provide the specific reasons for the rejection. The government has the authority to reject a citizenship application without providing any reasons, according to the law. The National Security Service is responsible for making decisions on applications, and they may reject an application if they believe it could endanger national security, public order or health, or the rights and liberties of others, as stated in Article 13 of the Citizenship Law. However, this agency is highly secretive and does not report to the Passport Office, so it is not possible to know the specific reasons behind a rejection without going to court.

If your application is rejected, you have two months to appeal the decision in court, but you will need to obtain a copy of the rejection decision from the Passport Office before filing the appeal.

If your application for citizenship is rejected, you may reapply after one year.

It is important to note that military service is mandatory in Armenia for male citizens between the ages of 18 and 27, with a service period of two years. Conscripts are drafted twice a year, in January and July. If you do not wish to serve in the military, it is advisable to wait until after you turn 27 to apply for Armenian citizenship.

Additionally, it is important to understand that acquiring Armenian citizenship does not automatically confer citizenship on minor children. If the other parent of a minor child is not also an Armenian citizen, the child will not become an Armenian citizen upon the parent's acquisition of citizenship. Similarly, a child born after the parent's acquisition of Armenian citizenship will not automatically become an Armenian citizen unless the other parent is also an Armenian citizen.

Individuals between the ages of 27 and 55 who become Armenian citizens are registered in the military reserve and may be summoned for service if mobilization is declared, such as during times of war. However, it is highly unlikely that naturalized citizens who have never served in the Armenian military will be called to duty. Military registration, if required, can take an additional 4-5 business days and may include a medical examination consisting of blood and urine tests, ultrasound, electrocardiography, and a physical examination.

Male citizens under the age of 55 may be required to participate in military training sessions, which usually last up to three weeks. There have been instances where citizens newly registered with the Military Office were asked to report for military training. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you check with the Military Office to confirm their current practices before traveling to Armenia to complete the military registration and collect your passport. If you are a male applicant under the age of 55, it may be wise to complete the military registration at the Armenian embassy/consulate abroad. Please be aware that the Military Office is capable of delivering notifications to Armenian citizens who are residing abroad through the use of Armenian embassies and consulates.

Military service evasion is a criminal offense and may result in imprisonment for up to three years. A criminal case can be initiated against individuals who were registered with the military office and were served a notice but failed to report to start their service. In certain circumstances, exemptions from military service are available, such as for individuals with serious health issues or for humanitarian reasons. Dual citizens may also be exempted from military service if they have served in the military of another country for at least 12 months (18 months for alternative service).

If you require further information regarding military service obligations, please do not hesitate to contact us. Additionally, if you are worried about fulfilling military service requirements, you may wish to consider applying for a special passport (special residency status).

Acquiring Armenian nationality should not have any negative tax consequences, as Armenia's tax system is not based on citizenship. However, if you are a foreign employee or private entrepreneur working in Armenia, obtaining Armenian citizenship may trigger obligations to make social and military contributions. 

It is important to note that acquiring Armenian citizenship does not automatically make you a "tax resident." Tax residency is regulated by tax laws, not immigration laws. Becoming a tax resident of Armenia usually requires spending more than 183 days in the country within a year. This means that it is possible to be an Armenian citizen without becoming a tax resident, and vice versa.

Armenia generally does not impose taxes on capital gains from the sale of securities, real estate, or other assets, regardless of where these gains are generated. Certain types of income, such as insurance and pension payments, are also exempt from taxes. Additionally, there are no taxes on gifts, inheritance, or net worth. Dividends and interest income are generally taxed at a rate of 5% and 10% respectively in Armenia.

Tax residents are not generally exempt from paying taxes on income generated outside Armenia. In some cases, exemptions may be available under international agreements for avoiding double taxation, which Armenia has with around 50 countries.

You may also be able to obtain documents such as proof of registered address in Armenia, a social security number, a taxpayer identification number, or a tax residency certificate.

All Armenian citizens are required to have a registered address. Registered addresses are typically used for delivering official notices.

If a foreign address was provided in your citizenship application, it will automatically be registered as your official address. If you want to register a local address (for example, to have your passport or ID card show "Armenia" as your country of residence), you will need to provide proof that you reside in Armenia. This can include a certificate of ownership or lease for a residential property, or the owner's consent to the registration. If these documents are not available, you may request that the local police verify your residence (which can take up to two weeks).

If you are a male under 55 years of age, registering a different address may require you to register with a different military office located in the new area of your residence.

Consular registration is required if you become a resident of a foreign country, which typically occurs if you stay there for more than 183 days.