Entry Visa for Foreigners in Armenia: Your Ultimate Checklist for Obtaining an Entry Visa for Foreigners in Armenia

As a foreigner, before travelling to any country entry requirements need to be taken into account. In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive checklist that will guide you through the process of obtaining an entry visa for foreigners in Armenia. The Armenian government oversees the visa application process and provides guidelines for foreign citizens.

Introduction to Visa Requirements for Foreigners in Armenia

An entry visa is a document that grants you permission to enter a foreign country for a specific period. For Armenia, there are a few visa regimes and the type you are eligible for depends on the citizenship you hold. An invitation from an Armenian citizen can be crucial for certain visa applications.

Visa Requirements for Foreign Citizens

Foreign citizens who wish to enter Armenia must meet certain visa requirements. The requirements vary depending on the country of citizenship, purpose of visit, and duration of stay. Citizens of certain countries are eligible for visa-free entry, while others may need to obtain a visa on arrival or apply for an electronic visa in advance.

To determine the specific visa requirements for your country, you can use the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. The tool allows you to select your country of citizenship and travel document type to determine if a visa is required.

Visa-free regime

Citizens of the below-mentioned countries are visa-exempt; thus, they do not need to apply for a visa and can stay in Armenia for up to 180 days within a year.

1. Albania

2. Andorra

3. Argentina

4. Australia

5. Austria

6. Belarus

7. Belgium

8. Brazil

9. Bulgaria

10. Croatia

11. Cyprus

12. Czech Republic

13. Denmark

14. Estonia

15. Finland

16. France

17. Georgia

18. Germany

19. Greece

20. Hong Kong

21. Hungary

22. Iceland

23. Ireland

24. Italy

25. Japan

26. Kazakhstan

27. Kuwait

28. Kyrgyzstan

29. Latvia

30. Liechtenstein

31. Lithuania

32. Luxembourg

33. Macau

34. Malta

35. Mexico

36. Monaco

37. Montenegro

38. Netherlands

39. New Zealand

40. North Macedonia

41. Norway

42. Panama

43. Poland

44. Portugal

45. Qatar

46. Romania

47. Russia

48. San Marino

49. Serbia

50. Singapore

51. Slovakia

52. Slovenia

53. South Korea

54. Spain

55. Sweden

56. Switzerland

57. Tajikistan

58. Turkey

59. United Arab Emirates

60. United Kingdom

61. United States of America

62. Ukraine

63. Uruguay

64. Uzbekistan

65. Vatican

Citizens of the People's Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Iran are also visa-exempt; however, they can stay in Armenia for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

Please note that citizens of these countries can only legally extend their stay in Armenia by getting a residence permit in Armenia (based on work/business/studies).

Visa on arrival

Citizens of the below-mentioned countries can either get a visa on arrival or choose to apply for a visa beforehand at an Armenian embassy or through e-visa platform. These citizens can choose to either get a 21 or 120-day visa.

1. Antigua and Barbuda

2. Bahamas

3. Barbados

4. Bosnia and Herzegovina

5. Canada

6. Chile

7. Dominica

8. Dominican Republic

9. Indonesia

10. Israel

11. Jordan

12. Lebanon

13. Mexico

14. North Korea

15. North Macedonia

16. Oman

17. Peru

18. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

19. South Africa

20. Thailand

21. Turkey

International travelers should be aware of the visa on arrival options and border restrictions, especially since the borders with Azerbaijan are closed due to ongoing diplomatic tensions.

Visa at an embassy or E-Visa

For citizens of these countries, it is again possible to apply for a visa to Armenia at an Armenian embassy or through the e-visa platform online (find information about the e-visa application documents and the fees below). These citizens can qualify for a visa on arrival only if they hold a valid visa or a temporary or permanent residence card from an EU/Schengen country, or one of the GCC countries (UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain), USA, UK, Canada, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, or South Korea.

1. Algeria

2. Antigua and Barbuda

3. Bahrain

4. Belize

5. Bhutan

6. Bolivia

7. Brunei

8. Cambodia

9. Colombia

10. Costa Rica

11. Cuba

12. Egypt

13. El Salvador

14. Fiji

15. Grenada

16. Guatemala

17. Guyana

18. Haiti

19. Honduras

20. India

21. Iraq

22. Jamaica

23. Laos

24. Malaysia

25. Maldives

26. Mexico

27. Micronesia

28. Mongolia

29. Morocco

30. Myanmar

31. Nauru

32. Nicaragua

33. Palau

34. Panama

35. Papua New Guinea

36. Philippines

37. Peru

38. Saint Kitts and Nevis

39. Saint Lucia

40. Samoa

41. Saudi Arabia

42. Solomon Islands

43. Suriname

44. Taiwan

45. Timor-Leste

46. Tonga

47. Trinidad and Tobago

48. Tuvalu

49. Vanuatu

50. Venezuela

51. Vietnam

Visa at an embassy only with an invitation letter

Citizens of the below-mentioned countries will need an invitation letter from Armenia before you can obtain a visa at the Armenian embassy. These citizens cannot apply for a visa through the e-visa platform even after they get an approved invitation letter.

1. Afghanistan

2. Angola

3. Bangladesh

4. Benin

5. Botswana

6. Burkina Faso

7. Burundi

8. Cameroon

9. Cape Verde

10. Central African Republic

11. Chad

12. Comoros

13. Congo

14. Democratic Republic of Congo

15. Cote d’Ivoire

16. Djibouti

17. Equatorial Guinea

18. Eritrea

19. Eswatini

20. Ethiopia

21. Gabon

22. Gambia

23. Ghana

24. Guinea

25. Guinea-Bissau

26. Kenya

27. Lesotho

28. Liberia

29. Libya

30. Madagascar

31. Malawi

32. Mali

33. Mauritania

34. Mauritius

35. Mozambique

36. Namibia

37. Nepal

38. Niger

39. Nigeria

40. Pakistan

41. Palestine

42. Rwanda

43. Sao Tome and Principe

44. Senegal

45. Seychelles

46. Sierra Leone

47. Somalia

48. South Sudan

49. Sudan

50. Sri Lanka

51. Syria

52. Tanzania

53. Togo

54. Uganda

55. Yemen

56. Zambia

57. Zimbabwe

Invitations can be presented both by legal entities registered in Armenia or individuals. In case of individuals the invitations are submitted at the Migration and Citizenship Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia. Armenian citizens can provide invitation letters to support visa applications for foreign nationals.

E-visa application documents

To apply for an e-visa to Armenia, citizens of the qualified countries need to attach the following documents:

•  valid passport copy
•  a passport-size photo
•  residence address and phone number
•  occupation (company and the position)
•  residence address in Armenia, contact phone number
•  arrival date
•  accommodation booking (preferable)
•  other country visas/residence permits, if any
•  flight tickets or reservation, if any
•  proof of funds, if any

E-Visa Processing Time and Fees

The processing time and fees for an entry visa for foreigners in Armenia vary depending on the type of visa and the duration of stay. The e-visa fees are $7 and $34 for a 21 and 120-day visas respectively, and the processing time usually takes 3 business days.

Entry visas are essential for ensuring legal entry and stay in Armenia.

Extension of Entry Visa for Foreigners in Armenia

Visitor visas are extended by the Migration and Citizenship Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.

Armenian visas are issued for a maximum of 120 days with the possibility to extend for another 60 days if no other term is defined by international agreements of the Republic of Armenia. The government fee for each day of extension is AMD 500 (around USD 1,5). 

In case after visiting Armenia you decide to stay longer than your visa validity period, you can review the options to get a residence permit in Armenia. Tourist visas have specific requirements and procedures that applicants must follow, including demonstrating the intent for travel and maintaining ties to their home country during the visa interview process.