Temporary, Permanent, Special Residence in Armenia

With numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites and stunning mountainous landscapes, Armenia's beauty is undeniable. The capital, Yerevan, offers an awe-inspiring view of the biblical Mount Ararat. The country's rapidly growing, free economy (12% GDP growth in 2022) presents investment opportunities in high-interest banking and the thriving real estate market (foreign land ownership is permitted). Yerevan is regarded as one of the world's safest cities, boasting low living costs, affordable healthcare, high-speed internet, and exceptional cuisine.

Obtaining Armenian residency offers numerous benefits, such as a five-year residence visa and a path to citizenship after just three years. Remote applications are also possible, and residents can engage in any lawful activities they choose. The application process is quick and straightforward, requiring minimal documentation. Armenia is an open and democratic society valuing individual freedom, with limited government interference. Armenian residents enjoy all the constitutional rights and freedoms granted to citizens, excluding political rights. These rights encompass healthcare, social security, education, property, and privacy, in addition to the freedoms of speech, conscience, religion, and belief. Moreover, residents are exempt from mandatory military service.

Armenia is an attractive option for those seeking residency without the need for physical presence in the country, as there are no minimum stay requirements. Residents can also obtain residency for their family members (spouse, minor and adult children, siblings, grandparents, etc.). The country maintains strong relations with the West (European Union, USA, etc.) and has a visa-free regime with nations such as Russia, Iran, and China. An Armenian residence permit offers increased freedom and options, acting as a valuable "insurance policy." It can also facilitate access to banking services and investment opportunities, including permanent property and land ownership rights. If you choose to become an Armenian citizen, dual citizenship is expressly permitted.

Residence permits come in different types, including temporary (1-year), permanent (5-year), and special (10-year) status. The latter is usually granted to owners of larger businesses that have created a substantial number of local jobs.

As for the corporate form and ownership size, a business owner can either be a "private entrepreneur" or a shareholder of a for-profit company, such as LLC, JSC, or cooperative. The law does not specify a minimum share size to qualify for residence, so even small shares like 5% or 1% can suffice, as long as the ownership is real.

The nature of the business is also important, as it determines the type of evidence and supporting documents required for the application. For instance, if you open a retail store, you need to have the necessary commercial premises, equipment, and inventory. If you are an IT specialist working from home, you need to show your workplace and explain the services you provide, who your customers are, how they pay you, and the results of your work.

Office space is not required, but having separate business premises may look better. However, it is not recommended to rent such a place just to make a good impression on the immigration officer.

As a business owner, you do not need a work permit or other permits to apply for residence.

To get a residence permit in Armenia, your business must be set up and operational. A foreigner is allowed and expected to start their business while on a regular visitor visa.

Minimum investment and income requirements do not exist, but the business income should be sufficient to cover the applicant's living expenses.

Having local employees will certainly make a good impression, but job creation is not a requirement to qualify for residency.

A business plan is not required, but a strong package of supporting documents (for example, business registration documents, lease agreement, contracts, invoices, payroll documents, licenses and permits (if any), website and marketing materials, tax returns, bank account statements, etc.) is important to convince the security officer of your eligibility for residency. Moreover, if your application ends up being rejected, these documents will serve the basis for appealing the rejection in court. It is not recommended to apply for a residence permit if the business is only in the planning stage as such application will be, almost certainly, rejected.

An immigration interview is typically held (in person or via a phone call) with the business owner or his attorney 2-3 weeks after the residence permit application is filed. The security officer will establish if the information submitted is accurate and if the business is a real operational business, among other things. They may check supporting documents, but they tend to rely more on verbal communication and take a common sense approach to assess the case.

Paying taxes is an important factor in demonstrating that the business is real and operational. If the business does not generate income or does not pay taxes on its income, the application is likely to be rejected.

Digital nomads, freelancers and owners of online businesses are also eligible to apply for a residence permit in Armenia. The law does not require applicants to have local clients or show that their income comes from Armenian sources. The same rules that apply to regular business owners (see section #3) also apply to freelancers and online business owners. To qualify for a residence permit, freelancers and online business owners need to be registered as taxpayers in Armenia, such as a sole proprietor or LLC owner.

It is important to note that you will need to report at least some income and pay taxes in Armenia. The tax rates will depend on your income or sales, with independent service providers typically opting for the "turnover tax" regime, which levies a 5% tax on reported income. Under the "microbusiness" regime, it may be possible to pay 0% tax if your annual income does not exceed around $60,000, though not all types of activities qualify for this treatment. You may also be subject to social (pension) contributions and military stamp duties after your residence permit is issued.

For example, let us say you offer online classes. Since educational services can be treated as a "microbusiness," you will be exempt from taxes on income of up to around $60,000 per year, and you will not have to make social (pension) contributions. However, you will need to pay monthly military stamp duties of $4 to $25 after your residence permit is issued.

On the other hand, if you are a business consultant, consulting services cannot be treated as a "microbusiness," so you will have to pay a 5% turnover tax on your income of up to $280,000. If you report income from consulting services of $1,000 per month, you will pay $50 in turnover tax (5% of $1,000) and a flat fee of $13 in income tax. After your residence permit is issued, you will also need to pay a flat social (pension) contribution of $13 and a monthly military stamp duty of $5. Your total monthly tax bill will be $81 ($50 + $13 + $13 + $5).

Armenia's immigration laws are quite liberal, and there are multiple ways to become a resident. You can invest in an existing business or rental properties or engage in agriculture, such as vineyards or orchards. In short, being involved in any business, regardless of its size or nature, should qualify you for Armenian residency.
Investors can qualify for a residence permit in Armenia under the same terms as business owners. The law does not require the applicant to be actively engaged in the day-to-day management of the business. Therefore, the same rules that apply to regular business owners (see section #3) also apply to investors.

Real Estate Investment: Simply owning real estate does not qualify you for a residence permit. However, you can 1) develop real estate or 2) purchase and operate rental property. You will qualify for residency if you turn the property into an income-generating business asset. You still need to register as a taxpayer in Armenia (e.g. as a sole proprietor, LLC owner, etc.) and pay taxes on your income (rental income is typically taxed at 10%).

Investment in an Existing Business: You can also qualify for residency by purchasing an existing business or a share in an existing business. Such transactions are usually more complicated due to the due diligence checks and appraisal matters.

For those who prefer not to establish their own business in Armenia, we offer two alternative paths to secure residency in the country: by making a $6,000 donation to a rural development project (the donation route) or by investing a total of $10,000 (the investment route). In the case of the investment route, $7,000 will be dedicated to government bonds that yield an estimated annual return of 7%, and the remaining $3,000 will be invested in a rural development project. If you are interested in learning more about these options, please contact us, and we will provide you with more information.

As a general rule, foreign workers, including both employees and contractors, who are hired by an Armenian employer need to have a work permit and a temporary residence permit before they can start working. The Immigration Office first conducts a labor market test to ensure that there are no suitable local citizens for the position in question. Once the work is authorized, a temporary residence card will be issued to the employee in the form of a plastic card, which is valid for up to one year and also serves as a work permit.

There are some exemptions from work permit requirements, such as highly skilled foreign specialists, business owners, executives, citizens of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan (members of the Eurasian Economic Union), and certain other categories of workers.

Working without a work permit or a residence permit may result in penalties for the employer and visa revocation for the employee. The work permit and the residence permit may also be revoked if the employment agreement is terminated. For more information on work permits, please see here.

Students of educational institutions at the primary, secondary, and higher levels can qualify for temporary residence permits that are issued for the duration of their study program. To support their residence application, the educational institution typically provides an admission letter and a contract. These documents should specify the dates of the study program, which typically correspond to the academic year for which the admission has been granted.

Individuals of Armenian descent/origin can qualify for all types of residence permits, including temporary, permanent, and special, as well as Armenian citizenship. However, certain formal requirements must be met to establish Armenian origin. Simply having an Armenian name or speaking Armenian fluently is not sufficient. To prove Armenian ethnicity, you will need to produce a document, such as a baptism certificate issued by a church organization, that confirms your or your parent/grandparent's Armenian ethnicity. In certain cases, government-issued documents, such as birth certificates or family records, may also mention Armenian ethnicity. A list of churches whose certificates are generally accepted by the government is published on this website (see Annex 4). If your church is not on the list, you may need to obtain an additional certificate from the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

While there is no complete list of documents that may be submitted to prove Armenian origin, it is important that the document be attested (legalized) by the Armenian embassy/consulate in the country where the document was issued. For example, the Armenian embassy must certify the baptism certificate before it can be used to apply for citizenship.

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.

For more information on obtaining Armenian citizenship by ethnicity, please refer to this page.

Armenia's immigration laws are quite liberal, and there are multiple ways to become a resident. You can invest in an existing business or rental properties or engage in agriculture, such as vineyards or orchards. In short, being involved in any business, regardless of its size or nature, should qualify you for Armenian residency.

Purchasing an existing business or a share in one is another way to qualify for residency, but it is typically more complicated due to due diligence checks and appraisal matters. You can find offers to invest in small and medium-sized businesses at https://investin.am/investment-projects/, and a few large companies are listed on the Armenian stock exchange at https://amx.am/en/instruments/shares.

Just owning real estate will not qualify you for a residence permit, but turning the property into an income-generating business asset can do the trick. Typically, this is done by purchasing property and renting it out, You will still have to register as a taxpayer in Armenia and pay taxes on your income.

Finally, owning a small vineyard, orchard, or other agricultural operation can also qualify you for residency. Owning vacant land by itself is not sufficient, but purchasing an operational farm will likely be enough. While the size of the operations is not very important in principle, the profitability of the business will largely depend on its scale.

If you hold an Armenian residence permit, your immediate family members may also be eligible for residency. Specifically, you can sponsor your spouse, your children (whether they are minors or adults, with no age restrictions), and your parents (also with no age restrictions). You do not need to demonstrate that your family members are financially dependent on you. Furthermore, if you have a permanent (long-term) or special residence permit, you can also sponsor your siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren.

To establish a family relationship, a legalized (Apostille or consular legalization) birth or marriage certificate (or an equivalent document) must be presented.

Normally, family members are granted only temporary (one-year) residence permits, even if the main applicant has a permanent (five-year) or special (ten-year) residence permit or is an Armenian citizen. However, in the last two cases (i.e., where the main applicant is an Armenian citizen or has a special residence permit), family members can qualify for a five-year permit if they have been residents of Armenia for three years.

It is not possible to apply simultaneously for the residency of both the main applicant and their family members. Instead, family members must file their applications after the main applicant's residence permit is issued. Therefore, it is crucial to plan the application process properly in advance, especially when it comes to extending the permits.

The special residence permit, also known as the special passport, is valid for ten years and can be extended indefinitely in ten-year increments. Unlike the temporary or permanent residence permits, it is issued in the form of a passport rather than a card. It grants its holder the freedom to travel to and from Armenia without a visa, live, work, study, conduct business, and engage in any lawful activity in Armenia without needing work permits or any other paperwork. A significant benefit of the special passport is that its holder can own agricultural and other land directly in his or her name, without having to establish a legal entity.

In practice, special passports are usually issued to foreigners of Armenian origin, that is, ethnic Armenians. However, in exceptional cases, non-Armenians engaged in economic or cultural activities in Armenia can also obtain a special passport. Children under 16 are also eligible for special passports. The time required to obtain a special passport is typically around 60-90 days.

If you are applying for an Armenian residence permit, your lawyer or representative can file the application remotely. However, on the day of the application, we will need to present your original passport to the immigration officer. This means that if you are applying remotely, you will need to mail your passport to Armenia via a courier service like FedEx, DHL, or UPS for a few days. Your passport will be mailed back to you immediately after the application is filed.

To apply for temporary (1-year) or permanent (5-year) residence permits, you must submit your application to the Immigration Office. Please note that Armenian embassies usually do not process residence permit applications unless it is for a special 10-year residence permit.

Applications for special (10-year) residence permits can be submitted at the Immigration Office or at an Armenian embassy overseas. While it is possible to apply for a special passport remotely by giving power of attorney to a representative, you must be physically present in Armenia at the time of the application.

There are no specific requirements regarding the number of days you need to spend in Armenia to maintain your residence status. Generally, it is possible to apply for and extend your residence permit remotely. Please refer to the previous section for further details on this matter.

It is important to note that obtaining a residence permit (temporary, permanent, or special) does not automatically make you a "tax resident." Tax residency is regulated by tax laws, not immigration laws. In general, you become a tax resident of Armenia by spending more than 183 days in the country in a year. This means that it is possible to hold a residence permit without becoming a tax resident, and vice versa.

Please be aware that if you are employed as a worker or are a "private entrepreneur" in Armenia, you may be required to begin making social (pension) and military contributions once you have obtained your residence permit.

Armenia does not typically tax individuals' capital gains on the sale of securities or real estate, or other assets, regardless of whether those gains are generated in Armenia or elsewhere. Certain forms of income, such as insurance and pension payments, are also exempt from taxes. Additionally, there are no taxes on gifts, inheritance, or net worth.

However, there is no general rule that exempts a tax resident from paying taxes on income generated outside of Armenia.

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

Armenian residents are generally required to have a registered address, which is used for official notifications and other purposes. Foreigners typically have 15 days after receiving their residence permit to register their local address and seven days to report any changes of address to the local police office. To register a local address, you will need to provide proof that you reside in Armenia. This can be a certificate of ownership or lease of a residential property, or the owner's consent to registration. If none of these documents are available, you may request the local police to conduct a factual check, which usually takes up to two weeks, to confirm your residency at the stated address.

Once your address is registered, you may apply for a social security number (SSN), which may be useful in your dealings with various government agencies, banks, employers, etc. The SSN is issued in the form of a separate paper and can be obtained immediately upon application at the local police office.

Residence permits must be renewed (extended) periodically. Temporary permits can be renewed annually, while permanent (long-term) and special residence permits can be renewed every five and ten years, respectively.

The application for renewal must be submitted no later than 30 days before the expiration of the current permit. In the case of special permits, it is recommended to apply at least 60 days before the expiration. If there are family members (dependents), the main applicant should apply even earlier to allow sufficient time for processing both their own and their dependents' applications.

Please note that currently, the Immigration Office requires all appointments to be scheduled in advance through an online booking system (https://e-request.am/en). The waiting periods for these appointments may range from a few weeks to even longer, so it is important to consider this factor when planning for an extension.

The renewal procedure is similar to that of the initial application. For instance, a business owner would still need to be interviewed by an immigration officer and show proof of active business operations, among other requirements (refer to section 3 above for further information).

There are no restrictions on the number of times a residence permit can be extended, and there is no requirement to spend a particular number of days in Armenia to extend the residence permit. Moreover, it is possible to apply for an extension remotely.

Temporary and permanent residence cards are issued as separate paper documents, except for work-based temporary residence cards, which are issued as plastic cards. A residence card contains a photograph of its holder and serves as an identification document. You may keep it in your passport or carry it separately. It is not allowed to laminate the paper residence card, as it may become necessary to write annotations or put stamps on the card. If you are not present in Armenia, your lawyer or other authorized representative can collect the residence card and mail it to your foreign address.

The residence card also displays your passport number. If you change your passport, you may also need to update your residence card (or the immigration officer may make an annotation on the card). If your residence card is lost or damaged, you can apply for a re-issuance by paying a government fee of 12,000 drams (approximately $30). The new card should be issued within a few days.

The government fees for obtaining a residence permit vary between $270 to $390, depending on the type of permit. Immediate relatives of Armenian nationals are generally exempt from paying government fees, and reduced rates apply to US nationals. In the event that the application for a residence permit is rejected (but not if withdrawn by the applicant), the government fees are refundable.

Please be aware that in addition to government fees, you may also incur expenses related to document translation, medical checks, photographs, etc. If you plan to hire a lawyer to represent you before the immigration authorities, legal fees will also apply.

An application for a residence permit is typically rejected if the security officer determines that the applicant has misrepresented their situation, provided false documentation, poses a risk to the security of the country, or for other reasons. The rejection letter will be mailed to the applicant's address and will provide a certain period of time (usually two months) to leave the country voluntarily.

If the applicant fails to leave the country voluntarily, the Immigration Office will initiate deportation proceedings and send the case to court. The foreigner may also be arrested and held in custody for up to 90 days. Deportation can also result in a three-year ban on entering the country.

An alternative to leaving the country is to appeal the rejection in court. Once the case has been properly filed with the court, the foreigner should be permitted to remain in the country while the case is pending. Court proceedings can be lengthy and may take many months or even years.

If an application is rejected, the applicant may re-apply for a residence permit only after a year has elapsed.

As explained in the first section above, it is possible to apply for and obtain a residence permit remotely without traveling to Armenia. However, more often than not, an applicant will visit Armenia first and apply for a residence permit while in the country. It may be necessary to obtain a visa (e-visa or sticker visa) before being allowed to enter the country. For more information on visa requirements, please refer to this page.

The real estate market in Yerevan has experienced rapid appreciation in recent years, with the average price of one square meter in central Yerevan rising from $885 in December 2016 to $1,651 in May 2022, an increase of 87% in less than six years. This growth can be attributed to the growing economy, increased tourism, and demand for new housing among locals, as well as subsidized mortgage loans and the appreciation of the local currency in 2022.

The process of purchasing a property in Armenia is efficient and quick, with the country ranking 13th out of 190 countries on the World Bank's "Registering Property" index. It is even possible to buy properties remotely without visiting the country.

Armenia does not have gift or estate taxes, and capital gains on the sale of real property by an individual are generally not taxed. Property tax rates range from 0% to 1% of the cadastral value, which is normally significantly lower than the market value. Stamp duties are not applicable, and only small official fees are paid, which do not depend on the value of the property. Rental income up to 60 million Armenian drams (approximately $155,000) per year is taxed at 10%, and rental income exceeding that amount is taxed at 20%.

Foreigners can own 100% of real estate in Armenia, and they have the same rights as locals to acquire, hold, lease, sell, bequeath, and otherwise dispose of their property. There is no need for foreigners to have a residence permit or any other links to Armenia. Overall, the real estate market in Armenia offers great opportunities for foreign investors seeking to diversify their portfolio and take advantage of a growing economy.

You might want to consider buying off-plan property from real estate developers and see non-taxable capital gains of 20-30% after the construction is completed. There are many construction projects to choose from, and you can find more information on websites such as ArmEconomBank, ACBA Bank, Inecobank, Ameriabank, Red Invest Group, and Construction.am.

Lands in Armenia are classified according to their designated usage (zoning), including agricultural, residential, industrial, energy, forest, and more. Foreigners can directly own household and gardening plots, lands designated for construction and maintenance of a homestead, and residential and commercial development lands. Other types of land, such as agricultural land, can be owned through a legal entity. Special residence permit holders can own all types of land. There are some restrictions on building on agricultural land, although small buildings up to 30 sq. m. are allowed. In most rural communities, structures of up to 300 sq. m. can be built on land exceeding 10,000 sq. m. It may also be possible to change the zoning of land with the help of the local municipality.

If you are interested in agricultural investments, you might consider fruit farming or wine growing, which are one of the oldest economic sectors in Armenia, with over 60,000 active entities in this industry. The most popular forms of cultivation are grape, apricot, and peach. Between 1998 and 2016, the territory of orchards doubled, and the yield increased by 14.5% between 2008 and 2017 due to implementation of innovative technologies. You may choose to buy an existing farm or set up a new one, and you may be eligible for a government subsidy. Two types of subsidies are available: compensation of up to 50% of costs incurred in setting up a vineyard (orchard) or a low-interest rate loan (2%) for a maximum amount of $2.9 million for vineyards, $5 million for orchards, and $4.7 million for berry farms.

You may qualify for residency in Armenia by purchasing an existing business or a share in one. However, such transactions can be more complicated due to the necessary due diligence checks and appraisal matters. If you are interested in investing in small and medium-sized businesses, you can find offers on the Invest in Armenia website: https://investin.am/investment-projects/. The Armenian stock exchange also lists a few large companies: https://amx.am/en/instruments/shares.

Although few companies are listed on the Armenian stock exchange, many issue corporate bonds with relatively high yields (in excess of 11% in local currency and 6% in USD). The Armenian government also issues both short-term and long-term bonds, typically with annual interest rates above 10%. You can find more information on the stock exchange website and at moneymarket.am.

Interest paid on bank deposits in Armenia is relatively high, with annual rates up to 10% for local currency deposits and 5% for USD deposits. Deposits can also be made in euros and Russian Rubles, and information on current deposit interest rates is available at moneymarket.am. Although the Armenian dram has appreciated against the USD by around 20% in 2022, exchange rates have been mostly stable over the last few decades. Banks typically withhold a 10% tax on interest payments. You can also find information on current prices of gold bars (ranging from 1 gram to 1,000 grams) at moneymarket.am. Most banks offer safety box services, allowing you to purchase gold bars and keep them in a secure location.

All banks in Armenia are licensed and closely regulated by the Central Bank of Armenia. A deposit insurance system is also in place, covering deposits up to AMD 16 million (around $41,000) for local currency deposits and AMD 7 million (around $18,000) for foreign currency deposits. However, the system has never been used as there have been no bank runs in recent history.