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Armenia Visa
Guide for a seamless entry into Armenia
Reach Out to Us
Address
4/3 Pirumyanner, 4th Floor, Suite 12 , Yerevan, 0054, Armenia
Phone
+37499001167
Overview of Armenian Visas
1
Visa Procedures
Discover the various visa options including visa-free travel, visa on arrival, e-visa, and sticker visa.
2
Visa Regulations
Explore details on visa fees, extension procedures, and overstay penalties to plan your stay.
3
Common Questions
Delve into our FAQ section to find answers to common visa and immigration queries.
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Visa-Free Travel
Most European countries, selected Asian nations, and certain American states, are granted visa-free access to Armenia (see the complete list below). Typically, visitors from these countries can enjoy a visa-free stay in Armenia for up to 180 days within a year. For those interested in extended stays, Armenia offers the possibility of obtaining residence permits.
In practice, Armenia does not strictly enforce the 180-day rule for returning visitors. For example, individuals crossing the border with neighboring countries such as Georgia or Iran and returning to Armenia are not fined. However, continuous stays exceeding 180 days can lead to fines ranging from AMD 50,000 to 100,000 (approximately $130 to $260), which must be settled upon departure from the country.
Europe: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Moldova, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Vatican.
Asia: China (90 days), Hong Kong, Iran (90 days), Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Macau, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan.
Americas & Pacific: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Ecuador, New Zealand, Panama, United States of America, Uruguay.
Visa on Arrival
Eligibility for a Visa on Arrival is extended to:
- Nationals of certain countries (see the list below)
- Individuals holding valid visas or residence permits from certain countries (see the list below)
- Ethnic Armenians and family members (parent, child, spouse, brother, sister) of Armenian citizens, regardless of their nationality
Alternatively, these individuals may choose to apply for a visa beforehand at an Armenian embassy or through the e-visa platform.
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Chile, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Mexico, North Korea, North Macedonia, Oman, Peru, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey.
All EU and Schengen countries, all GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE), Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, United Kingdom, USA.
This option is not available to nationals of countries requiring an embassy-issued sticker visa for entry.
E-Visa (Online)
You can obtain an e-visa by applying online on the Armenian E-Visa Portal if you are a national of a country listed below. Additionally, individuals eligible for a visa on arrival (as detailed in the section above) also have the option to apply for an e-visa. Typically, an e-visa is issued within 3-5 business days. If the e-visa is rejected, you can re-apply immediately. However, it is recommended to understand the reason for rejection and, if necessary, submit any additional documents to address the concerns of the immigration authorities.
The e-visa has a maximum validity of 120 days, with an option to extend it for an additional 60 days. For those seeking a longer stay, holding a residence permit is an option (refer to this page for more details on residence permits).
Asia & Africa: Algeria, Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Egypt, India, Iraq, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Vietnam.
Americas: Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.
Pacific: Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu
Vanuatu.
Sticker Visa (Embassy-Issued)
Nationals from specific African and Asian countries, as outlined in the list below, are generally not eligible for an online visa (e-visa) or visa on arrival for Armenia. They are required to secure their visas in advance of their arrival by visiting an Armenian embassy abroad.
The visa application process usually necessitates the submission of an invitation letter from a host in Armenia. However, an exception is made for ethnic Armenians and their immediate family members, who are exempt from the invitation letter requirement.
For more information on invitation letters and a list of Armenian embassies, please refer to the sections provided below.
Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Syria, Yemen.
Africa: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
If you do not qualify for visa-free travel, e-visas, or visas on arrival, obtaining an invitation letter from an individual or a legal entity in Armenia is necessary.
Additionally, individuals of Armenian ethnicity are exempt from the invitation letter requirement. They can secure a visa by providing proof of their Armenian heritage through documents like a passport, birth certificate, or certified baptism certificate, verifying their or their parents' Armenian descent. This exemption also extends to immediate family members of Armenian citizens or ethnic Armenians, including spouses, parents, children, siblings.
Foreign nationals with permanent resident status in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Switzerland, or a Schengen country (excluding Spain, Portugal, and Greece) may also be exempt from the invitation letter requirement at the consular officer's discretion.
Invitation letters from individuals should be forwarded to the Migration and Citizenship Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia. Conversely, letters from legal entities should be directed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The approval process for these letters entails a security check, which may span 2-3 weeks or longer. During this process, a security officer may meet with or have a phone call with the person submitting the invitation letter to ensure compliance with immigration requirements.
Europe: Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom.
Americas: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, United States.
Asia & Africa: China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Syria, Turkmenistan, U.A.E., Vietnam.
Visa Fees, Extension, and Overstay
The following table outlines the various visa classes, their validity terms, government fees, extension possibilities, and the respective extension fees:
Visa Class | Validity Term | Government Fees | Extension | Extension Fee |
---|---|---|---|---|
Visitor | 21 days, single | $7 (AMD 3,000) | Max. 60 days | $1 (AMD 500) per day |
120 days, single | $39 (AMD 15,000) | |||
60 days, multiple | $52 (AMD 20,000) | |||
120 days, multiple | $104 (AMD 40,000) | |||
Transit | 3 days, single | $26 (AMD 10,000) | Max. 4 days | |
3 days, multiple | $47 (AMD 18,000) |
Under Armenian law, visa overstay is considered an administrative offense, punishable by a monetary fine. The fines are levied based on the number of offenses and the duration of the overstay:
First Offense: In practice, the first offense is typically penalized with a fine of $130 (AMD 50,000).
Second Offense: The second offense carries a fine ranging from $157 to $235 (AMD 60,000 to 90,000), depending on the length of the overstay.
Third and Subsequent Offenses: Any third or subsequent offenses are punishable by a fine of $261 (AMD 100,000).
Frequently Asked Questions
The process of obtaining a visa from an Armenian embassy (if you are not eligible for visa-free travel or visa on arrival) typically entails a standard set of document submissions. The essential documents are:
- A valid passport,
- Completed visa application form,
- Passport-sized colored photograph.
Additionally, consular officers may request supplementary documents to evaluate the validity of your travel intentions and your financial capability to visit Armenia. These supplementary documents could include:
- An invitation letter,
- Proof of hotel booking,
- Tax returns,
- Bank account statements, among others.
The document requirements for an e-visa are similar, with the primary difference being the online submission of these documents.
Moreover, you will need to pay the applicable visa fee, which may vary based on the type and duration of the visa you are applying for.
Armenia offers a range of visitor visas catering to different purposes of visit. The classes of visitor visas include:
- Tourism and Visits to Family and Friends (V-1)
- Family Reunification (V-2)
- Medical Treatment (V-3)
- Studies (V-4)
- Attendance at Cultural, Athletic, Scientific or Other Events (V-5)
- Participation in Humanitarian, Charitable, Technical Assistance and Similar Programs (V-6)
- Business, Investment or Work (V-7)
- Crew Members (V-8)
The procedure for obtaining any of these visitor visas is generally uniform, regardless of the specific purpose of your visit.
For long-term stays in Armenia, traditional visas issued by Armenian embassies won't suffice. Instead, you'll need to obtain a residence permit, which can be categorized into temporary, permanent, or special permits. It's important to note that while temporary and permanent residence permits are issued exclusively within Armenia, special residence permits can be obtained at Armenian embassies abroad.
E-visas are typically processed within 3 business days. On the other hand, regular visas are usually issued by embassies within 10 days. However, if an invitation letter has already been approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visa is normally issued on the day of application.
If you do not qualify for visa-free travel or an e-visa, you will need to obtain a visa at an Armenian embassy. A list of Armenian embassies can be found above. For instance, a Nigerian citizen might choose to apply for a visa at the Armenian embassy in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., or Cairo, Egypt, while a citizen of Bangladesh could apply at the embassy in New Delhi, India.
You should be able to enter and exit Armenia as long as your passport is valid. There is not a requirement for your passport to be valid for a specific period beyond your stay. If you have obtained an Armenian visa and then changed your passport, you can still use that visa by presenting both your new passport and the old passport containing the visa to the border control officer.
According to the regulations of the Eurasian Economic Union, you are required to declare cash amounts exceeding US$ 10,000. Failing to declare could result in criminal liability. There are not any restrictions on the amount you can bring into or take out of Armenia, as long as you declare the cash.
Currently, there are no requirements to show vaccination documents when entering Armenia.
Below is a list of legal regulations and resources available in Armenian to help you understand visa and immigration procedures:
- Law on Foreigners - https://www.arlis.am/DocumentView.aspx?docid=183150
- Law on State Duties - https://www.arlis.am/DocumentView.aspx?docid=183661
- Regulation on Visa Issuance - https://www.arlis.am/DocumentView.aspx?docid=181287
- List of Countries Whose Nationals Require Invitations - https://www.arlis.am/DocumentView.aspx?docid=165276
- Regulation on Invitation Letters - https://www.arlis.am/DocumentView.aspx?docid=180387
- Regulation on Exemptions from Invitation Requirement - https://www.arlis.am/DocumentView.aspx?DocID=47120
- Regulation on Residence Permits - https://www.arlis.am/DocumentView.aspx?docid=158552
- Code of Administrative Offenses - https://www.arlis.am/DocumentView.aspx?docid=183665
Armenia experiences a continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. It's advisable to check the weather forecasts before your visit to plan accordingly.
The official currency of Armenia is the Armenian Dram (AMD). It's advisable to have some local currency for small purchases, though many places accept credit cards.
Armenian is the official language. Russian is widely spoken and understood. English is also spoken, especially in Yerevan and by the younger population.
English is increasingly spoken, especially among the younger population and in urban areas like Yerevan. However, proficiency may vary, and knowing a few phrases in Armenian or Russian could be helpful.
Armenia is rich in historic sites like the Echmiadzin Cathedral, Garni Temple, and Geghard Monastery. The capital Yerevan, Lake Sevan, and the Dilijan National Park are also popular attractions.
Armenia has a network of buses and taxis. Yerevan has a metro system. For long-distance travel, buses and shared taxis are common. While there isn't Uber service in Armenia, there are equivalent ride-hailing services such as Yandex Taxi and GG Taxi which are widely used and provide a convenient alternative for getting around.
In case of emergency, you can dial 911 for immediate assistance. It's also advisable to have the contact information of your country's embassy.
Country-Specific Visa Information
E-visa Availability: Yes
Validity: Up to 120 days, extendable by another 60 days.
Application: Online at Armenian E-visa portal.
U.A.E., Qatar, and Kuwait:
Visa Requirement: No
Duration: Up to 180 days per year.
Bahrain and Saudi Arabia:
E-visa Availability: Yes
Validity: Up to 120 days, extendable by another 60 days.
Application: Online at Armenian E-visa portal.
Oman:
Visa on Arrival: Yes
E-visa Availability: Yes
Validity: Up to 120 days, extendable by another 60 days.
Application: Online at Armenian E-visa portal.
Note: Visas on arrival are available to nationals of all countries (excluding those requiring an embassy-issued sticker visa) holding a valid GCC country visa or residence card.
Visa Requirement: No
Duration: Up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Stays beyond 90 days require a residence permit.
E-visa Availability: Yes
Validity: Up to 120 days, extendable by another 60 days.
Application: Online at Armenian E-visa portal.
Visa on Arrival: Yes
E-visa Availability: Yes
Validity: Up to 120 days, extendable by another 60 days.
Application: Online at Armenian E-visa portal.
E-visa Availability: No
Visa Requirement: Yes, obtainable at Armenian embassies with an invitation letter, exceptions apply for ethnic Armenians and their family members.
E-visa Availability: No
Visa Requirement: Yes, obtainable at Armenian embassies abroad with an invitation letter, exceptions apply for ethnic Armenians and their family members.
Note: Visa procurement may be challenging due to lack of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Armenia.
E-visa Availability: Yes
Validity: Up to 120 days, extendable by another 60 days.
Application: Online at Armenian E-visa portal.
What Clients Say
As an American living in Armenia, I definitely need legal representation to help guide me through the many rules and regulations here, and I am happy that Vardanyan & Partners has been able to do just that.
Overall, I felt it could not have been any better. Everything was taken care of so smoothly, effortlessly, and managed very well.
It is always daunting when dealing with immigration, visas in a foreign country. The team at Vardanyan & Partners made the process for registering the business and applying for residency so much easier. I had no worries at all. The team overall really went out of their way to accommodate and assist us.
The company is the great team of professional specialists. They have formally defined mature processes, that helps to serve client's requests clearly, on time, without red tape and bureaucracy.
The team members were all professional, knowledgeable and most importantly, honest. They are hard-working and patient and were always responsive to my messages and questions. What I like most is, they are very well organized and have a modern system of work.
The team of Vardanyan & Partners led us through the whole process seamlessly by navigating the bureaucracy end to end. Extremely professional yet personal and friendly service.
Why Choose Us
Decade of Excellence
Over 10 years of specialized experience in immigration and business setup.
Tailored Solutions
Our team of locally licensed, English-speaking attorneys specializes in immigration, incorporation, and compliance matters, providing bespoke legal strategies for each client.
Fast & Fluent Communication
We prioritize your concerns with a 24-hour response policy and communicate effectively in both English and Russian.
Client-Centered Approach
At Vardanyan & Partners, client care is paramount. Our emphasis on honesty and transparency ensures that you are always informed and confident in your legal journey.
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Benefit from our secure online payment system without the worry of hidden charges.
Reputable & Reliable
Established in 2012, Vardanyan & Partners has built a reputation for excellence and reliability. With our team, you are not just hiring attorneys; you are partnering with insured legal experts committed to your success.
What Makes Armenia a Good Choice for Residency
No Stay or Visit
Maintaining residency in Armenia does not require physical presence; remote application is possible.
Fast and Easy
The residency application usually takes about 80 days and only a valid passport is required.
Family Covered
Residents can sponsor extended family for residency (parents, siblings, grandchildren, etc.)
Citizenship Path
After living in Armenia for three years, citizenship can be obtained. Dual citizenship is allowed.
Nerses Isajanyan
Managing Attorney
LL.M., Georgetown University
Licensed Attorney, Armenia: License no. 903
Licensed Attorney, New York: License no. 5148945
Our firm's reputation rests on more than just legal expertise. We pride ourselves on the values of honesty, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to client care. We recognize the unique opportunities and challenges Armenia presents, and we are here to guide you through them.
For inquiries or to schedule a consultation, you may contact us at [email protected] or +374.99.00.11.67. I look forward to collaborating with you on your journey in Armenia.
Where to find us
Nestled in the heart of the Davtashen district in Yerevan, our office is a stone's throw away from the Migration Service building, ensuring seamless coordination on immigration matters. If you refer to the map above, you will pinpoint our exact location. For those journeying from the city center, anticipate a brief 20-30 minute taxi ride to reach us. We look forward to welcoming you and addressing your legal needs.
Address
4/3 Pirumyanner, 4th Floor, Suite 12 , Yerevan, 0054, Armenia
Phone
+37499001167