Visa to Armenia

An immigrant can become a holder of a visa, residence permit/permanent residence in Armenia for official employment, participation in a business project, study, obtain refugee status or reunite with family members. The country attracts foreigners with its comfortable climate, low crime index, simple registration of access to social and medical services, lack of requirements for the level of proficiency in the local language and the availability of a certain amount of money for living.

The requirements for obtaining a visa will depend on various factors, including the State from which the applicant immigrates.

In 2024, a number of countries have agreements with Armenia on the basis of which a visa-free regime operates. However, only those foreigners who do not plan to live in the territory of the state for more than 6 months can use it. If the stay is long-term, then under current legislation foreigners can apply for special visas.

Additional features

The visa requirements for immigrants and the requirements for the need to issue an invitation for citizens of some countries can be found on the official portal of the consular service.   

Freelancer Visa

Every year, foreign citizens come to Armenia, whose activities do not depend on their location. Bloggers, freelancers and entrepreneurs are attracted by the low cost of living, startup support infrastructure, and a favorable tax environment.

Digital nomads have the opportunity to register as self-employed or register as sole proprietors in Armenia and work with clients regardless of their location. The validity period of a freelancer visa is 1 year and is essentially a residence permit. At the same time, the applicant receives the opportunities that local residents have, including access to education and health systems. At the request of a freelancer, the residence permit can be extended.

If a digital nomad stays in the country for more than 180 days during the year, then he becomes a tax resident and falls under the tax legislation of the Republic. The applicant has the right to bring the next of kin to Armenia: spouses, parents, children. In total, a digital nomad visa gives the right to stay in the country for up to 5 years. But it needs to be renewed annually.

To apply for this type of visa, a foreign citizen must meet the following requirements:

• A passport issued in the territory of his native country must be valid at the time of submitting the request.
• The citizen must confirm that he is a freelancer or owns a business.
• The candidate must be ready to register as an individual entrepreneur in Armenia.

The applicant may also be asked to provide bank statements to confirm the minimum income and a health certificate.

Important

You can apply for a digital nomad visa both within the country and remotely. When choosing the second option, it is advisable to use the services of an immigration lawyer who will check the availability of all necessary documents and the authenticity of their copies.

If it is decided to register as an individual entrepreneur, then it is necessary to obtain a taxpayer identification number. The applicant submits to the State Register: a completed application form, a passport and a copy of it, translated into Armenian and notarized, a receipt for payment of state duty.

To register an individual entrepreneur, you need to pay a state fee in the amount of AMD 3000 or $ 7.60. After that, an application for a residence permit is submitted. The mandatory fee will be AMD 105000 or $264. Permanent residence registration will cost more: AMD 140,000 or $354.

Attention

When applying for a residence permit remotely, the applicant must send the original passport to Armenia.

How much does a visa cost?

The website of the Armenian Embassy provides the rates of state duties for processing various types of visas. It is important to remember that the amount paid will not be refunded under any circumstances. If, during the process of processing the document, the applicant realizes that for some reason he does not need an Armenian visa or other problems arise, the fee will not be refunded. You can make a payment on the official website of the consulate.

According to official data, a visa granting the right to stay up to 21 days will cost AMD 3000 or $8. The state fee for a permit with the right to stay for 120 days will be AMD 15,000 or $38. A multiple-entry visa granting the right to stay for up to 60 days and for up to 6 months costs AMD 20,000 or $51. For stays of up to 120 days and a 1-year validity period, the fee will be AMD 40,000 or $102. Official and diplomatic visas are issued free of charge. The state fee for a single transit visa will be AMD 10000 or $25, and for a multiple–entry visa - AMD 18000 or $46.

Types of visas

Permits to cross the borders of another state are usually divided into several categories. The principle of division depends most often on the purpose of the visit and its duration. In Armenia, a foreign citizen has the right to request one of the following visas:

• C1 – for tourist purposes.
• C2 – for meetings with family members and specialists working remotely.
• C3 is for business meetings.
• C4 – for participants of volunteer organizations, members of religious and charitable societies, for people in need of treatment.
• D1 – for employment and business activities.
• D2 – for participants of cultural events and employees engaged in scientific research.
• D3 – for studying in Armenia and conducting scientific activities.
• D4 – for foreigners planning to reunite with relatives.
• D5 – for foreigners who own real estate in Armenia and their family members.

Important

Visas are issued for a maximum of 120 days. Upon request, their validity period can be extended by 60 days.

Student's

Students who have successfully passed the entrance exams to educational institutions in Armenia have the right to apply for a student visa. Without a letter confirming admission to a college or university, the applicant's request will be rejected. You can apply for a visa at the consulate outside Armenia.

According to the requirements posted on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a foreigner will need a valid passport, a letter from the university, confirmation of the availability of financial resources to pay for tuition and daily expenses, and medical insurance. The visa will allow you to legally reside in the country for the duration of your studies.

Tourist

In 2024, most foreigners may not apply for an entry visa if they come to the country for tourist purposes. At the same time, travelers can stay in Armenia for no more than 6 months. Tourists have the right to cross the border by presenting a citizen's passport. If a person does not plan to leave the country within 1 month, he may be required to register on the official portal of the Armenian authorities.

After arrival, a foreigner can temporarily live, explore local attractions, meet with friends. When entering Armenia for tourist purposes, citizens of other countries cannot get a job and engage in commercial activities.

Business (for business trips)

If it is necessary to visit Armenia in order to participate in conferences, conduct business negotiations, the rules of visa-free entry for up to 6 months apply to citizens of a number of countries. For a long stay, the purpose of which will be to conduct commercial activities, a D1 type visa is issued.

Working

Official employment requires the applicant to obtain a work visa. To send a request to the authorities dealing with migration issues, you need to receive an invitation to work in one of the local companies in advance. The employer will act as a sponsor. The presence of an invitation will increase the likelihood of approval of the application.

The work visa is valid for 12 months, after that you can apply for an extension. The document allows a foreign citizen to work as an employee and self-employed.

Required documents

The composition of the package of documents depends on the type of visa requested and the purpose of the trip to Armenia. If we are talking about standard cases, the documentation for consideration of the application will be as follows:

• The applicant's application form.
• 2 photos 35*45 mm.
• Documents confirming the availability of a place to stay.
• Round-trip tickets.
• A detailed description of the purpose of the trip (you can provide a compiled route).
• Bank statements to confirm the availability of funds.
• A document on medical insurance.
• Certificate of medical examination.
• Receipts for payment of state duties.

Attention

The application will be reviewed within 15 business days. The process may be delayed if false information or errors in documents are detected.

Recent changes in the visa issue of Armenia

According to the recently introduced amendments, a foreigner who has entered the territory of Armenia is required to obtain registration at the place of stay if he plans to spend more than 30 days in the country. Tourists staying at the hotel will be registered by the staff, having received the personal consent of the traveler. If a person rents a house, he is obliged to contact the nearest migration department on his own.

Foreign citizens who, for some reason, could not get registered, but plan to spend more than 1 month in Armenia, leave for neighboring countries after the end of this period. You can spend a few hours there and then come back again. From this moment on, the period of stay will be counted again.