Obtaining Citizenship and Residency Status

Life Event

Obtaining Citizenship and Residency Status

In this guide, you will get the necessary information on how to become a citizen of the Republic of Armenia, obtain a special passport, or legally reside in the Republic of Armenia.

The following may legally reside in Armenia:

Citizens of the Republic of Armenia.
Those with temporary, permanent, or special residence status.
Stateless persons or refugees who have an appropriate certificate.

Armenians of Armenian descent, those with parents who are citizens of the Republic of Armenia, those married to a person with RA citizenship, etc., may obtain RA citizenship.

Male citizens of the Republic of Armenia aged 16 to 55 must undergo military registration and may be required to serve under certain conditions.

To reside in the Republic of Armenia, a person may obtain:

Temporary residence status with the possibility of residing in Armenia for 1 year.
Permanent residence status with the possibility of residing in Armenia for 5 years.
Special residence status in case of Armenian ethnicity with the possibility of residing in Armenia for 10 years.

Depending on the type of residence status, a person’s rights differ.

Steps

How to Become a Citizen of the Republic of Armenia

Armenian citizenship can be acquired through several legal bases, such as:

Citizenship by birth

The citizenship of a child born in the Republic of Armenia

If the child's parents are citizens of the Republic of Armenia at the time of birth, the child acquires citizenship of the Republic of Armenia, regardless of the place of birth.

If one of the child's parents is a citizen of the Republic of Armenia, and the other parent is a stateless person or their citizenship is unknown, the child still acquires citizenship of the Republic of Armenia.

If one of the child's parents is a citizen of the Republic of Armenia at the time of birth, and the other is a citizen of another country, the child has the right to acquire citizenship of the Republic of Armenia with the written consent of the parents. Moreover, the child can simultaneously hold the citizenship of another country.

In the absence of written consent from the parents, the child acquires citizenship of the Republic of Armenia if:

they were born in the Republic of Armenia,
they would otherwise become a stateless person if they did not acquire citizenship of the Republic of Armenia (they do not hold the citizenship of another country),
they reside in the Republic of Armenia, and the consent of one of the parents is available.

A child born in the Republic of Armenia acquires citizenship of the Republic of Armenia if:

the parents are stateless persons,
the parents' citizenship is unknown,
the parents are citizens of another country (countries), but according to the legislation of that country (countries), they cannot transfer their citizenship to the child,
one of the parents is a stateless person, and the other is a citizen of another country and, according to the legislation of that country, cannot transfer their citizenship to the child,
one of the parents is a stateless person, and the other's citizenship is unknown,
one of the parents' citizenship is unknown, and the other is a citizen of another country and, according to the legislation of that country, cannot transfer their citizenship to the child.

In the cases mentioned above, the child acquires citizenship of the Republic of Armenia based on an application submitted to receive a passport of a citizen of the Republic of Armenia.

If the parents of an ethnically Armenian child are not citizens of the Republic of Armenia, the child can still receive citizenship of the Republic of Armenia from the moment of being registered at an address in the Republic of Armenia.

In this case, the child acquires citizenship of the Republic of Armenia based on an application submitted to receive a passport of a citizen of the Republic of Armenia, which must also be accompanied by the written consent of the parents.

RA Citizens Subject to Military Service

Military Registration

Military service in Armenia is a legal obligation for male citizens and follows specific rules depending on age, citizenship status, health, and prior service history. Requirements begin with early military registration, continue through conscription during defined draft periods, and may extend into reserve training obligations later in life.

Registering a Place of Residence

Registering a place of residence is necessary to enable access to public services, e.g., healthcare, schooling, and banking. Upon obtaining Republic of Armenia (RA) citizenship through any of the specified grounds, applicants must register their place of residence (address registration) within the Republic of Armenia before receiving an RA citizen's passport.

Document Proving Citizenship

Obtaining a Passport

In Armenia, citizenship approval does not automatically generate a passport application. After acquiring RA citizenship on any of the above grounds, it is necessary to apply for a document proving citizenship in order to obtain an RA citizen's passport. The passport enables you to leave and return to the RA and serves as a document confirming the identity of a person within the territory of the RA.

Dual Citizenship

Armenia recognizes dual citizenship. Below are common questions about the rights, responsibilities, and military service of dual citizens.

A dual citizen of the Republic of Armenia is considered a person who, in addition to being a citizen of the Republic of Armenia, also holds citizenship of another country.

The Republic of Armenia recognizes a dual citizen of the Republic of Armenia as a citizen of the Republic of Armenia only.

A dual citizen has all the rights of a citizen of the Republic of Armenia and bears all the obligations stipulated for a citizen of the Republic of Armenia, except as provided by international treaties of the Republic of Armenia or by law.

Yes. If you acquire citizenship of another country, you are required to notify the Passport and Visa Department of the RA (also known as the OVIR) or the territorial divisions of the RA Police within one month. However, you will not be held liable if you fail to provide this information.

Yes. Dual-citizen male citizens are considered the Republic of Armenia conscripts and must perform compulsory military service in the Armed Forces of Armenia. In this case, participation in the citizen's military draft and training is also mandatory.

A dual citizen is exempted from the obligation to serve in the armed forces of the Republic of Armenia if:

Before obtaining RA citizenship, he served in the armed forces of another state for at least 12 months.
He underwent at least 18 months of alternative service in another state (an RA citizen whose religious beliefs or convictions contradict the carrying, keeping, or using weapons or undergoing military service, in general, may undergo alternative military service).

The section was compiled in accordance with the RA Laws "On Citizenship of the Republic of Armenia" and "On Alternative Service".

Renunciation of RA Citizenship

Termination of RA Citizenship

The grounds for terminating RA citizenship are:

having citizenship of another country,
the presence of legal certification regarding the acquisition of another citizenship, in the event of not having another citizenship,
submitting legal certification regarding the acquisition of another citizenship within a three-month period, in the event of not having another citizenship.

Required documents based on legal basis

The following documents must be submitted based on the respective grounds:

In the case of having citizenship of another country:

RA passport,
document certifying foreign citizenship (passport),
birth certificate,
supporting document in case of data change (marriage certificate, reference/statement),
military record book.

In the case of not having another citizenship, but having legal certification for acquiring one:

RA passport,
document regarding the legal possibility of acquiring citizenship,
birth certificate,
supporting document in case of data change (marriage certificate, reference/statement),
military record book.

In the case of not having another citizenship, but submitting legal certification for acquiring one within a three-month period:

RA passport,
birth certificate,
supporting document in case of data change (marriage certificate, reference/statement),
military record book,
document issued within a three-month period certifying the legal possibility of acquiring citizenship.

Terminate RA Citizenship

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Termination of RA Citizenship for a Minor

The grounds for terminating the RA citizenship of a minor are:

having citizenship of another country,
the presence of legal certification regarding the acquisition of another citizenship, in the event of not having another citizenship,
submitting legal certification regarding the acquisition of another citizenship within a three-month period, in the event of not having another citizenship.

Required documents based on the legal basis

In the case of having citizenship of another country:

Minor's Public Services Number (PSN/SSN),
Minor's foreign passport,
Minor's birth certificate,
Foreign passports of the minor's parents or legal representative,
Parents' certificates (marriage, death, recognition of paternity, or a statement of being a single mother, or a court decision recognizing a parent as missing or deceased in accordance with the law),
Written consent of the minor (if 14 years or older) regarding the termination of their RA citizenship,
Written consent of the other parent regarding the termination of their child's RA citizenship.

In the case of not having another citizenship, but having legal certification for acquiring one:

Minor's Public Services Number (PSN/SSN),
Legal certification regarding the acquisition of another state's citizenship,
Minor's birth certificate,
Foreign passports of the minor's parents or legal representative,
Parents' certificates (marriage, death, recognition of paternity, or a statement of being a single mother, or a court decision recognizing a parent as missing or deceased),
Written consent of the minor (if 14 years or older) regarding the termination of their RA citizenship,
Written consent of the other parent regarding the termination of their child's RA citizenship.

In the case of not having another citizenship, but submitting legal certification for acquiring one within a three-month period:

Minor's Public Services Number (PSN/SSN),
Document certifying the legal possibility of acquiring another citizenship, issued within a three-month period,
Minor's birth certificate,
Foreign passports of the minor's parents or legal representative,
Parents' certificates (marriage, death, recognition of paternity, or a statement of being a single mother, or a court decision recognizing a parent as missing or deceased),
Written consent of the minor (if 14 years or older) regarding the termination of their RA citizenship,
Written consent of the other parent regarding the termination of their child's RA citizenship.

Terminate the RA Citizenship of a Minor

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Types of Residence Permits

In Armenia, there are three types of residence permits:

The temporary residence permit is granted for up to one year and is renewable, often for reasons like employment, study, or family ties.
The permanent residence permit is issued for five years and is also renewable, typically for those who have established strong business or family ties in Armenia.
The special residence permit is designed for individuals of Armenian descent or those with significant contributions to the country. It grants a ten-year residency period.

Each permit type has specific eligibility criteria and required documentation, managed by the Migration and Citizenship Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.

A residence permit in Armenia allows a foreign citizen or stateless person to enter Armenia, reside in the territory of the Republic of Armenia for the period specified in the residence card, and have equal rights to the citizens of the Republic of Armenia.

In the Republic of Armenia, there are three types of residence permits: temporary, permanent, and special.

Temporary Residence: For short-term stays (e.g., work, study), valid for one year, renewable.
Permanent Residence: For long-term residency, valid for five years, renewable, for those with deeper business activities or family ties.
Special Residence: 10-year permit for Armenian descendants or foreigners with significant contributors, with enhanced rights.

A person who obtains a residence permit in the Republic of Armenia has the following rights:

The right to work
The right to education
The right to receive medical care
The right to social security
The right to engage in entrepreneurship

The person is not issued a travel document (visa)
The person cannot purchase land as his/her own property
The person cannot participate in national elections
The person does not serve in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia

If a person obtains a residence permit in the Republic of Armenia, their family members can also apply for residence permits in the Republic of Armenia.

You have to understand the different types available and which one best suits your circumstances:

Temporary Residence: This one-year (renewable) permit is for those working, studying, or living with family in Armenia. It requires proof of purpose, such as an employment contract or student enrollment.

Permanent Residence: This five-year (renewable) option is for long-term stays. It demands strong ties to Armenia, such as family, property ownership, financial stability, and prior residency. You need to have legally resided in Armenia for at least three years before applying for permanent residence.

Special Residence: This ten-year (renewable) permit is granted by the Prime Minister for Armenian descendants or those with significant contributions to Armenia.

Special Residence Permits

A special residence permit allows foreigners of Armenian origin and other foreigners engaged in economic or cultural activities in the Republic of Armenia to legally reside in the Republic of Armenia for a period of 10 years with the possibility of extending the status.

Temporary and Permanent Residence Permits

Temporary and permanent residence permits are types of residence rights that allow foreigners to legally reside in the Republic of Armenia for periods of 1 and 5 years, respectively, with the possibility of extending the status.

The guide was compiled by the Information Systems Agency of Armenia

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