Knowledge base / Sole proprietor (IE) in Armenia
Document checklist for a sole proprietor (IE) in Armenia: what foreigners need to prepare
Document checklist
- Valid passport, original
It is checked for ID and handed straight back. Make sure it is still valid. - Notarized Armenian translation of your passport
Done in Armenia: a translator translates the pages with your personal details, and an Armenian notary certifies the translator's signature. Check your name and date of birth before certification. Keep the translation for the bank, notary and tax office. - Receipt for the state fee
Pay through e-payments, by transfer to the treasury account or at a terminal in the registry. Keep the receipt: it is part of your package. - Address, type of activity and contact details
These go into the register. An Armenian address is more convenient for the tax authority and banks. Your type of activity determines which tax regime is open to you. For example, consulting and accounting services do not qualify for the micro-business regime or turnover tax. - Email address
Your registry extract and notifications will be sent here. - Public services number (social card), optional
It is issued by the Migration and Citizenship Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. You can register without it, and the register will note that you declined. But the number makes it easier to open a bank account and use online services. - Power of attorney, if someone else applies for you
It should cover registering the IE, collecting the extract, filing the tax regime application and paying fees. Your representative will also need a copy of your passport with its translation.
For the registration process itself, step by step, see "How to Register a Sole Proprietor (IE) in Armenia". This article covers documents only. Tip: before your visit, write down in one line how you will earn money and who will pay you. That helps you pick the activity type and regime.
Timing and costs
- IE registration fee: 3,000 drams.
- Passport translation: from a few hours to one business day. The price depends on the agency.
- Closing the IE later is free of charge.
- A bank account for a foreigner takes one to two weeks, usually with an in-person visit. The bank will ask for the registry extract, proof of address and information on your source of funds.
If you are a citizen of Russia or Belarus
- You can enter Armenia on an internal passport, but an international passport is safer for an IE. Use the same passport at the registry, bank and tax office.
- Match your name in the translation to the Latin spelling in your international passport, or your register and bank details may differ.
- A power of attorney from a Russian or Belarusian notary must be translated into Armenian. Home-country certificates are usually translated in Armenia too.
- An Armenian IE does not by itself remove your tax obligations at home. Armenia has double tax treaties with Russia and Belarus. You can get an Armenian tax residency certificate online on the State Revenue Committee platform.
Rules change from time to time, so we will confirm the details for your situation.
Common mistakes
- Having your passport translated abroad instead of by an Armenian translator and notary.
- Choosing an overly broad activity type "just in case" and losing access to the tax regime you need.
- Not getting a public services number in advance and losing time at the bank. More on this in "Business Bank Account in Armenia".
Frequently asked questions
What documents do I need to register a sole proprietor in Armenia?
You need your original valid passport, a notarized Armenian translation of it and the receipt for the 3,000 dram state fee. You also provide an address, type of activity, contact details and an email address for the registry extract.
Can I get my passport translated abroad for IE registration in Armenia?
It should be done in Armenia: a translator translates the pages with your personal details and an Armenian notary certifies the translator's signature. Having it translated abroad is listed as a common mistake.
Do I need a public services number to register an IE in Armenia?
No, it is optional. You can register without it and the register will note that you declined. However, the number makes it easier to open a bank account and use online services.
Can Russians register an IE in Armenia with an internal passport?
You can enter Armenia on an internal passport, but an international passport is safer for an IE. Use the same passport at the registry, bank and tax office, and match the name in the translation to its Latin spelling.
We will register your IE in a single visit
We check your documents and help with the translation and power of attorney. We speak English and Russian.
Sources: hartak.am: IE registration, Law on State Registration (e-register.am), Migration and Citizenship Service of Armenia, State Revenue Committee of Armenia.