Knowledge base / LLC

How to register an LLC in Armenia: a step-by-step plan for foreign founders

Updated: October 2026 · 3 min read

Who can be a founder and director

• There are no nationality restrictions. A foreigner can own 100% of the company.
• An LLC can have from one to 49 members. A company can be a founder too.
• The director does not need to be an Armenian citizen or resident. The founder can be the director.
• You disclose the beneficial owners at registration and keep that information up to date.

If you work alone with modest turnover, compare the options first: Sole proprietor or LLC in Armenia.

Step by step

1. Pick a name.
   It must be in Armenian, with optional English and Russian versions. Words like "Armenia" require special permission and a fee, so most founders avoid them.
2. Decide on the charter.
   The standard charter is fastest. A custom one makes sense with several partners who need their own rules on exits, share sales or profit splits.
3. Set the share capital.
   There is no minimum. A large capital "for appearances" is unnecessary: if net assets later fall below it, you may have to reduce it formally.
4. Secure an address in Armenia.
   A rented office, your own home, or someone else's property with the owner's consent. Official letters go there, so someone must actually receive them.
5. Prepare the documents.
   The founding decision, the charter, and details of the director and beneficial owners. A foreign passport needs an Armenian translation. A corporate founder's documents usually need an apostille and translation.
6. File the application.
   Online at e-register.am with an electronic signature, or at a service office of the State Register Agency. If you are abroad, a representative can file under a power of attorney.
7. Receive the registry extract.
   The company's tax ID is assigned at registration, so there is no separate visit to the tax office.

After registration

• Tax regime. By default an LLC is on the general regime: 18% profit tax and 20% VAT. Apply for turnover tax or the micro-business regime right at registration. Otherwise the next window is by 20 February.
• Bank account. Banks check the owners, source of funds and business model. The director almost always has to visit in person. More in Business bank account in Armenia.
• Staff. Register as an employer before the first payroll. Salaries carry 20% income tax and a pension contribution.
• Bookkeeping. A company files reports even with no revenue. Nil returns are mandatory.

If the director lives outside Armenia, decide early who will sign documents and access the tax portal. The simplest setup is the director's electronic signature plus a power of attorney for your accountant.

Common mistakes

• Using the standard charter with several partners. It has no rules for disputes or a partner leaving.
• Missing the special-regime application. The company stays on the general regime with VAT.
• A nominal address nobody checks. Tax notices get lost and deadlines are missed.
• Not disclosing or updating beneficial owners. It is a violation and a common trigger for bank questions.
• Assuming an LLC alone gives you the right to live in Armenia. That is governed by separate rules.

Rules do change from time to time, so we confirm the details for your case.

Sources: Ministry of Justice — registration of legal entities, fees and timing; e-register.am; Law on Limited Liability Companies and Tax Code — arlis.am; PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries — turnover tax and VAT, profit tax; State Revenue Committee — src.am.