Knowledge base / Living in Armenia
Residence permits in Armenia in 2026: the rules now and what changes on 1 November
What applies now, until 31 October 2026
- Temporary residence — up to one year. It can be extended by a year; file at least 30 days before your status expires.
- Permanent residence — five years. The family and business grounds do not currently require three years on temporary status first.
- Special status — 10 years, with a special passport. It is still being issued for now.
- State fee: AMD 105,000 for temporary status (issue or extension) and AMD 140,000 for permanent status.
- Grounds for temporary residence: work, study, family, Armenian origin and entrepreneurial activity. The current law sets no fixed money threshold for business; you need to show real activity.
- EAEU citizens, including Russians and Belarusians, work without a work permit. They need a certificate of legal residence only if they stay longer than 180 days, and it is currently free.
What changes from 1 November 2026
Main changes
- Online-only applications through the Migration Service's unified electronic platform. Decisions within 30 days.
- Higher fees: AMD 150,000 for temporary and AMD 250,000 for permanent status. The fee is not refunded if you are refused.
- No extension of temporary status — you file a new application, again for up to one year.
- Special 10-year status is abolished. Ethnic Armenians will be able to get permanent residence instead.
- Quotas. The government will set annual limits; an exhausted quota is a ground for refusal.
- Certificate of legal residence for EAEU citizens becomes paid — AMD 30,000 — and is applied for when you sign an employment contract.
- Permanent residence on family or business grounds only after three years of temporary status within the last five years.
Business thresholds from 1 November
- Company: at least AMD 2 million invested in the charter capital of an Armenian commercial organisation, or shares/securities worth at least AMD 2 million.
- Sole proprietor: at least AMD 1 million in business accounts, or turnover of at least AMD 1 million in the 60 days before applying.
- If the investment falls below AMD 1 million, or no business tax data is recorded within 180 days, the status can be terminated.
Under the new rules, opening an IE "for the residence permit" without real work will not be enough. How to register a business: see "How to Register a Sole Proprietor (IE) in Armenia".
What to do if you are planning a residence permit
- Decide whether you can file before 1 November
An application filed before 1 November 2026 is decided under the current rules and fees. Documents issued earlier stay valid until they expire. - Choose your ground
It determines the documents: employment contract, study certificate, proof of family ties, business statements. - Prepare documents
Passport with a notarised Armenian translation, photos and documents for your ground. Foreign documents usually need an apostille and translation. - Pay the fee and apply
Until 31 October — to the Migration Service under the current procedure; from 1 November — only through the electronic platform. - Collect your card
A personal visit and fingerprinting are usually required.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up the old and new rules. Extension exists until 1 November; after that you file a new application.
- Opening an IE and not running it. From 1 November, without turnover and tax data the status can be terminated.
- Waiting until the end of October. Queues usually grow before rules change.
- A translation with a misspelled Latin name. Your details must match your passport, bank and tax records.
If you are planning to stay long term, read about Armenian citizenship. For work and banking you will need a public services number.
The government still has to adopt implementing regulations for the new rules. Check the Migration Service website before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
What changes for Armenian residence permits on 1 November 2026?
Online-only applications, fees of AMD 150,000 and 250,000, no extension of temporary status (you reapply), no more special 10-year status, quotas and money thresholds for business-based residence.
How much does an Armenian residence permit cost now?
Until 31 October 2026 the fee is AMD 105,000 for temporary and AMD 140,000 for permanent status. From 1 November it is AMD 150,000 and 250,000, and it is not refunded if you are refused.
Can I still apply under the old rules?
Yes, if you file before 1 November 2026, your application is decided under the current rules. Documents issued earlier stay valid until they expire.
Can I get residence in Armenia through an IE or LLC?
For now you need to show real business activity. From 1 November there are thresholds: at least AMD 2 million invested in a company, or for an IE AMD 1 million in accounts or turnover in the 60 days before applying.
Moving to Armenia with your business?
We register IEs and LLCs and help with the bank account, tax regime and reporting, so your activity is properly on record with the tax office. We work in English and Russian.
Sources: arlis.am — amendments to the Law on Foreigners; Schneider Group — key changes from 1 November 2026; PAN.am — fees before and after 1 November; mia.gov.am — digitisation from 1 November; MB Legal — current temporary residence procedure; RA Migration Service.