Armenia (AM)
Affordable Caucasus base with a fast-growing tech scene, rich culture, straightforward residency options, low flat income tax, strong diaspora links and increasingly international Yerevan.
Capital: Yerevan
Region: Europe
Language: Armenian
Currency: AMD (֏)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 30)
Emergency: 911
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Citizenship & Permanent Residency
Long-term settlement options in Armenia.
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Permanent Residency
Name
Permanent Residence Permit (Մշտական բնակության կարգ)
Eligibility
Foreign nationals who have maintained lawful temporary residence in Armenia for at least 5 years may apply for a permanent residence permit. Specific fast-track routes exist for ethnic Armenians, family members of Armenian citizens, investors and persons with special merit.
Duration
5 years, renewable indefinitely
Requirements
- ✓5 years of continuous lawful temporary residence in Armenia
- ✓Valid passport and clean immigration record
- ✓Proof of qualifying basis: employment, family ties, Armenian origin, business or investment
- ✓No serious criminal convictions
- ✓Proof of accommodation and financial self-sufficiency
- ✓Application submitted through the electronic portal mcs-citizenship.am (introduced January 2026)
Permanent residence is separate from citizenship and provides stability for banking, employment, property ownership and long-term planning. Applications are now processed through the Armenian e-portal mcs-citizenship.am introduced in January 2026. A 183-day absence notification requirement applies — notify the relevant authority if you plan to be outside Armenia for more than 183 consecutive days.
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Citizenship
Name
Armenian Citizenship by Naturalisation
Eligibility
Armenia has one of the most accessible naturalisation routes in the region. Foreign nationals who have resided lawfully in Armenia for at least 3 cumulative years (not required to be consecutive) are eligible to apply. Basic knowledge of the Armenian language and the Constitution of Armenia is required. The process is now handled through the electronic portal mcs-citizenship.am.
Duration
Permanent
Requirements
- ✓Minimum 3 cumulative years of lawful residence in Armenia
- ✓Knowledge of the Armenian language and the Constitution of Armenia
- ✓Clean criminal record in Armenia and home country
- ✓Renunciation of prior citizenship is NOT required — Armenia has permitted dual citizenship since 2005
- ✓Application fee: 50,000 AMD (effective January 2026, increased from 1,000 AMD)
- ✓Application submitted electronically at mcs-citizenship.am
The 3-year cumulative residence requirement is notably shorter than most European countries. Armenia has allowed dual citizenship since 2005 and did not change this policy in 2024-2026. From November 2026, a special 10-year permit previously available for ethnic Armenians abroad is being abolished — applicants should not rely on that route for future applications.
Other Routes to Residency & Citizenship
Naturalisation via Marriage to an Armenian Citizen
Eligibility
Foreign nationals married to an Armenian citizen for at least 2 years who have resided in Armenia for at least 365 days during those 2 years of marriage. This is a reduced-residence route compared with the standard 3-year cumulative requirement.
Duration / Outcome
Permanent citizenship if approved
Requirements
- ✓Valid marriage certificate with an Armenian citizen (minimum 2 years of marriage)
- ✓365 days of lawful residence in Armenia during the marriage period
- ✓Knowledge of the Armenian language and Constitution (translator permitted at the marriage-route stage)
- ✓Clean criminal record
- ✓Application fee: 50,000 AMD
- ✓Application via mcs-citizenship.am electronic portal
The marriage route is faster than the standard 3-year path. A translator may be used for the language-knowledge assessment under this route. Armenia permits dual citizenship, so renunciation of prior nationality is not required.
Citizenship by Armenian Origin or Ethnic Heritage
Eligibility
Persons of Armenian ethnic origin (Diaspora Armenians, former citizens, descendants of Armenians) may qualify for a facilitated citizenship path under Armenian nationality law. The qualifying basis is documented Armenian ancestry or prior Armenian citizenship.
Duration / Outcome
Permanent citizenship if approved
Requirements
- ✓Documentary proof of Armenian ethnic origin or ancestry (birth certificates, marriage certificates, church records or archival documents)
- ✓A complete and consistent document chain from the applicant back to the Armenian ancestor
- ✓Apostilled and translated civil documents where issued abroad
- ✓Application via mcs-citizenship.am electronic portal
- ✓Clean criminal record
Diaspora cases often turn on whether the document chain is complete and names are transliterated consistently across languages (Armenian, Russian, French, Arabic and others). The special 10-year permit previously available as an intermediate step for ethnic Armenians abroad is being abolished from November 2026; the direct citizenship-by-origin route through the standard portal remains available.
🌍 Dual Citizenship
✓
Dual citizenship is allowed — Armenia has permitted dual citizenship since 2005 and this position remains in force through 2026. You do not need to renounce your original nationality to become an Armenian citizen. However, your other country of citizenship may not permit dual nationality — check both sides before proceeding. Dual citizens should be aware of potential military service, tax, voting and consular-protection implications in both countries.
Citizenship & Permanent Residency
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