Armenia · Business & founder
Residence Permit via Company Formation
Open but tightened from 1 November 2026 under Article 29.4: new minimum charter capital of AMD 2,000,000 (roughly USD 5,300) for an LLC or JSC, and AMD 1,000,000 (roughly USD 2,700) in a local account for a sole entrepreneur. Permanent residence fees also change: AMD 140,000 through 31 December 2026, rising to AMD 250,000 from 1 January 2027, with US citizens remaining at AMD 140,000.
Three years from permanent residence to a passport, with dual citizenship unrestricted since the 2007 amendment and the language test waived entirely for anyone of Armenian descent, is the fastest genuine naturalisation route in the region. For a family with any Armenian ancestry, this is materially better than anything else on this list.
Qualifying routes
roughly USD 5,300 charter capital, from 1 November 2026
roughly USD 2,700 in a local account, from 1 November 2026
The facts
- Minimum investment
- 2M AMD
- Total landed cost
- Charter capital plus roughly USD 2,000–5,000 in formation, legal and permit costs; permanent residence fee AMD 140,000 to end-2026 then AMD 250,000.
- Timeline
- 1–4 months — An arbitrage window exists: applications filed 1 November–31 December 2026 process under the new system at the old fees.
- Physical presence
- Biometrics require in-person travel to Armenia and cannot be done at embassies. Ongoing presence is not mandated for the permit itself.
- Family
- spousechildren
- Permanent residency
- 5-year permanent residence permit; ethnic Armenians access it with no prior temporary-residence requirement
- Citizenship
- 3 years of permanent residence, plus Armenian language and constitution familiarity — waived entirely for persons of Armenian origin, former citizens, and spouses, children or parents of citizens
- Language test
- Armenian language and constitution — waived for persons of Armenian origin
- Dual citizenship
- Permitted
- Requirements
- registered Armenian company with the new minimum charter capitaldemonstrable business activity and taxes assessed within 180 days of grantNSS security interviewSocial Numberin-person biometrics in Armeniaclean criminal record
- SHELL COMPANIES WILL NOT SURVIVE THE NEW ENFORCEMENT. From 1 November 2026, if the tax database shows no taxes assessed within 180 days of grant, the permit may be invalidated. The National Security Service also runs a security interview testing whether the business is genuine.
- BANKING FOR RUSSIAN NATIONALS HAS SUBSTANTIALLY BROKEN. The European Commission added Russia to its AML high-risk list on 3 December 2025; Armenian banks are now refusing accounts and closing existing ones — including for Russians holding residence permits, registered businesses or long-standing ties. The old 'Armenia as Russian banking bridge' thesis no longer holds. For a Russian-national client, sequence the bank account before the residency, not after; banking access, not immigration status, is the binding constraint.
- VISA-REQUIRED NATIONALS CAN NO LONGER ENTER ON A TOURIST VISA AND ADJUST STATUS LOCALLY. A new Work Entry Visa (AMD 15,000, 120 days a year) is now required.
- The high-tech regime's two branches are mutually exclusive — you must choose the 1% turnover tax or the 18% CIT package, not both.
- A Social Number is now mandatory for company registration (since 25 January 2026), and mandatory health insurance contributions were added in 2026.
- Armenia has exchanged under CRS since September 2025 with 47 partners, scaling toward roughly 120.