Armenia · Business & founder
Residence Permit via Company Formation
Open, but tightening from 1 November 2026 under Article 29.4 of the amended Law on Foreigners. The company route then needs a contribution of at least AMD 2,000,000, roughly USD 5,550, to the charter capital of an Armenian commercial company, or shares or securities in it worth that much. A sole entrepreneur needs AMD 1,000,000, roughly USD 2,800, on the business accounts, or the same amount in turnover over the 60 days before applying. State fees rise by 1 November 2026 at the latest: AMD 150,000 to examine a temporary residence application and AMD 250,000 for permanent residence, plus AMD 5,950 for the card. Applications filed before 1 November 2026 are decided under the old rules.
Three years from permanent residence to a passport is fast on its own. Add unrestricted dual citizenship since the 2007 amendment, and a language test that disappears entirely for anyone of Armenian descent, and this becomes the fastest genuine naturalisation route in the region. For a family with any Armenian ancestry, it is materially better than anything else on this list.
Qualifying routes
A contribution of roughly USD 5,550 to the charter capital, or shares worth that much, from 1 November 2026.
Roughly USD 2,800 on the business accounts, or the same turnover in 60 days, from 1 November 2026.
The facts
- Minimum investment
- 2M AMD
- Total landed cost
- Expect the capital contribution plus roughly USD 2,000–5,000 in formation, legal and permit costs. From the launch of the e-platform, and no later than 1 November 2026, the state fee is AMD 150,000 for temporary or AMD 250,000 for permanent residence, plus AMD 5,950 for the card.
- Route type
- Business & founder
- Timeline
- 1–4 months (Applications filed before 1 November 2026 are decided under the old rules. After that, every application goes through the new e-platform, and the law gives the authority 30 days to decide.)
- Physical presence
- Biometrics cannot be done at an embassy. You will need to travel to Armenia in person for them. Beyond that, ongoing presence is not required to hold the permit.
- Family
- SpouseChildren
- Permanent residency
- A 5-year permanent residence permit is available. Ethnic Armenians can apply for it directly, with no prior temporary-residence requirement.
- Citizenship
- Citizenship requires 3 years of permanent residence, plus a basic grasp of Armenian language and the constitution. That requirement is waived entirely for persons of Armenian origin, former citizens, and spouses, children or parents of citizens.
- Language test
- Applicants are tested on Armenian language and the constitution. The test is waived for persons of Armenian origin.
- Dual citizenship
- Permitted
- Requirements
- a capital contribution of at least AMD 2,000,000 to an Armenian company, or AMD 1,000,000 on a sole entrepreneur's accounts or in turnoverdemonstrable business activity and taxes assessed within 180 days of grantelectronic checks against National Security Service and Ministry of Internal Affairs recordsa Social Numberin-person biometrics, taken in Armeniaa clean criminal record
- Shell companies will not survive the new enforcement regime. From 1 November 2026 the status lapses if the capital is withdrawn or falls below AMD 1,000,000, or if the tax database shows no taxes within 180 days. Every application is also checked electronically against National Security Service border records and Ministry of Internal Affairs criminal records.
- 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 idea of Armenia as a banking bridge for Russians no longer holds. For a Russian national, sequence the bank account before the residency, not after. Banking access, not immigration status, is the binding constraint.
- The amended law adds a work entry visa: up to 120 days, issued once per calendar year, with no extension, and a state fee of AMD 15,000 from 1 January 2027. It takes effect only once Armenia launches its new electronic visa system, and it serves work-based residence, not residence through a company.
- The high-tech regime's two branches are mutually exclusive. You must choose either the 1% turnover tax or the 18% CIT package, not both.
- A Social Number is now mandatory for company registration. Mandatory health insurance contributions were also added in 2026.
- Armenia has exchanged data under CRS since September 2025, now with 47 partners, and that number is scaling toward roughly 120.