Residency for Investors & Business Owners
Foreigners investing in the Armenian economy may qualify for one of the following residence permits:
RESIDENCE BY INVESTMENT:
SAFE INVESTMENTS IN HOTEL BUSINESS
Invest in Armenia’s rapidly growing hospitality market and get residence status for you and your family.
- Temporary, Permanent and Special Residence
- Residence Permits in 30-60 Days, Valid for 1-10 Years
- Family Covered
- Path to Citizenship
- No Requirement to Live in the Country
- Minimum Documents Required
- Investments Starting from US$30,000
Procedure, Steps & Timeframe
- 1. Get a Visa : It is not possible to apply for a residence permit from abroad as Armenian embassies do not issue residence permits. In other words, you will have to travel to Armenia, even for a few days.
- 2. Visit Armenia : The duration of your stay in Armenia will largely depend on your circumstances. While in certain cases a single day may be sufficient, typically you should plan to stay in Armenia for at least a couple of weeks.
- 3. Register a Business : The business can be registered after your arrival but it also can be registered before your visit with a power of attorney. The corporate form (LLC, corporation, branch office, private entrepreneur etc.) will depend on the nature of your business and other circumstances. Your business will also get a tax identification number and a stamp.
- 4. Open a Bank Account : Some banks may refuse to work with individuals who are blacklisted or are nationals of certain countries (e.g. Iran, Syria etc.) Typically a bank will offer accounts in multiple currencies, internet banking and debit cards (VISA or MasterCard).
- 5. Office Premises : While renting or buying an office or other business premises is not a legal requirement, in many cases a business cannot be launched until suitable business premises are secured. If the nature of your business is such that you do not need an office space (e.g. work on the Internet) then there is generally no need to rent an office, and the security officer will conduct the interview (see step 9) at your apartment or other place of residence.
- 6. Launch the Business : In Armenia you qualify for a residence permit not before you start your work/business but after it. In other words, you need to show not only that your business is registered but that it has become operational. At this stage we will assist you with collecting documents, photographs and other forms of evidence to strengthen your case.
- 7. Medical Check : The medical check has to be conducted at a hospital in Armenia. It normally takes around 30 minutes and involves taking an X-Ray. Blood test is not required.
- 8. Apply for Residency : The application for a residence permit can be filed with a power of attorney. In other words, you do not have to personally deal with the Immigration Office. However, you are supposed to be physically present in Armenia when the application is filed and the original of your passport will have to be presented to the Immigration Office (it will be returned to you immediately after). The government fees for residency are also paid at this stage. You can apply for a residence permit if you have a valid visa (entry stamp). If you overstayed your visa it may be still possible to apply for a residence permit after paying a fine.
- 9. Interview : Typically, the security officer will conduct an in-person interview at your business premises within 8-15 days after the residence permit application is filed. The interview normally takes 20-30 minutes and its purpose is to establish that your business is legitimate and operational. In certain cases a second interview at the Immigration Office is conducted.
- 10. Residence Card : The residence permit application is normally approved in 25-40 days, after which the residence permit can be collected from the Immigration Office. Your presence is generally not needed and your lawyer can collect the residence permit with a power of attorney. Currently the residence permit is issued in the form of a paper card that you can hold in your passport.
- 11. Family Members : While it is possible to file residence permit applications for the principal applicant and its family members simultaneously, it is generally recommended to wait until the residence permit of the principal applicant is approved. Family members will have to show documents of kinship (e.g. birth or marriage certificate) that are properly legalized (consular legalization or Apostille).
- 12. Address Registration : The law requires residents to register their address with the local police station within 15 days following the issuance of the residence permit. The resident can either submit a property documents (lease or ownership certificate) to prove his address or he/she can declare the address in a written statement, which is then verified by a local police officer within 5-10 days.
- 13. SSN and Driver's License : After the residence permit is issued and the address is registered the resident can apply for a social security number (SSN) and a driver's license.
Benefits of Armenia Residency
An Armenian residence permit grants you and your family members the right to unrestricted stay in the country, visa-free travel to Armenia, and the right to engage in any lawful activities, such as doing business, working, studying or simply retiring. A resident may invite other foreigners to Armenia. Residents enjoy constitutional rights and freedoms, including rights to healthcare, social security, education, property and privacy rights, freedom of speech, conscience, religion and belief. Armenian residents are not obliged to serve in the military.
FAQS
The application for a temporary or permanent residence permit is processed in about 30 calendar days. The law does not require you to be physically present in Armenia. However, in practice, you are requested to be in Armenia at the time of application. Moreover, in the absolute majority of cases there is an in-person interview within the first two weeks following the application and a second interview at the Immigration Office is also possible. In other words, it is recommended that you stay in Armenia until you get the residence permit or at least make sure that you can come to Armenia on a very short notice in order to be interviewed.
A new residence permit with the same validity period will be issued by the Immigration Office within a few days. A government fee of AMD 12,000 (US$25) is payable. The residence permit is also subject to change if any information contained in it changes (e.g. your passport number).
The residence permit can be renewed for an indefinite number of times, provided that the legal basis for obtaining the permit is still existing (e.g. you are still doing business in Armenia, still registered as student etc.). It is recommended to apply for extension at least 30 days before the expiration date of your permit.
