Armenia overhauls residence rules from 1 November: higher fees, online applications and end of the 10-year special passport
Armenia’s rewritten immigration law takes effect today, 1 November, bringing higher residence fees, online-only applications and the end of the 10-year special passport for ethnic Armenians.
The fee for a one-year temporary residence permit rises to 155,950 Armenian drams, made up of a 150,000-dram application duty and a 5,950-dram card charge. It was 105,000 drams before the change. A five-year permanent residence permit now costs 255,950 drams, up from 140,000 drams. The fees are non-refundable if an application is rejected.
The biggest change affects diaspora Armenians. The 10-year special passport, which gave ethnic Armenians a long-term tie to the country without citizenship, is closed to new applicants. Instead, ethnic Armenians can apply directly for a five-year permanent residence permit, without first holding a temporary permit. Existing special passports stay valid until the date printed on them.
Most other applicants can no longer get a five-year permit straight away. They must first hold a one-year temporary permit and can apply for permanent residence after three years. Applications move online to a new portal, permit.am, and the old migration.e-gov.am service and its Early One appointment system stop on 1 November. Appointments booked for after that date will not be honoured, and those applicants will have to file again through the new platform.
Why it matters
Armenia has seen several waves of newcomers in recent years, including Russians and Ukrainians after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Iranians, and Indian migrant workers drawn by a fairly easy residence process. The Interior Ministry says the changes come with a new biometric system and are meant to modernise services for foreigners. The labour market test for work permits is also scrapped and replaced by an annual government quota on residence permits, although the quota numbers have not yet been published.
What happens next
Applications filed before 1 November will still be decided under the old rules. From today, applicants must file through permit.am, show proof of financial means, and attend in person in Armenia to give fingerprints and an electronic signature before receiving a biometric residence card. A separate new work entry visa will only start when Armenia’s electronic entry visa system launches, and no date for that has been announced.
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- https://armenian-lawyer.com/immigration/armenia-immigration-law-overhaul-november-2026/ (Vardanyan & Partners, 2026)
- https://www.thecaliforniacourier.com/armenia-tightens-residency-requirements-amidst-eu-visa-liberalization-talks/ (The California Courier, 9 October 2026)
- https://internationalinvestment.biz/en/migration/8907-how-to-get-a-residence-permit-in-armenia-in-2026-what-changes-from-november-1.html (International Investment, 2026)
