Moving to Armenia in 2026: a step-by-step relocation plan

Up to 180 days a year without a visa for many passports, 6 routes to a residence permit after 1 November 2026, 20% income tax and 10% turnover tax, rent in Yerevan from $500 and citizenship after 3 years. Plus a plan for the first 30 days after landing.

In detail

Moving to Armenia starts without a visa for citizens of the EU, the US, the UK, Australia, Japan and the Eurasian Economic Union: they stay up to 180 days a year. To live longer you need a residence permit: from 1 November 2026 you apply online, pay a $420 (AMD 150,000) review fee and get a decision within 30 days.

People choose Armenia for its low taxes for small businesses, a short path to citizenship and a growing tech scene in Yerevan. Dollar amounts use about AMD 362 per dollar in 2026, rounded up.

How do you enter Armenia and how long can you stay?

Under the rules of Armenia's Foreign Ministry, a foreigner from a visa-free country stays in Armenia for up to 180 days within a year. That is enough to rent a flat, open a bank account and apply for a residence permit without rushing. Until 1 July 2027, nationals of 111 more countries who hold a residence permit of the US, the EU, a Schengen state or several Gulf states also enter without a visa, and everyone else applies for an e-visa online before the trip.

Most people fly into Zvartnots airport near Yerevan, and some direct flights land at Shirak airport near Gyumri. Citizens of Russia can even fly in on their internal ID passport under an intergovernmental agreement in force since 22 February 2017.

Bring your international passport and keep it valid: banks, landlords and the migration service ask for it, and you will need it for trips to third countries.

What are the 6 routes to an Armenian residence permit after 1 November 2026?

Six routes lead to an Armenian residence permit: work, your own business, a stake in an Armenian company, family, Armenian origin and study. A remote employee of a foreign company gets status through one of them, for example by registering as an individual entrepreneur.

Data for 2026.

You apply on the new online platform of the Migration and Citizenship Service of Armenia's Interior Ministry and collect the biometric card in person. The government sets annual quotas by category, so it pays to apply well before your 180 days run out.

After 3 years of temporary status within the last 5 years, the spouse, parent or child of an Armenian citizen and an entrepreneur get permanent residence for 5 years. Documents for each route are on the page Armenia residence permit.

Not sure which route will work fastest for you? Ask a manager to compare the options for your work and family.

What taxes do you pay after moving to Armenia?

An Armenian tax resident pays 20% income tax on worldwide income, a non-resident only on Armenian income. A tax resident is a person who spends 183 days or more in Armenia in a calendar year or keeps the centre of vital interests there: home, family or main place of work.

Status is counted for the whole year: whoever becomes resident for even one day is resident from 1 January. Plan the move date ahead, especially if dividends or interest arrive early in the year.

Data for 2026.

Turnover tax applies up to $320,000 (AMD 115m) of turnover in the previous year. The micro-business regime covers part of the activities, while IT services, consulting and trade go under turnover tax.

The regime is chosen by an application to the tax office within 20 days of registering as an entrepreneur, see individual entrepreneur in Armenia. Rates and contributions are on the page Armenia taxes.

How much does it cost to live in Yerevan?

A single person in Yerevan needs $1,200-2,200 a month including rent, a couple $1,800-2,800, and a family with a child from $2,500. Rent takes the biggest share.

A one-bedroom flat in the Arabkir, Davtashen and Achapnyak districts costs $500-900 a month, and in the centre about $940 (AMD 340,000) on average. Landlords take a deposit of one month's rent, sign for a year and more and more often quote prices in dollars.

Relocating one person to Armenia for the first 3 months costs from $4,600: living costs with rent from $3,600, a deposit of one month's rent, the $420 residence permit fee and the $20 card.

In Gyumri, the country's second city, rent is 2-3 times lower: a one-bedroom flat in the centre costs $250-420. Prices for food, transport and healthcare are in the article cost of living in Armenia, and the capital's districts are on the page Yerevan.

How do you open a bank account and move money to Armenia?

An account at an Armenian bank is opened with a passport and a public services number. The public services number is a foreigner's personal number in Armenia: the Migration and Citizenship Service issues it free of charge on the day you apply, with your passport and a notarized Armenian translation.

For everyday spending in Armenia you need a local bank card, issued in the first week. The bank checks the client and the source of money, so prepare statements and an income certificate before you fly.

Savings are moved by bank transfer to your own multi-currency account at an Armenian bank. Deposits in drams are protected up to $45,000 (AMD 16m) per bank.

For a large sum, Murblz as a financial intermediary picks the route and prepares documents for the bank, and licensed partners carry out the transfer. Routes and timing are in the article how to send money to Armenia.

How do you work in Armenia: employed, remote or self-employed?

Citizens of Eurasian Economic Union countries work for Armenian employers without a work permit, and for others the employer arranges it. After signing an employment contract, the worker gets a certificate of legal residence for the family: from 1 November 2026 the review fee is $85 (AMD 30,000) and the issue fee $20 (AMD 5,950).

The average salary in Armenia in August 2026 was about $870 before tax according to the Statistical Committee, with more in Yerevan and in IT. That is why many newcomers keep their foreign clients and register as individual entrepreneurs: it gives grounds for residence and a 10% turnover tax.

How do you get Armenian citizenship?

Armenian citizenship comes after 3 years of legal residence on a residence permit, with Armenian language and a test on the Constitution, while ethnic Armenians do not need to live in the country first. Dual citizenship has been allowed since 2007, so you keep your current passport.

The fee is $140 (AMD 50,000) and the decision takes up to 90 working days. Under an Interior Ministry draft law published for discussion in September 2026, from 1 January 2028 naturalization would take 5 years, ethnic Armenians would need 2 years of residence and the fee would rise to $700 (AMD 250,000). Applications filed before that date follow the current rules, so it pays to start the clock now. Grounds and documents are on the page Armenian citizenship.

What is the plan before departure and for the first 30 days?

A move to Armenia fits into a month if documents are ready before departure. Bring:

• passports for every family member;
• marriage and birth certificates for a family residence permit and school;
• diplomas and employment records for a job;
• bank statements and an income certificate for an Armenian bank.

A manager will check which of your documents need an apostille and translation for Armenia.

The first month in Armenia step by step:

1. Days 1-3. A SIM card on your passport and temporary housing.
2. Days 3-7. A notarized Armenian translation of your passport and a public services number at the Migration and Citizenship Service.
3. Week 2. A one-year lease, an account and a card at an Armenian bank.
4. Week 3. Registration as an individual entrepreneur at the State Register Agency of Legal Entities, with a fee of $10 (AMD 3,000) for a paper application, and the tax regime application within 20 days.
5. Week 4. A medical certificate, documents for your route, the online application and fees: $420 for review and $20 for the card. An entrepreneur needs $2,800 in accounts or the same turnover within 60 days, and the decision comes within 30 days.

Still choosing a country? Compare the options in Georgia vs Armenia, and all of the country's programs are on the page Armenia.

We will help you move to Armenia

Murblz handles the move to Armenia end to end: we pick the route to a residence permit, check translations and documents before filing, register you as an entrepreneur, support the online application and the card pickup, and after 3 years the citizenship application.

The first step is free: in the chat on the site a manager will review your situation and suggest a week-by-week plan. Details and the cost of support are with the manager. Get a free consultation.

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