From November 1, the types of residence statuses, the grounds for their issuance, and the procedures for reviewing applications will change.
Specifically:
Temporary and permanent residence statuses will be in effect. The special residence status will no longer be granted, while preserving transitional guarantees for those who previously obtained it.
The temporary status will be issued for up to one year, and the permanent status for five years.
Being ethnically Armenian will remain a separate ground for obtaining permanent residence status.
Other grounds for permanent status include making investments in Armenia, rendering exceptional services to Armenia, as well as family ties or entrepreneurial activities under additional conditions defined by law.
Applications will be submitted and processed through a unified electronic platform.
Decisions will be made within 30 days after submitting the application. Permanent status based on exceptional services will be granted by a decision of the Prime Minister.
How will the application and document issuance process be organized?
An applicant on the basis of being ethnically Armenian will first register on the platform and submit documents. After preliminary verification of their completeness and compliance, they will be queued to personally submit the application.
The applicant will be notified via the platform about completing the documents. If the required actions requested by notification are not fulfilled within five days, the procedure will be automatically suspended.
The residence card and certificate confirming lawful residence will be received personally by the individual upon providing fingerprints and an electronic signature sample. Documents for persons under 16 years old will be received by a parent or legal representative.
If the period of legal stay or residence expires during the procedure, the individual's presence in Armenia will be considered lawful until the completion of the procedure and decision-making.
Data Protection and Obligations
Access to personal data by state bodies will be limited to their functions.
A foreigner will have only one status confirming lawful residence.
It will be necessary to notify via the platform about absence from Armenia for 183 days or more within a maximum of 10 days after the period ends. This requirement will not apply to those with permanent status based on investment or exceptional services.
What is foreseen for those who previously applied and have an active status?
Applications submitted before November 1 will be reviewed under the previous regulations.
Those who received special residence status will retain the rights and obligations stemming from it until its expiration.
Those who previously had more than one status and confirming documents will be able to use them until their validity expires.
The regulations also provide for the existence of a work visa for employment purposes.
