Table of Contents

1. Visa Types and Application Process

Visa-Free Travel

Most European countries, selected Asian nations, and certain American states, are granted visa-free access to Armenia (see the complete list below). Typically, visitors from these countries can enjoy a visa-free stay in Armenia for up to 180 days within a year. For those interested in extended stays, Armenia offers the possibility of obtaining residence permits.

In practice, Armenia does not strictly enforce the 180-day rule for returning visitors. For example, individuals crossing the border with neighboring countries such as Georgia or Iran and returning to Armenia are not fined. However, continuous stays exceeding 180 days can lead to fines ranging from AMD 50,000 to 100,000 (approximately $130 to $260), which must be settled upon departure from the country.

List of visa-free countries

Europe: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Moldova, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Vatican.

Asia: China (90 days), Hong Kong, Iran (90 days), Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Macau, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea, Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan.

Americas & Pacific: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Ecuador, New Zealand, Panama, United States of America, Uruguay.

Visa on Arrival

Eligibility for a Visa on Arrival is extended to:

• Nationals of certain countries (see the list below)

• Individuals holding valid visas or residence permits from certain countries (see the list below)

• Ethnic Armenians and family members (parent, child, spouse, brother, sister) of Armenian citizens, regardless of their nationality

Alternatively, these individuals may choose to apply for a visa beforehand at an Armenian embassy or through the e-visa platform.

List of Country Nationals Eligible for a Visa on Arrival:

Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Chile, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Mexico, North Korea, North Macedonia, Oman, Peru, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey.

List of Countries Whose Valid Visas or Temporary/Permanent Residence Cards Qualify for a Visa on Arrival

All EU and Schengen countries, all GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE), Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, United Kingdom, USA.

This option is not available to nationals of countries requiring an embassy-issued sticker visa for entry.

E-Visa (online)

You can obtain an e-visa by applying online on the Armenian E-Visa Portal if you are a national of a country listed below. Additionally, individuals eligible for a visa on arrival (as detailed in the section above) also have the option to apply for an e-visa. Typically, an e-visa is issued within 3-5 business days. If the e-visa is rejected, you can re-apply immediately. However, it is recommended to understand the reason for rejection and, if necessary, submit any additional documents to address the concerns of the immigration authorities.

The e-visa has a maximum validity of 120 days, with an option to extend it for an additional 60 days. For those seeking a longer stay, holding a residence permit is an option (refer to this page for more details on residence permits).

List of E-visa countries

Asia & Africa: Algeria, Bahrain, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Egypt, India, Iraq, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Vietnam.

Americas: Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.

Pacific: Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu
Vanuatu.

Sticker visa (embassy-issued visa)

Nationals from specific African and Asian countries, as outlined in the list below, are generally not eligible for an online visa (e-visa) or visa on arrival for Armenia. They are required to secure their visas in advance of their arrival by visiting an Armenian embassy abroad.

The visa application process usually necessitates the submission of an invitation letter from a host in Armenia. However, an exception is made for ethnic Armenians and their immediate family members, who are exempt from the invitation letter requirement.

For more information on invitation letters and a list of Armenian embassies, please refer to the sections provided below.

Restricted nationalities for online and on-arrival visa applications

Asia: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Syria, Yemen.

Africa: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Invitation letter requirements

If you do not qualify for visa-free travel, e-visas, or visas on arrival, obtaining an invitation letter from an individual or a legal entity in Armenia is necessary.

Additionally, individuals of Armenian ethnicity are exempt from the invitation letter requirement. They can secure a visa by providing proof of their Armenian heritage through documents like a passport, birth certificate, or certified baptism certificate, verifying their or their parents' Armenian descent. This exemption also extends to immediate family members of Armenian citizens or ethnic Armenians, including spouses, parents, children, siblings.

Foreign nationals with permanent resident status in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Switzerland, or a Schengen country (excluding Spain, Portugal, and Greece) may also be exempt from the invitation letter requirement at the consular officer's discretion.

Invitation letters from individuals should be forwarded to the Migration and Citizenship Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia. Conversely, letters from legal entities should be directed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The approval process for these letters entails a security check, which may span 2-3 weeks or longer. During this process, a security officer may meet with or have a phone call with the person submitting the invitation letter to ensure compliance with immigration requirements.

List of Armenian embassies abroad

Europe: Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom.

Americas: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, United States.

Asia & Africa: China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Syria, Turkmenistan, U.A.E., Vietnam.

2. Visa Costs and Regulations

3. FAQs

4. Country-Specific Visa Information

5. Other Practical Information