Armenia adds investment route to permanent residence

As of November 2026, Armenia's new rules for foreign residents are in force, and making an investment in Armenia is now listed as a ground for permanent residence. The reform took effect on 1 November, according to the Migration and Citizenship Service of Armenia's Interior Ministry. The minimum investment amount has not yet been published.

Armenia now has two residence statuses. Temporary residence is granted for up to one year and permanent residence for five years. The 10-year special residence status will no longer be granted to new applicants, although current holders keep their rights until it expires. Other grounds for permanent residence include Armenian ethnicity, exceptional services to Armenia, and family ties or business activity, subject to conditions set by law.

All applications are now filed through a single online platform, with decisions due within 30 days. State fees have risen to AMD 150,000 for temporary residence and AMD 250,000 for permanent residence, and they are not refunded if an application is refused. Applications filed before 1 November are handled under the old rules.

Investment-based permanent residents are exempt from the new duty to report absences from Armenia of 183 days or more.