Citizenship by marriage and children in Armenia
Armenia grants citizenship under a simplified procedure to those connected with a citizen of the country by family. The ground is marriage to a citizen of Armenia or a child with Armenian citizenship. The requirements as to the general period of residence and command of Armenian are not applied to such applicants. The application is filed through the electronic system, and the decision is taken by the President by decree.
Who is granted citizenship under the simplified procedure
There are two grounds. Their entry conditions differ, but the procedure that follows is the same.
Spouse of a citizen of Armenia
- A foreign national who on the day of filing the application has been in a registered marriage with a citizen of Armenia for the last 2 years and has lawfully lived in Armenia for at least 365 days during those 2 years
- The law sets no requirements as to income, bank balance or investment for this ground
- Proved by the marriage certificate, the passport of the spouse who is a citizen and a document on lawful residence in Armenia
Parent of a child who is a citizen of Armenia
- A foreign national whose child holds citizenship of the Republic of Armenia; the law ties no length of marriage and no period of residence in Armenia to this ground
- The law sets no requirements as to income, bank balance or investment for this ground
- Proved by the child's birth certificate and a document on the child's citizenship
When this route will not suit you
The simplified procedure rests on a family tie with a citizen of Armenia. Without it the ground does not work.
You have neither a spouse with Armenian citizenship nor a child who is a citizen
The general naturalisation procedure or the ground of Armenian descent
The marriage is registered, but you have not actually lived in Armenia
First a temporary residence status based on marriage, then you come back to this ground
You need a lawful status right now, in order to work and open an account
A residence status is obtained noticeably faster; for citizens of EAEU states registration of the employment contract is enough
Who it suits
Documents
The application form, the foreign travel passport with a copy, six colour photographs 35×45 mm, the marriage certificate and the passport of the spouse who is a citizen, the children's birth certificates and documents on their citizenship, proof of lawful residence in Armenia and the receipt.
What it costs
The duties are paid at the rates of the Migration Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia. The duty for the application is paid when filing through the electronic system.
| State duty for the acquisition of citizenshipPaid when the application is filed through mcs-citizenship.am. | 50 000 AMD |
|---|---|
| Passport of a citizen of ArmeniaThe first passport after the presidential decree is collected in person at the head office of the service. | 1 000 AMD |
| Identity cardThe internal document proving a citizen's identity. | +3 000 AMD |
| Passport issued on the 1st working dayThe accelerated rate instead of ordinary issue of the passport. | 20 000 AMD |
| Passport issued on the 5th working dayThe mid-speed rate instead of ordinary issue of the passport. | 5 000 AMD |
| Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Identity card” adds 3 000 AMD; the “Passport issued on the 1st working day” branch replaces the “Passport of a citizen of Armenia” line — 70 000 AMD; the “Passport issued on the 5th working day” branch replaces the “Passport of a citizen of Armenia” line — 55 000 AMD. Charges with no official price list are in the list below. | 51,000–54 000 AMD |
Paid separately
- Notarised translation of the passport and documents into Armenian — The rate is set by the notary; the agency does not publish it.
- Apostille or consular legalisation of documents issued abroad — The cost is set by the authority of the country where the document was issued.
- Photographs 35×45 mm — Paid for at a photo studio; the agency does not publish a rate.
The duty for terminating Armenian citizenship relates to renouncing Armenian citizenship and does not apply to this route.
How the process runs
The procedure is the same for both grounds. Only the documents proving the family tie differ.
- 1
Checking the ground
You compare your situation with article 13 of the Law on Citizenship: a marriage to a citizen of Armenia of the required length with lawful residence in the country, or a child with Armenian citizenship.
- 2
Collecting and legalising the documents
You collect the passport, the birth and marriage certificates and documents on the citizenship of the spouse or child. Foreign documents are legalised and translated into Armenian with notarial certification.
- 3
Filing the application through the electronic system
You register on mcs-citizenship.am, choose the service for the grant of citizenship, upload scans of the documents and a photograph to the ISO standard, and pay the duty online.
- 4
Submitting the originals by appointment
After the uploaded files have been checked, the system gives a date for the visit. The originals are brought to the Department for the Grant of Citizenship: Yerevan, Davtashen, 4th block, 17/10.
- 5
The interview on the Constitution
the date is set within 2 working daysThe exemption under article 13(2) removes the requirements as to the period of residence and the Armenian language, but familiarity with the Constitution remains.
- 6
Check by the National Security Service
15 working daysThe agency checks the applicant and sends its reply to the migration service.
- 7
Opinion of the migration service
25 working daysThe service prepares its opinion on the case and passes the file on.
- 8
The presidential decree
the law allows up to 6 months for the examination of the applicationCitizenship is granted by a decree of the President of the Republic of Armenia.
- 9
Receiving the passport
After the decree you come in person to the head office of the service for your first passport as a citizen of Armenia.
Who you can bring with you
A minor child may obtain citizenship together with the applicant.
A child under 18 where both parents obtain citizenship
A child under 18 where one of the parents obtains citizenship
A child aged 14 to 18
The applicant's spouse, if they are also a foreign national
Trips, renewal and the grace period
Marriage of at least 2 years and lawful residence in Armenia of at least 365 days during those 2 years
Armenian citizenship has no term: it does not need renewing or confirming. Only the documents are replaced — the passport and the identity card, when their validity expires. The procedure itself has no grace period: if the application is refused, the law allows a fresh application after 1 year.
How it differs from the routes next to it
The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.
| Citizenship by marriage and children | Asylum in Armenia | Ethnic repatriation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa term | Citizenship is indefinite | The refugee identity card is usually valid for 10 years, with an indefinite right of residence | Citizenship is granted straight away; the passport is indefinite |
| Grounds | Marriage to a citizen of Armenia, or having a child who is a citizen of Armenia | Convention grounds | Armenian descent |
| Money | The duty is AMD 50,000 | No state duty is charged; housing, allowances and social support from the state and UNHCR | The state duty is nominal (about EUR 2), plus legalisation of documents and translations |
| Work | A citizen works without a work permit and without registration of the employment contract | An automatic right to work without a permit, on the same footing as citizens | A full right to work, to run a business and to hold public office |
| Residence | Marriage of at least 2 years and lawful residence in Armenia of at least 365 days during those 2 years | You have to live in the country in fact; travel to the country of citizenship leads to loss of the status | No prior residence is required |
What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship
Route to permanent residence
Permanent status is not needed for this route. For marriage, 2 years of registered marriage and 365 days of lawful residence in Armenia during those 2 years are required. For the parent of a child who is a citizen, no period of residence and no language examination are set.
Route to citizenship
A simplified procedure without the 3-year residence requirement and without the language requirement (art. 13(2) of the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Armenia)
Frequently asked questions about Citizenship by marriage and children
Do you have to renounce your previous citizenship?
Do you have to take an Armenian language test?
Can the application be filed online?
Where do you bring the documents in Yerevan?
What do you do after the presidential decree?
Other ways to move to Armenia
- Refugee status / political asylumAsylum / refugee status
- Ethnic repatriationRepatriation
- Visa-free entry and stay of up to 180 days a yearVisa-free regime
- Temporary residence permit for businessBusiness
- Temporary residence permit for marriage and close family tiesFamily
- Temporary residence permit for studyStudy
- Permanent residence permitPermanent residence
- Special residence statusPermanent residence
- Work by EAEU citizens without a work permitWork
Every route in one list — migration programmes: Armenia.
The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.