Armenian citizenship through naturalisation
Through marriage, naturalisation or Armenian descent.
- Adult foreign nationals permanently resident in Armenia for the last three years
Standard naturalisation requires at least 3 years of lawful residence in Armenia immediately before the application, plus knowledge of the Armenian language and the Constitution (a 33-question test with a pass mark of at least 17 correct). For people of Armenian descent there's a simplified route with no residence requirement, no language exam and no Constitution exam at all. NATURALISATION THROUGH MARRIAGE is a third, separate set of requirements: 2 years of registered marriage to an Armenian citizen, with the applicant having lived in Armenia at least 365 days during those 2 years (measured by holding resident status — temporary, permanent or special — rather than by counting days physically present), or having a shared child who is an Armenian citizen. Marriage requires ONLY the Constitution exam (33 questions); the 3-year residence requirement and the language exam don't apply.
Per the official website of Armenia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (mfa.am) and government decree No. 97-N of 22.01.2026, since 1 January 2026 applications to acquire or renounce Armenian citizenship are filed, checked and processed exclusively through the mcs-citizenship.am electronic system, including booking the appointment to submit original documents. The old procedure of filing in person through the passport and visa department no longer applies to the first stage.
Who it suits
- Adult foreign nationals permanently resident in Armenia for the last three years
- Ethnic Armenians
- Marriages
What the service includes
| Strategy | |
| Documents | |
| Support through the process | |
| The language exam— billed separately |
Official terms
Financial requirement
The duty for acquiring citizenship is AMD 50,000 (≈$140), and for terminating it AMD 150,000 (≈$410). The money is not refunded.
Timelines and rights
Review time
The law allows up to 1 year for the examination. After a refusal you apply again in a year. The decision is taken by the President by decree. From 1 January 2026 applications are filed and processed only through mcs-citizenship.am.
Right to work
A citizen works without a work permit and without registration of the employment contract.
Residence conditions
Permanent residence in the Republic of Armenia for the last 3 years
Documents and programme requirements
- 1By residence: 3 years of lawful residence in Armenia, an exam on the language and the Constitution (33 questions, at least 17 correct)
- 2By descent: no residence requirement, no language exam and no Constitution exam
- 3By marriage: 2 years of marriage to an Armenian citizen + 365 days of resident status during those 2 years (or a shared child who is an Armenian citizen), and only the Constitution exam
What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship
Route to permanent residence
Before applying you hold permanent status: naturalisation requires 3 years of permanent residence in Armenia.
Route to citizenship
You must be able to make yourself understood in Armenian and be familiar with the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia
Frequently asked questions
Is an exam on the language and the Constitution required?
Can I keep a second citizenship after obtaining Armenian citizenship?
How long do I have to live in Armenia to naturalise through marriage?
Where are citizenship applications filed now?
Sources
- Law of the Republic of Armenia on Citizenship (consolidated text) — Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Passport and Visa Department of the Police of Armenia — the citizenship division's functions
- Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs — the “Citizenship” section, the new mcs-citizenship.am platform from 01.01.2026
- Diaspora.gov.am (the official diaspora affairs portal) — the requirements for naturalisation through marriage
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