Notarized Passport Translation for Residency in Armenia in 2026: Is It Required and How to Obtain

Current as of 11.11.2026. To obtain a residence permit in Armenia, you need a notarized Armenian translation of your passport. This is specified in the lists by the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Migration and Citizenship Service (MCS). From November 1, 2026, applications are submitted through an electronic platform, which accepts notarized or consular translations, including of the passport. See below for details and fees.

Exact Requirements

The lists of documents for temporary and permanent residency state: “passport, copy of the passport and notarized Armenian translation of the passport” (RA MFA, MCS). For Special Residency Status, which will not be issued after November 1, 2026, a passport or travel document and their notarized translations into Armenian were likewise required.

On the platform, under the grounds “Armenian origin” and “family,” it is specified: all foreign documents must be submitted with a notarized or consular certified Armenian translation, including the passport translation. On pages for other grounds (employment, study, entrepreneurship), a translation requirement is not named, but the list of documents is approved by the Government (Art. 17 Part 3 of the Law “On Foreigners,” edition HO-11-N). Unless you have checked the list, prepare a translation in any case.

How Notarized Translation Works

The notary does not translate personally. The translation is made by a translator, while the notary certifies the translator’s signature and the authenticity of the translated pages. In the Law “On State Duties,” these acts are listed separately: certification of authenticity for each translated page and certification of signatures, including the translator’s.

Translators participating in notarial acts must have a qualification certificate, issued by the Ministry of Justice after an exam. The procedure is approved by Government Decree No. 193-N of 2 March 2002 (Ministry of Justice page). Ask the notary whether they have a translator for your language into Armenian.

You need to prepare:

1. Passport.
2. Passport copy. This is a separate listed item with both MFA and MCS.

Which other documents the notary may require is not specified in official sources; ask when scheduling.

Which pages of the passport should be translated: whether only the data page or all filled pages, is not clarified in official sources. Consult an expert. Ask both the notary and the MCS what will be accepted.

What It Costs

The base fee by law is 1,000 drams; 50% is 500 drams. Amounts verified in the current law edition at arlis.am. It is not clear from the law which (per page or per signature) applies to your document, nor whether both are added. Official sources do not state the translator’s fee. Confirm this with your notary in advance.

If You Are Abroad

First option: have the translation done in Armenia when you arrive. Second: apply for translation and notarization at the Armenian embassy or consulate in your country. The MFA consular fees list includes: “translation of documents from a foreign language into Armenian and notarized certification, per page” — 10,000 drams. The MCS platform accepts consular translations as equal to notarized ones (pages for “Armenian origin” and “family” grounds).

Whether an apostille is required on the passport itself is not stated in the lists. Clarify this with the MCS before applying. More on apostille and legalization of other documents: Apostille. More on notarized translation in general: Notarized Translation.

How Many Translations Are Required

A passport translation is required for each applicant. If applying for a child, the list also includes the passport of the parent or legal representative and a proof of relationship. If a representative is applying for you, a power of attorney and the representative’s passport are needed. Official sources do not specify whether translations of the parent’s or representative’s passports must be notarized. Clarify with the MCS before submitting to avoid unnecessary or missing translations.

There is no official indication on the validity period of the translation.

Other Documents in the Packet

A passport translation does not replace the translation of other documents. On platform pages for “Armenian origin” and “family,” the requirement is broader: all foreign documents must be certified as required by law and submitted with a notarized or consular Armenian translation. This applies to birth and marriage certificates as well as nationality documents.

For people of Armenian origin, the MCS list specifies how documents must be certified:

• Baptism certificate: certified by an embassy or consulate, note indicating nationality of baptised person or parent;
• Foreign state nationality certificate: with apostille or consular visa;
• Other document on nationality: certified by an embassy or consulate.

These documents must be prepared separately from the passport and in advance. For how to arrange an apostille, see the article Apostille. For a complete list of all required documents, see Documents for Residency.

Passport Scan for the Platform

Upload the translation with the passport scan. Platform scan requirements:

• passport must be valid;
• upload the main (data) page, showing photo, full name, and passport number;
• all four corners of the page visible, document not cropped;
• color scan only (black-and-white or grayscale not accepted);
• JPG or PDF format, up to 5 MB;
• scan preferred over phone photo;
• no fingers, glare, shadows, marks, or folded pages;
• file unprotected and not digitally altered.

The platform does not specify that translation scans must meet these same requirements. Match them regardless: clear, color, with no cropped edges.

When a New Translation Is Needed

• Passport replacement. The MCS requires a notarized Armenian translation of your new passport for a residency card replacement. Old passport translation is not valid.
• Passport expired. The platform accepts only a valid passport. After receiving a new one, a new translation is needed.

A notarized passport translation is also needed outside residency matters, for example, when registering as a sole proprietor as a foreign national (see Sole Proprietor in Armenia), but those are addressed by separate regulations.

Step-by-Step: What to Do

1. Check with the notary or MCS (84-22 in Armenia, +374 10 300 159 from abroad) which passport pages must be translated.
2. Find a notary with a translator for your language, or contact the Armenian consulate.
3. Verify your name spelling and passport number against the original before the notary certifies.
4. Obtain the translation and scan it in color as per platform requirements.
5. Attach the translation to your application: Apply online.
6. Check your complete set against the list: Documents for Residency.