Applying for Armenian Residence Permit Online in 2026: Step-by-Step on the New Platform

Valid as of 11.11.2026. Applications for residence permits in Armenia are now submitted online via the mcs-permits.am platform: registration, application, document uploads, fee payment, and decision within up to 30 days. The platform has replaced the migration.e-gov.am portal and EarlyOne app. The procedure below is confirmed by law HO-11-N and pages of the platform. We have not checked the technical details of each step as we do not have an applicant account.

What Changed as of November 1, 2026

Law HO-11-N came into force on November 1, 2026. According to Art. 14 Part 3 of the Law “On Foreigners” as amended, procedures for temporary and permanent status are now handled only through the electronic platform, and the fee can be paid online. The Migration and Citizenship Service (MCS) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of RA announced on 19.06.2026 that after November 1, the migration.e-gov.am portal and EarlyOne app are no longer operational. Those who had appointments for dates after November 1 may submit their applications in the new system.

Applications submitted before November 1 will be processed according to previous rules (Art. 30 Part 4 HO-11-N).

The platform was developed with the support of the International Organization for Migration and replaced the previous system workpermit.am. According to the "About the System" page, it allows you to apply on all main grounds, track your case, receive notifications, add documents, pay the state fee online, submit for family members, and manage trusted representatives.

Three Login Methods

The platform divides users into three groups. Your group depends on the legal basis of your application.

If someone else applies for you, you will log in by following a link in the email and pass face identification. You can then track your case in your online account.

Application Steps

1. Identify your legal basis. It determines login method and required documents. See bases listed in the article Residence Permit Grounds.
2. Register. Use the login method from the table above. For students and investors, the platform warns: registration will not proceed without a Public Service Number (ՀԾՀ). Foreign sole proprietors must also provide the ՀԾՀ. Obtain this number in advance.
3. Fill out the application. Make sure all information matches your passport.
4. Upload scans. Passport, photo, and documents proving the basis. Document requirements are below.
5. Pay the fee online. Amounts are in the next section. For work and study grounds, the platform directly warns: the MCS will review your application only after payment.
6. Monitor notifications. The platform will alert you to errors or missing documents. You have 5 days to respond; otherwise, your case is automatically suspended. If you do not resume a suspended case within a month, it will be closed (Art. 17 Parts 9 and 10).
7. Await the decision. The period is 30 days from submission; the decision takes into account the annual quota for statuses (Art. 17 Part 4).
8. Receive your card. The new platform's procedure for card issuance is not described in official sources we found. According to previous rules, the card was issued at the Unified Public Services Office at 3 Vazgen Sargsyan St.

Exceptions by basis: persons of Armenian descent register on the platform, upload documents, and schedule an in-person submission after a preliminary check for completeness (Art. 29.5 Part 2). For “investment” grounds, the foreigner must submit in person after registering on the platform (Art. 29.6 Part 2). For “family” grounds, the application is submitted by an RA citizen or a relative with status (Art. 29.5 Part 1).

Who Submits the Application by Legal Basis

The platform specifies who exactly acts, affecting what you must do yourself.

• Work. The company director or authorized person submits the application. First, under “Employees” they add the worker: passport, email, phone, photo. Then, they fill in job details and pay the fee. The employer or the foreigner themselves (from their own account) may pay the fee.
• Study. The head of the university or authorized person submits the application. The student is added to the system with Public Service Number, email, phone, photo, and information about the place and head of study.
• Entrepreneurship. The application is submitted by a foreign sole proprietor registered in the State Registry or by a legal entity in Armenia on behalf of a foreign participant. You need turnover of at least 1 million drams for the last reporting period or at least 1 million drams in a bank account.
• Family. The application is submitted by an RA citizen or a foreigner with status for a parent, spouse, or child. The platform requests birth and marriage certificates with certified translation.
• Armenian descent. The applicant submits independently: registration, document uploads, scheduling in-person submission.

After submission, the platform allows you to track your case in real time, receive notifications, and add documents. Through your personal page, you can also submit for family members and manage trusted representatives.

File Requirements

The platform provides photo requirements and passport scan requirements.

• Passport: valid. Scan of the identification page with all four corners visible. Only color scan, JPG or PDF, up to 5 MB. Photos with fingers, glare, shadows, notes, folded pages not accepted. File must be unedited, without password.
• Photo: 35×45 mm, head occupies 70–80% of the height, neutral expression, closed mouth, light plain background, taken within last 6 months, no retouching.

Foreign documents must be submitted with notarial or consular Armenian translation, including your passport. See passport translation for residence permit.

How Much Does It Cost

New Point 8 of Art. 14 of the “State Duty Law” (HO-215-N) is effective as of October 30, 2026.

The MFA of RA still lists the previous rates of 105,000 and 140,000 drams on its website. The current law on arlis.am confirms 150,000, 250,000, and 5,950 drams. For more on fees: residence permit costs and timelines.

What Might Prevent Approval

• Quota. The government annually sets quotas for residence statuses. If the quota is exhausted, this is grounds for refusal (Art. 19 Part 1 Point 13 as amended by HO-11-N). As of 11.11.2026, we found no published quota decisions.
• Grounds for refusal. These include: false information, security threat, criminal record, disease listed in the law, no employment contract within 15 working days after obtaining work status.
• Re-application. After a refusal, you may apply again in one year. If refused because of a criminal record, unexecuted administrative act, expired basis, no employment contract within 15 working days, or exhausted quota, you may reapply once those circumstances have changed (Art. 20 Part 4).

How Not to Lose Lawful Stay

If your period of stay expires during processing, you remain legally in the country until the MCS decision (Art. 17 Part 4, paragraph two). This does not waive the requirement to apply on time. See periods without status: 180 days without a residence permit.

What to Do

1. Check that you qualify under one of the bases.
2. Prepare your passport, photo, and translations as required.
3. Obtain a Public Service Number (ՀԾՀ) if necessary.
4. Register using the method matching your grounds.
5. Fill out the application, upload scans, and pay the fee.
6. Respond to notifications within 5 days.
7. If the platform does not accept your data, call MCS: 84-22 in Armenia, +374 10 300 159 from abroad.