How Much Does a Residence Permit in Armenia Cost and How Long to Wait in 2026

From November 1, 2026, a residence permit in Armenia costs 155,950 drams for temporary status and 255,950 drams for permanent status. This covers the application fee (150,000 and 250,000 drams) plus 5,950 drams for the card. The decision is made within 30 days. Data verified as of 11.11.2026 by law HO-215-N.

Why different sources list different amounts

Until November 1, 2026, the fee was 105,000 drams for a temporary permit and 140,000 drams for a permanent one (RA MFA). Law firms listed 150,000 and 250,000 drams, while the MFA still shows the old figures.

The law resolves the dispute. Law HO-215-N, adopted on 11.05.2026 and published on 29.05.2026, amended Art. 14 of the Law on State Duty. Fees are calculated based on a base rate of 1,000 drams (Art. 8). The law took effect by November 1, 2026. As of 11.11.2026, the MFA and Migration Service web pages still show the previous amounts, but this does not override the law.

Fees as of November 1, 2026

Thus, initial temporary status totals 155,950 drams, permanent status 255,950 drams. The certificate of legal residence is for foreigners working without a permit under international agreements, such as EAEU citizens (Art. 7(3) of the Law on Foreigners).

What it was before November 1

• Temporary status and card: 105,000 drams;
• Extension of temporary status: 105,000 drams;
• Permanent status and card: 140,000 drams;
• Special passport: 150,000 drams.

Applications submitted before November 1, 2026 are processed under the old rules (Art. 30(4) HO-11-N).

Extension

In the new version of Art. 14(8) there is no separate line for extension of temporary status, and the previous rate of 105,000 drams has been removed. Extensions are processed as a new status issue on the same grounds. We could not confirm which amount the platform will show at extension, so please check it in your account.

Who pays less

Art. 26 of the Law on State Duty exempts from the residence documentation fee, among others:

• Close relatives of an Armenian citizen: spouse, child, father, mother, sister, brother;
• Persons under 18 years of age;
• Foreigners who study at or teach in general and professional educational institutions;
• Specialists invited for work by the president, parliament, or government, and their family members.

Parents, spouses, children, sisters and brothers of such students and educators pay a 60% reduced fee. Under the new para. 7 of this article, the government may provide support to specific groups through full or partial payment of the duty. As of 11.11.2026, we did not find such enacted decisions.

How long to wait

If your legal stay expires while your application is under review, you may remain in the country until a decision is made (Art. 17(4)).

You may not always reapply after one year; exceptions include denials for outstanding criminal records, unenforced administrative penalties, expired or exhausted quotas. In these cases, you may apply again once the reason for refusal is eliminated (Art. 20(4)).

Duration of the card

The card's validity determines how often you pay the fee:

• Temporary status is granted for up to 1 year (Art. 15(2));
• For study grounds, the term is taken from the educational contract but may not exceed the maximum temporary status term (Art. 29.3(5) HO-11-N);
• For family grounds, for a child under 16, the term is set by the parent’s application or their status period (Art. 29.5(3));
• Permanent status is granted for 5 years (Art. 16(2)).

For business grounds, renewal is easier: when reapplying, the platform retrieves data itself from government databases confirming the business continues; if not available, you submit your own documents (Art. 29.4(4)). But the new fee still applies for each renewal.

Additional costs

The duty is not the only expense. As per the RA MFA checklist, your application must include:

• Passport with notarized translation into Armenian;
• Health certificate;
• Three 35×45 mm photographs;
• Supporting documents (with translation and legalization if needed).

Notary and clinic fees vary. No figures are given here: check with the service provider.

Refunds

The Law on State Duty (Art. 38) allows for refund if an agency refuses the requested action, unless otherwise provided by law. In the new version of Art. 14(8), the duty is expressly for reviewing the application. No clear rule exists for a refund in case of residence permit denial. Plan for no refund in case of refusal.

If your residence permit expires

Residence in Armenia without a valid status is prohibited. The fine under Art. 201(1) of the Code of Administrative Offences is from 50,000 to 100,000 drams (migration.e-gov.am). If you are denied and do not appeal or leave, the Migration Service will refer the case to court for expulsion. While an appeal is pending, you are not held liable under Art. 201(1).

How to pay the fee

The law allows for online payment in a manner determined by the government (Art. 14(3) of the Law on Foreigners). The platform verifies payment automatically through the Treasury database. Only pay using the details supplied by the platform. Receipts from other sites or intermediaries are not accepted as confirmation.

What is checked within 30 days

In these 30 days, the platform requests data from state databases (Art. 42.2 of the Law):

• Population and legal entities registries;
• State Revenue Committee: employee registration, assessed taxes;
• Civil Registry: marriage, birth;
• Cadastre: applicant’s housing or property;
• Border control: entries, exits, prior statuses;
• Ministry of Internal Affairs: criminal record and administrative offences;
• Education system and employment contract system.

Therefore, some documents are no longer demanded: the platform retrieves information itself. If data in the databases differs from your documents, the platform will request clarification. You have 5 days to respond.

Example calculation

For a family, calculate separately for each person. No duty is charged for children under 18.

What to do

1. Budget at least 155,950 drams for temporary and 255,950 drams for permanent status.
2. Check if you are eligible for exemption or reduction.
3. Pay only via the bank details provided by the platform.
4. Keep receipts and decisions regarding your application.
5. Apply for renewal in advance while your legal stay is valid.