Armenia: Significant Immigration Law Reforms Forthcoming
March 10, 2026
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At a Glance
- Effective August 1, 2026, Armenia will introduce significant immigration law reforms including, among several other reforms:
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- establishing a work visa system;
- removing labor market testing for work authorizations;
- introducing a quota on foreign workers; and
- introducing new notification rules for temporary residence permit holders who change employers.
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Update – March 10, 2026: This law is now scheduled to go into effect on November 1, 2026.
The situation
Effective August 1, 2026, Armenia will introduce significant immigration law reforms including establishing a work visa system, removing labor market testing, introducing new change-of-employer notification rules for temporary residence permit holders, and introducing a quota on foreign workers, among several other reforms.
Update – March 10, 2026: This law is now scheduled to go into effect on November 1, 2026.
A closer look
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Work visa system to be established.
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Labor market testing. Labor market testing will no longer be necessary as part of the work authorization application process. It remains to be confirmed whether this will also mean the current requirement for an interview with a migration inspector ceases. |
This reform will make sourcing foreign nationals considerably easier for employers, given they will no longer need to prove that an Armenia national is not available to fill the role. That said, as discussed below, this liberal reform is offset somewhat by the introduction of a quota on foreign workers. |
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Quota. An annual state-level quota on foreign workers will be introduced. Specific details remain to be announced. Currently, Armenia has no quota on foreign workers. |
Subject to further details, this reform is likely to make it harder for certain employers to source foreign nationals, especially in sectors where foreign nationals already make up a sizeable portion of the labor market. |
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Online-only residence permit application requirements. Applications for all residence permit types will need to be submitted online. Applications for work-based residence permits will be submitted on the government online portal, and other types of residence permits will be submitted via a different website that has not yet been announced. In person or paper applications will no longer be accepted. |
The residence permit process will be simplified. Foreign nationals will be able to avoid unnecessary queues by submitting applications exclusively online and by receiving updates on the status of their applications through the same platform. Overall, this will facilitate more efficient communication between applicants and the Migration Service. |
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Temporary residence permit through business activity. The requirements for obtaining a temporary residence permit through business activity will be revised so that applicants must either:
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Under the current legislation, no minimum investment amount is specified, which makes the outcome of residence status applications unpredictable and grants the migration authorities broad discretionary powers in decision-making. The reforms will introduce clear minimum thresholds to ensure consistency in granting residence status.
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Notification requirements:
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Other changes include:
- To obtain a residence card, a foreign national must visit Armenia, have their fingerprints and electronic signature taken (not currently required), and then personally collect the residence card.
- Foreign investors and “exceptional individuals” will be eligible for a permanent residence permit without first obtaining a temporary residence permit; a temporary residence permit will be created for individuals engaged in scientific or innovative activity. Applicants will need to obtain an employment contract from an accredited scientific institution in Armenia; and the “Special Residence Status” – a 10-year residence permit – will be abolished (permits issued before August 1, 2026 will remain valid until expiry).
Background
The government is pursuing a policy of digitalization across all sectors to reduce direct contact between state authorities and citizens, minimize bureaucracy and simplify the process of submitting documents. The migration sector is included in this digitalization initiative.
Looking ahead
Before this law comes into force, the government must issue additional implementing decisions, which will provide more detailed regulations (for example, investment criteria, the list of documents required to obtain permanent residence, procedures for applying for a residence permit). These implementation decisions are expected to be issued in mid-2026.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
