A person receiving special residence status is issued a special passport, which allows them to freely enter the territory of the Republic of Armenia and reside in the Republic of Armenia without an entry visa.

A special residence permit is issued for a period of 10 years and can be issued more than once.

Foreigners who receive special residence status have equal rights, freedoms, and obligations to citizens of the Republic of Armenia, with the exception of the right to vote and the obligation to serve in the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia.

To obtain a special residence status in the Republic of Armenia, it is necessary to apply to the Department of Foreigners of the Migration and Citizenship Service of the Republic of Armenia.

• Address: Tairov 14, Yerevan
• Working days: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu 09:00-17:00, Fri: 10:00-17:00
• Closing time: 14:00-15:00

To obtain special residence status in a foreign country, the application must be submitted in person or by registered mail to the diplomatic mission or consular post of the Republic of Armenia.

If there is no embassy or consulate of the Republic of Armenia in the country of residence, the applicant may contact the nearest representative offices of the Republic of Armenia.

When applying for a special residence status in the Republic of Armenia, it is necessary to personally submit the following documents:

• Application in the name of the Head of the Passport and Visa Department (also known as the OVIR)
• Application form and its copy (3 copies)
• Document confirming legal residence in the Republic of Armenia: RA entry visa, residence card, RA special passport, a note on entry into the Republic of Armenia made by the border control body in the person’s document (4 copies)
• Document confirming Armenian nationality (4 copies)
• Passport or travel document and its notarized Armenian translation and copy (3 copies)
• 6 color photos measuring 5 cm x 4.5 cm
• State duty payment receipt (state duty amount: 150,000 AMD). The state duty for obtaining a special status can be paid on-site at a POS terminal or online through the State Electronic Payments System, as well as at any bank to the account number by making a transfer (treasury account number: 900005162111)

To obtain a special status of the Republic of Armenia, the following documents must be submitted in person or by registered mail to the diplomatic mission of the Republic of Armenia:

• An application questionnaire addressed to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia
• A letter addressed to the head of the diplomatic mission or consular post of the Republic of Armenia, which must contain the following information:
  • Current and previous (if any) citizenship
  • Motivations for applying for a special residence status
  • Profession and work
  • Visits to Armenia
  • Previous residence statuses in the Republic of Armenia (if any)
  • The presence of a criminal record (if any)
• Passport or travel document and its notarized Armenian translation
• 6 color photographs measuring 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm
• Document confirming Armenian nationality
• Receipt of state duty payment (state duty is not charged for persons under 18 years of age). The state fee can be paid online through the State Electronic Payment System.

One of the following documents must be submitted as a document confirming nationality:

• A baptism certificate issued by a church institution, certified by an embassy or consular institution, with a note that the baptized person or his/her parent is of Armenian nationality
• A document confirming that the baptized person is of Armenian nationality, issued by the competent authorities of a foreign country and certified by an apostille or consular authentication
• Another document substantiating the fact of being of Armenian nationality, certified by an embassy or consular institution
• A parent’s (or grandfather, grandmother, sister, or brother’s) birth certificate or another identity document in which there is a note about being of Armenian nationality.
  • A birth certificate of a half-brother or half-sister or another document confirming nationality may serve as a document confirming nationality for a person if the nationality of their common parent determines the brother or sister’s Armenian nationality.
  • These documents must also be accompanied by a certificate from the competent state authorities substantiating the person’s kinship. 
• Documents confirming Armenian nationality are also considered passports and birth certificates containing a note stating that one is Armenian.

In case of being a minor, it is also necessary to present the passport of the parent or legal representative and a document confirming the family relationship.

If the application is submitted by an authorized person, it is also necessary to submit a power of attorney and the authorized person's passport.

The special passport is issued within 60 days.

If a person has lost their special passport of the Republic of Armenia or if it is no longer suitable for use, they can obtain a new special passport by applying to:

• In Armenia: The Passport Department (also known as the OVIR).
• Abroad: The diplomatic mission or consular office of the Republic of Armenia. (Documents can be submitted in person or by registered mail)

To exchange a special passport in Armenia, the following documents must be submitted:

• Application addressed to the Head of the Passport and Visa Department (also known as the OVIR)
• Photocopies of the pages of the national passport with a photo, personal and validity data
• Two 35x45mm color photos with a light background
• Photocopy of the lost special passport (if any)
• Receipt of the state duty payment for a new special passport of the Republic of Armenia (75,000 AMD). The state duty can be paid on-site at a POS terminal or online through the State Electronic Payments System, as well as at any bank by transferring to the account (treasury account number: 900005162111).

To exchange a special passport abroad, the following documents must be submitted:

• A letter addressed to the head of the diplomatic mission or consular post of the Republic of Armenia with a request to receive a new special passport of the Republic of Armenia
• Photocopies of the pages of the national passport with a photo, personal data, and validity data
• Two 35x45mm color photographs with a light background
• A photocopy of the lost special passport (if any)
• A receipt for payment of the state fee established for a new special passport of the Republic of Armenia (75,000 AMD). The state fee can be paid online through the Electronic State Payment System.

The special passport of the Republic of Armenia is issued with the same validity as the lost or unusable passport.

A foreigner may be denied residence status if he or she has been deported from the Republic of Armenia or deprived of residence status, has committed a crime, or intended to harm the state security of the Republic of Armenia, has illegally transported weapons or drugs across the border, has provided false information about themselves in order to obtain a residence permit, as well as in other cases prescribed by law.