To obtain a return certificate, a person abroad can apply in person or through an authorized representative to the Armenian embassy or consulate in the respective country by making an appointment in advance.

When booking an appointment, it is necessary to provide the details of the person who will attend the appointment in person.

• Select the embassy’s website of the country where the application will be submitted,
• On the left side of the page, click the "Book Appointment" button,
• In the pop-up window, choose the "Return Certificate Issuance" option,
• Select the most convenient available date and time,
• Complete the personal information and confirm the appointment.

Required Documents

Following documents must be submitted to the relevant embassy:

• Application form
• Two 35x45 mm photos
• Payment receipt for the state fee

If available, it is also desirable to submit:

• A copy of the expired, unsuitable, lost, or stolen document granting the right to cross the border (Armenian citizen's passport or travel document issued by Armenia),
• A certificate from the local police or another competent authority regarding the loss or theft of the passport, or loss due to robbery, other crimes, or any disaster.

If applying through an authorized representative, the representative must also submit:

• Power of attorney (notarization is not mandatory)
• Original ID document of the representative.

Payment Amount and Procedure

The fee for obtaining the return certificate to Armenia is 20,000 AMD. The payment must be made online.

Delivery Period and Procedure

The return certificate is issued within 1 working day.

After receiving the inquiry, the person is identified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, and the response regarding the return certificate is sent to the embassy or consulate handling the person’s application. The person will be notified of the decision regarding the issuance of the certificate, and then the certificate can be collected from the respective embassy or consulate.

The return certificate can be used within 30 days from the date it is issued.

Attention

If there is doubt about the identity of the person depicted in the expired or unsuitable passport, the consular institution will send an electronic inquiry to the passport department. In this case, the certificate will be issued within 5-15 working days due to additional verification procedures.

Free Issuance of the Return Certificate

The return certificate is issued free of charge in the following cases:

• For Armenian citizens who have never obtained an Armenian passport,
• For Armenian citizens who are under 16 years old or over 63 years old,
• For Armenian citizens subject to expulsion from a foreign country,
• For individuals who have applied for an Armenian passport or replacement but have not received it yet,
• For Armenian citizens leaving for mandatory military service, training, or national assembly participation,
• For Armenian citizens from a large family (families with 4 or more minor children),
• For Armenian citizens with disabilities of the first and second groups,
• For Armenian citizens leaving or transferring based on decisions from Armenian courts or other competent authorities,
• For Armenian citizens released from foreign state prisons,
• For Armenian citizens deprived of their passports due to theft or other crime, natural or man-made disasters, political upheaval, or war situations, if a document proving this circumstance is submitted or if the case is publicly known,
• For Armenian citizens whose country of permanent residence has been affected by an emergency situation threatening the life or health of citizens.

Reference to Legislation

Decision No. 297-N of the Government of Armenia, dated March 24, 2011
The decision can be found on arlis.am.