Who is considered a refugee?

• People who have left their country of origin or permanent residence and cannot or do not want to return due to a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
• People who have fled their country because of external aggression, internal conflicts, mass human rights violations, widespread violence, or serious public disorder.

You must submit an application to receive refugee status or asylum in Armenia. After your application is registered and sent to the Migration and Citizenship Service, an interview will be conducted to learn why you left your country.

Required Documents

You will fill out an application on the spot. You should also provide:

• identification document,
• photo.
  

Payment Amount and Procedure

Refugee status is granted free of charge in Armenia.

Delivery Period and Procedure

Your application will be reviewed within 3 months after submission. This period can be extended by another 3 months if necessary. You will receive the decision from the Migration and Citizenship Service or via email.

If your application is approved, you can apply for an Armenian citizen's passport.

To request asylum in Armenia, you can contact the Border Guard Troops of the Republic of Armenia at any of the following official border checkpoints and airports:

• Bavra (Armenia–Georgia land border),

• Bagratashen (Armenia–Georgia land border),

• Meghri (Armenia–Iran land border),

• Ayrum (Armenia–Georgia railway border),

• Gogavan (Armenia–Georgia land border),

• Zvartnots International Airport,

• Shirak Airport.

Rejection cases

The Migration and Citizenship Service may reject the application or apply exclusion clauses in certain cases, such as:

• crimes against peace or humanity,

• war crimes or other serious offenses,

• acts contrary to the United Nations principles,

• arrival from a safe third country without a well-founded fear of persecution.

If your application is rejected:

• You will be considered an irregular migrant after receiving the rejection notice and must leave the country within 2 months, if you do not appeal the decision.
• If you appeal the decision, you will retain the status of an asylum seeker until the final court decision and have the right to stay in Armenia legally, live in a Special Accommodation Center, and access available services.
• You can apply for free legal assistance from the Public Defender’s Office under the Chamber of Advocates to appeal the decision in court.