Armenia has a growing and diverse economy that’s very open to expats, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to expand and bring international workers to Armenia. Your employees will need an Armenian work visa and a work permit unless they fall under a category that exempts them from work permit requirements.
Types of work visas in Armenia
Some nationals from other countries do not need an Armenian working visa, including citizens from the U.S., Australia, Spain, Sweden, and more. However, most people will need to apply for one of the following visas:
- Official visa: This visa is further broken down into types. It is available as a single-entry or multiple-entry option depending on the applicant’s needs and are valid for 3 years and 1 year, respectively.
- Diplomatic visa: Anyone with a diplomatic passport or status can apply for one of these visa types. Multiple-entry options are valid for 3 years, single- and multiple-entry visas are valid for 1 year, and a single-entry visa is valid for 120 days.
- Transit visa: This single- or multiple-entry visa is valid for 1 year and allows individuals to stay in Armenia for no more than 3 days. It’s ideal for people traveling through Armenia to another destination.
- Visitor visa: A visitor visa is issued when an international traveler intends to enter the Republic of Armenia for the purposes of tourism, visiting relatives or other persons, business, transportation and other professional interest, medical treatment, or another short-term stay. Visitor visas are issued for a single entry or for multiple entries with validity of 1 year.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia issues and extends all official, diplomatic, and e-visas. The Passport and Visa Department of the Police of Armenia handles visitor and transit visas.
Requirements to obtain Armenia work visas
Each international employee will also need a work permit in Armenia to legally work for your company unless they are a highly skilled international specialist, business owner, or executive. As an employer, you’re required to first look for Armenian citizens for the job. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MLSA) will conduct a test of the labor market in Armenia to make sure there aren’t any qualified or available local workers.
If the MLSA can’t find any suitable candidates or you’ve presented valid reasons as to why those employees do not fit the role, you can apply for a work permit on behalf of an international worker. Work permits have a fixed term, but you can renew them upon request. Once the national from another country receives their work permit, they’ll need to apply for a temporary residence permit with the Passport and Visa Department.
Application process
You must submit certain documents to the MLSA to obtain a work permit on behalf of your team members, including the following:
- An application form
- The employee’s passport
- A diploma showing education or qualification for the job
- 2 photos
- Proof of payment of the government’s fees
A work permit costs about AMD 25,000, or roughly USD 65. The temporary residence permit is AMD 105,000, or approximately USD 275. Once the MLSA receives these documents, they can issue a work permit in as few as 14 business days.
Other important considerations
Armenia has strict penalties related to work permits. If you fail to get a work permit for your team members, you could face a monetary fine of AMD 100,000-150,000. Also, if employees overstay their visa, they could get fined AMD 50,000-100,000. Once your team members obtain their work permit, you must cover costs such as return travel, living, personal property transportation, as well as family members’ expenses.
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