How to Get Armenia CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 3 years
- Language
- Required, no test
- Dual citizenship
- Accepted
- Civic test
- Required, no test specified
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- No income condition in the law
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Accepted in both directionsNew citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship.Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship.
- Available routes
- Region
- Asia
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
Residence in Armenia is the basis of this route, together with the other conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
- Residence
- 3 years
Person has been lawfully resident in Armenia for 3 years.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Language
- Required, no test or certificate specified
Proficiency in the Armenian language required.
- Civic knowledge
- Required, no test specified
Familiarity with the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia required.
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Person's activities do not violate and there is no reasonable suspicion that they may violate state and social security, public order, protection of the public health and traditions or rights, freedoms, dignity and good reputation of others.
- Income or economic resources
- No income condition in the law
Marriage or civil partnership
Marriage to a citizen of Armenia is the basis of this route, together with the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is married to a citizen for at least two years and has resided in Armenia for at least 365 days. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except residence requirement and language proficiency).
Descent (citizen parent)
For a person with a parent who is a citizen of Armenia, the rules below set out how this route works. The law of Armenia confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born to parents who are both citizens or to a parent who is a citizen and the other parent is unknown or stateless. If one parent is a citizen and the other parent is a foreigner, the child acquires citizenship based on a written consent. In the absence of written consent, the child acquires citizenship if s/he is otherwise stateless, or both parents reside permanently in Armenia.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born to parents who are both citizens or to a parent who is a citizen and the other parent is unknown or stateless. If one parent is a citizen and the other parent is a foreigner, the child acquires citizenship based on a written consent. In the absence of written consent, the child acquires citizenship if she or he is otherwise stateless, or both parents reside permanently in Armenia.
Child of a new citizen
This route covers children of a person who becomes a citizen of Armenia, subject to the conditions below.
Transfer to a child
Person has a father and/or mother who is/are citizens. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except residence requirement and language proficiency).
Child coacquisition
Person is under 18 years old and both parents are acquiring citizenship of the country. If one parent is a foreigner or stateless person the consent of both parents is required, unless the child resides in the country and the parent who is a citizen gives his/her consent. If child is 14-18 years old, the child's consent is required.
Adoption
For people adopted by citizens of Armenia, the rules below set out what applies. The law of Armenia confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Person is a child both whose adoptive parents are citizens. If one parent is a foreigner, the child acquires citizenship if a) both parents give their consent, or b) the child resides in the country, or c) the child would otherwise be stateless.
Other family members of citizens
This route covers certain family members not covered by the marriage or descent routes in Armenia. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Transfer to other relatives
Person has a child who is a citizen. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except residence requirement and language proficiency).
Transfer from former citizen
Person is the child of a parent(s) who held citizenship of the country in the past and must permanently reside in the country during the previous year at the time of application. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except residence requirement).
Former citizens (reacquisition)
This route covers people who previously held citizenship of Armenia, subject to the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is (1) a citizen of the former Armenian SSR permanently residing on the territory of the Republic of Armenia, who until the enactment of the Constitution has not acquired citizenship of another State or has rejected that citizenship within 1 year from the day of the enactment of the Armenian Citizenship Law. Or person is (2) a former citizen of the Armenian SSR, who lives outside the Republic of Armenia and has not acquired another citizenship. Or person has (3) lost citizenship of Armenia unless s/he was deprived of it. Or (4) person renounced citizenship after 1995 (exemption from residence and language requirements). Or (5) person has renounced Armenian citizenship in order to acquire another citizenship, but has not received citizenship of another country.
Citizens of specific countries
For citizens of certain countries, the law of Armenia sets separate rules, shown below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is a stateless person or former citizen of another USSR republic, is not a foreign citizen, permanently residing in Armenia and applied for citizenship before 31 December 2019.
Ethnic or cultural affinity
This route covers people with an ethnic or cultural link to Armenia, subject to the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is Armenian by origin and has resided in Armenia. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except residence requirement).
Person has ancestors who were Armenian by ethnic origin.
Person is an ethnic Armenian child who takes up permanent residence in Armenia.
Refugees
This route covers people recognised as refugees in Armenia, subject to the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is a recognised refugee. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except residence requirement and language requirement).
Stateless persons
Statelessness, or the risk of it, is the basis of this route in Armenia. The law of Armenia confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Foundlings
Person is a child is found in Armenia of unknown parentage. This can be changed in case of discovery of at least one of the parents or a trustee.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in Armenia to stateless parents or parents whose nationality is unknown or parents who cannot transfer their citizenship to their child.
Special achievements
For people whose achievements or contributions are recognised by Armenia, the rules below set out what applies. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person has provided exceptional services to the country, or services in the fields of economy, science, education, culture, healthcare, persons with a significant contribution in the fields of sports. No other conditions.
Not available in Armenia: Birth in the country, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Public or military service, Investment. Coded by GLOBALCIT for 1 January 2024 and updated with in-force changes.
Dual citizenship
Both groups can hold a second citizenship under the law of Armenia: new citizens, and citizens who naturalise abroad.
- New citizens
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship
Compare with neighbours
A shorter period of 3 years is set under the law of Armenia, compared with the most common 5 years in Western Asia.
See how Armenia compares with every country in the residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Azerbaijan | 5 years | Test or certificate | New citizens only |
 Israel | 3 years | Required, no test | Citizens abroad only |
 Jordan | 4 years | Required, no test | Citizens abroad only |
 Lebanon | 5 years | None | Accepted |
 Saudi Arabia | 5 years | None | Not accepted |
 Syria | 5 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 13.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Armenia Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/armenia/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/armenia/">How to Get Armenia Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become an Armenian citizen?
The residence period for ordinary naturalisation in Armenia is 3 years. Other legal conditions also apply.
Does Armenia allow dual citizenship?
Yes, in both directions: new citizens and citizens who naturalise abroad can hold another citizenship.
Do I need a language test for Armenian citizenship?
Language ability is required for Armenian citizenship, though no test or certificate is specified.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Armenian citizenship?
Civic knowledge is required for Armenian citizenship, though no specific test is defined.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Armenian citizenship?
There is no obligation to renounce your current citizenship to get Armenian citizenship. The law of your current country may have its own rules on this.
Can I get Armenia citizenship by marriage?
Yes, Armenia provides a marriage route. Procedure: discretionary.
Can I get Armenia citizenship by descent?
Yes, the law of Armenia provides citizenship by descent from a citizen parent. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Armenia citizenship by investment?
The data shows no investment route for Armenia.
Related pages
Also see: Armenia passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.