Acquisition and Cessation of Armenian Citizenship

Any capable person, who is at least 18 years old and resides in the territory of Armenia or outside of Armenia, may apply to authorized state bodies for acquisition of the citizenship of Armenia if he:

1.has been lawfully residing in the territory of the Republic of Armenia for the preceding 3 years;

2.is proficient in the Armenian language;

3.is familiar with the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia.

Without observance of demands, stated in the first and the second clause, citizenship may be acquired by the person:

married with citizen of Armenia or having a child who is the citizen of the RA;

who has at least one parent that held citizenship of Armenia in the past or was born in Armenia, and filed an application for acquisition of the citizenship of Armenia within 3 years of attaining 18 years;

who waived citizenship of Armenia after 1 January 1995.

Persons who are Armenians by origin may acquire citizenship of Armenia in a simplified manner without observance of above listed demands.

Application for acquisition of citizenship of the Republic of Armenia must be submitted to authorized bodies personally.

The list of documents necessary for acquisition of the citizenship of Armenia:

-application;

-passport and its copy;

-6 photos (35 x 45);

-certificate of birth and its copy;

-certificate of marriage and its copy;

-passport of a spouse and its copy, or reference on the citizenship of spouse;

-certificate of birth of a child and its copy, or certificate confirming presence of Armenian citizenship and its copy, or passport of the RA and its copy;

-one of the documents, confirming Armenian origin;

-certificate on residence of a stateless person and its copy, or travel document and document confirming presence of residence status in Armenia and their copies;

-receipt confirming payment of the state duty.

Cessation of the citizenship of Armenia.

Citizenship of Armenia shall be ceased:

-in case of changing of the citizenship the RA;

-in case of loss of RA citizenship;

-in cases provided for by the international treaties of the Republic of Armenia.

Any citizen of the Republic of Armenia who is 18 years of age may change the citizenship by waiving the citizenship of the RA and acquiring the citizenship of another state. Renouncing the citizenship shall be prohibited, if person:

-has been indicted;

-has been convicted by the decision or sentence of court that is pending enforcement;

-if renunciation contravenes the national security interests of the Republic of Armenia;

-has unsettled obligations related to interests of State, commercial and non-governmental organizations, or citizens.

There is also a possibility to revoke the citizenship:

-if the person which has acquired the citizenship of the RA has been a permanent resident abroad and has failed to file for consular registration for 7 years without reasonable justification;

-if the citizenship has been acquired through false information or documents;

-if the person has acquired citizenship of another state in violation of the law relating to citizenship of RA.

The very fact of renunciation of the citizenship of the RA or acquisition of the citizenship of another state doesn’t cause cessation of the citizenship of Armenia. The citizenship of the RA shall be ceased by virtue of decree of the President of Armenia. 

The application for cessation of the citizenship of Armenia must be filed to Passport and Visa Department of Police of the RA personally. If citizen is abroad Armenia, he must file documents to diplomatic representations and consular establishments of the RA.

The following documents are necessary for cessation of the citizenship of Armenia:

-application;

-passport and a copy;

-6 photos (35 x 45);

-certificate of marriage and a copy;

-certificate of birth of a child and a copy;

-military card and military service registration certificate;

-certificate confirming acquisition of citizenship of another state;

-receipt confirming payment of state duty.

Passport and Visa Department or diplomatic representation (consular establishment) shall make requests to appropriate bodies within 10 days of granting application for cessation of the citizenship. In case of acquisition of the citizenship of another state, the citizen of the RA must notify Passport and Visa Department of Police of the RA of it. If the citizen resides in foreign countries, he is obliged to notify diplomatic representation or consular establishment.