Armenia visa and entry rules for newcomers

Visa-free stay is not a residence permit

Visa-free entry currently covers 111–113 nationalities for up to 180 days a year, and that's extended through July 2027. But it only buys you time as a visitor — it doesn't give you the right to work, study long-term, or run a business-based residence setup. If an employer wants to hire you, they still have to register you through workpermit.am before you can work legally. A residence card is a completely separate process with its own qualifying ground. That pattern is changing for some travelers: from November 1, 2026, anyone who needs a visa just to enter Armenia will also need a separate Work Entry Visa (about 15,000 AMD / $40, arranged before arrival) to take a local job — arriving as a tourist and getting sponsored on the spot won't work for that group anymore. It doesn't affect the ~113 nationalities who already enter visa-free; and since this piece is tied to Armenia's e-visa system going live, the exact start could land slightly after November 1 — worth confirming closer to the date.

Check these before you travel

If you need more time

A fine is not permission to overstay — don't treat it that way. If you need an extension or you're moving toward a residence permit, contact Armenia's Migration and Citizenship Service before your permitted stay ends, and hold on to proof of whatever you submitted or any appointment you booked.

Travelling on an Iranian passport

Iranians get visa-free entry for 90 days under the Iran–Armenia bilateral agreement — that's a separate rule from the general 180-day scheme other nationalities get, so don't assume the bigger number applies to you. Keep your first address, insurance and a return or onward plan ready, and remember: tourist entry, visa-free or not, is never permission to work or settle long-term.