Visa-Free Entry to Armenia: Rules, Border Points and Longer Stays

Who enters Armenia visa-free

Visa-free access depends on your citizenship, and the two largest groups of our clients enjoy the most generous terms:

• China: up to 90 days within any 180-day period under the mutual visa-free agreement in force since 2020 — ordinary passport, no invitation needed
• Russia: up to 180 days per year, and entry is possible even with an internal (domestic) passport
• Most CIS countries: visa-free entry under bilateral arrangements
• EU, US and many other nationalities: short visa-free stays depending on nationality, or the e-visa at evisa.mfa.am

Understanding the 90/180 rule

For Chinese citizens the rule is a rolling window: within any 180-day period you may spend at most 90 days in Armenia. Short trips in and out reset the practical capacity, but overstay is a real violation with fines and possible entry consequences. Count your days carefully if you shuttle between countries — and if your plans extend beyond 90 days, start a residence permit process before the window closes, not after.

Entry points: air and land

Most travellers arrive by air through Zvartnots International Airport (EVN) in Yerevan, with Shirak Airport (LWN) in Gyumri as a smaller alternative. The land borders with Georgia and Iran are open and commonly used: the Georgia route is popular with overland travellers and drivers, while the Iran route serves trade traffic from the south. Border formalities are simple, but you will need your passport (Russians may use an internal passport) and, for longer stays later, documents you should keep in order — we advise clients on what to prepare before flying.

E-visa for those who need one

Nationals who are not visa-exempt apply through the official e-visa portal (evisa.mfa.am) — an online process for short visits, tourism and business trips. Requirements and processing details change, so verify the current conditions for your passport before booking. GF Help checks your eligibility and prepares supporting documents where needed.

Staying longer: the residence permit route

A visa-free stay is a visit; a residence permit is a life. If you want to remain in Armenia beyond your visa-free days, you need a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP): issued for up to one year, renewable, with grounds including work, business, study and family ties. A Permanent Residence Permit (PRP) covers significant business/investment activity, close family of citizens, Armenian origin and special contributions, and is renewed every 10 years.

Applications are filed at the Passport & Visa Department of the Police (OVIR) in Yerevan before your current status expires. The typical package: passport with notarized Armenian translation, application form, photo, documents proving your grounds, and a state fee. Our team prepares the file and accompanies the process end to end.

Practical tips before you fly

Three habits save most problems: keep your passport validity comfortably long; track your day count in the 180-day window; and if you plan anything beyond tourism — banking, a company, school — get your PSN and translations started early, since most procedures build on them. Rules change over time — we verify the current regime for your citizenship during a free consultation.