Quick answer (official sources checked on 2 November 2026; AMD = Armenian dram)
- Who qualifies: a foreign worker with an employer registered in Armenia; the employer files (its director or an authorised person). Exempt from the permission: permanent residents; temporary residents on study, family, entrepreneurial or ethnic-Armenian grounds; EAEU citizens, who must instead obtain a certificate of lawful residence.
- State duty: AMD 150,000 to review + AMD 5,950 for the card = AMD 155,950; not refunded if refused.
- Tabsi Travel fee: request a quote.
- Timeline: statutory decision within 30 days of filing, subject to the annual quota; no post-reform practice data yet.
- In person? Filing is online by the employer; your identity is checked by face recognition; then one in-person appointment after the preliminary review and card collection in person with fingerprints in Yerevan.
- Legal status: the new law applies from 1 November 2026; the work entry visa (120 days) is not yet issued — it waits for the new e-visa system.
- Entry: a visitor e-Visa (21 or 120 days) does not permit employment, and applying for employment residence after entering on one, without changing visa type, is now a refusal ground.
Or call +374 33 099171 or send the contact form.
What changed on 1 November 2026: there is no "work permit" any more
Law HO-11-N, adopted on 20 January 2026 and signed on 12 February 2026, entered into force on 1 November 2026 (law firms and press report the start was postponed from 1 August). It deleted the term "work permit" from the Law "On Foreigners". The legal object is now a permission to stay or reside in Armenia for the purpose of employment — an electronic confirmation on the government platform — plus employment-based temporary residence of up to one year. workpermit.am shows a closure notice; the Migration and Citizenship Service (MCS, part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs) now runs mcs-permits.am, which has an Armenian-language interface only. migration.e-gov.am and the "Early One" app stopped serving residence matters the same day.
Two parts are deferred: the work entry visa and the employment-permission articles apply only once Armenia launches its new electronic entry-visa system, and we found no launch announcement on 2 November 2026. Applications filed before 1 November are decided under the old rules, and existing documents stay valid until expiry. Some law firms report an MCS tolerance for stays that lapsed between 15 July and 31 October 2026 if a new application is filed by 31 December 2026 — reported, not published law. Table 1 covers the employment rules only; read the new residence rules from 1 November 2026 for the full list.
| Topic | Until 31 Oct 2026 | From 1 Nov 2026 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal term | "work permit" | electronic employment permission + employment-based temporary residence | Official |
| Platform | workpermit.am | mcs-permits.am (Armenian only) | Official |
| Labour-market test | vacancy posted 15 working days | abolished | Official |
| Annual quota | none | set by the Government; exhaustion is a refusal ground; numbers not published | Official (mechanism) · Not yet announced (numbers) |
| Founders and directors of majority-foreign companies | exempt | need the permission or entrepreneurial residence | Official |
| Residence term | 1 year, "renewable" | up to 1 year; continuation = new application | Official |
| Work entry visa | none | 120 days, once a year; deferred until the new e-visa system | Official (text) · Not yet announced (launch) |
| State duty | AMD 105,000 incl. card | AMD 150,000 + 5,950 card; not refunded | Official |
Who needs the employment permission, and who is exempt
Any foreigner working for an employer in Armenia needs the permission unless Article 23(1) lists them (14 categories; the practical ones are in Table 2). Several old exemptions were removed on 1 November 2026, and the law contains no IT or "highly qualified specialist" exemption — one law firm says such specialists stay exempt under Government criteria, but the text in force has no such clause.
EAEU citizens (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan) work without the permission but must apply for a certificate of lawful residence immediately after signing a contract (duty AMD 35,950). This does not apply to Indian or other non-EAEU nationals.
Scale: in the first half of 2026 Armenia granted 8,181 temporary residence statuses, 6,085 of them on employment grounds; India was among the top three nationalities for temporary residence and the top four for employment-based applications, though no India count is published. Residence through a company is exempt from the permission — see residence through company registration.
| Group | Needs the permission? | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employee of an Armenian employer | Yes | employer files on mcs-permits.am | Official |
| Permanent residence holders | No | Art. 23(1) | Official |
| Temporary residents on study, family, entrepreneurial or ethnic-Armenian grounds | No, within the residence validity | Art. 23(1) point 2 | Official |
| Founders and executive heads of foreign-owned companies | Yes | exemption removed 1 Nov 2026 | Official |
| Branch or representative-office staff, invited lecturers, athletes, recent graduates, "highly qualified" or IT specialists | Yes | exemptions removed; no IT list exists | Official |
| EAEU citizens | No, but a certificate of lawful residence and duty | Art. 7(3) | Official |
| Touring performers, accredited foreign media, treaty specialists | No | Art. 23(1) | Official |
Step by step on mcs-permits.am (employer-led)
The employer, not the worker, opens and owns the case, and the platform has no English interface. Self-registration without an employer is open only to EAEU citizens with a contract, foreign individual entrepreneurs, investors of at least AMD 5 million and ethnic Armenians. If you went through this before, note that the consent step at the former Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs no longer exists; that ministry is now the Ministry of Labor and Welfare, and the MCS runs the whole process.
| Step | Who | Where | Deadline or note | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Register with strict identification | Employer | mcs-permits.am | Armenian interface only | Official |
| 2. Add the employee: passport, e-mail, phone, 3×4 photo | Employer | "Human resources › Employees" | — | Official |
| 3. Accept the e-mail invitation; identity check by face recognition | Worker | own page | — | Official |
| 4. Complete the working-conditions questionnaire; create the application | Employer | platform | — | Official |
| 5. Pay the state duty | Employer or worker | platform | MCS reviews only after payment | Official |
| 6. Preliminary online review; in-person appointment scheduled | MCS, worker | in person | required actions not done within 5 days → case auto-suspended; stay remains lawful | Official |
| 7. Decision | MCS | — | within 30 days of filing, subject to the quota | Official |
| 8. Collect the card and the legality certificate | Worker | in person; location not stated | fingerprints and e-signature sample given | Official (steps) · Not yet announced (location) |
| 9. Sign the employment or service contract | Employer and worker | — | within 15 working days of the status, or the status is refused or terminated | Official |
The interface is Armenian-only; we follow the case to the card. Hiring from India? We also prepare the worker's document set.
Entering Armenia to work: the e-Visa is a visitor visa
Indian ordinary-passport holders need a visa; only diplomatic passports are visa-free (30 days). evisa.mfa.am issues two visitor visas — "Short-Term (21 days)", USD 8, and "Long-Term (120 days)", USD 39, non-refundable, normally processed in three working days. "Business" is a purpose option; "work" is not. How to apply is on our page about the Armenia e-Visa for Indian citizens.
The Embassy of India in Yerevan states: "Visitor visa does not permit employment in Armenia and Armenian authorities do not issue work permits to Indian nationals coming to Armenia on such visas." Since 1 November 2026 Armenian law says the same: entering on a visitor, official, diplomatic or transit visa and applying for employment residence without changing visa type is a refusal ground (Article 19(1)(10)). The document the law intends for workers is the work entry visa — up to 120 days, single or multiple entry, no extension, once per calendar year — but it is not yet issued, and its reported AMD 15,000 duty (from 1 January 2027) is not in the duty schedule in force. Visa on arrival and the July 2026 – July 2027 exemption (Table 5) are entry measures for Indians with qualifying foreign permits; neither gives a right to work.
Scam warning (Embassy of India, Yerevan): fraudulent agents in India and Armenia charge large sums promising jobs and "visa facilitation". Verify the agent and the company before accepting any offer. Until the work visa exists, confirm the correct entry route for your case with the MCS (+374 10 300 159, mcs@gov.am) or with us before you travel.
| Route | What it allows | Employment residence? | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor e-Visa, 21 days (USD 8) or 120 days (USD 39) | tourism, visits, business meetings | No — refusal ground unless the visa type is changed | Official |
| Visa on arrival (qualifying US, EU/Schengen, UK, Canada, Russia, Australia, NZ, Korea, Japan visa or GCC permit) | entry as a visitor | No — same as a visitor visa | Official |
| Temporary exemption 1 Jul 2026 – 1 Jul 2027 (qualifying residence permit valid 6+ months, physical card or sticker) | stay up to 180 days in a year | No — no work right attached | Official |
| Work entry visa (120 days, once per year, no extension) | short-term work; in-country filing; collecting the card | Yes — the route the law intends | Official (text) · Not yet announced (not issued) |
| Employer-led filing before travel | permission and residence arranged by the employer | Interim practice while the visa is deferred: confirm with the MCS | Not yet announced |
Documents from India: apostille, PCC and Armenian translation
India and Armenia are both parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, and Armenia raised no objection to India's accession, so an apostille from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is enough — no Armenian consular legalisation. The MEA's CPV Division in New Delhi charges INR 50 per document; e-Sanad is the online channel. According to the Armenian Ministry of Justice page, Armenia apostilles only Armenian-issued documents, so apostille Indian papers in India before you leave.
A Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) comes from Passport Seva in India (it "cannot be issued for persons going abroad on Tourist Visa"); Indians already in Armenia apply through the Embassy of India in Yerevan, which issues it after clearances from India, fee in cash in AMD, no appointment. The fee is not published consistently — ask the embassy. Notarised translation into Armenian costs AMD 10,000 (USD 26) per page at Armenian consulates.
The MCS has not yet published a post-reform checklist, and which Indian documents beyond the passport must be translated for the employer's filing is not published. The pre-reform official list: application form, three colour photos 35×45 mm, passport with copy and notarised Armenian translation, documents substantiating the ground, medical certificate, duty receipt. The general checklist is in our Armenia residence permit guide.
| Document | Where obtained | Legalisation | Fee (official) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passport and copy | — | notarised Armenian translation | AMD 10,000 per page (consulate rate) | Official |
| Degree, experience letters, other Indian public documents | issuing body | MEA apostille (e-Sanad), then Armenian translation | INR 50 per document | Official; which documents are required: not yet announced |
| Police Clearance Certificate | Passport Seva (India) or Embassy of India, Yerevan | not published | not published consistently | Official procedure; whether required: not yet announced |
| Medical certificate | clinic | — | — | Pre-reform list; confirm |
| Photos | — | three 35×45 mm (old list) and a 3×4 digital photo for the platform | — | Official |
State duty and costs
The Law "On State Duty" sets a base duty of AMD 1,000; reviewing a temporary residence application costs 150× (AMD 150,000) and the card 5.95× (AMD 5,950). The Ministry of Internal Affairs stated on 6 October 2026 that the duty is no longer refunded if the application is refused. The old fee of AMD 105,000 still appears on the MCS's not-yet-updated employment page. The full cost of Armenian residence by route is on its own page.
| Item | Amount (AMD) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Review of the temporary residence application | 150,000 | Official |
| Residence card | 5,950 | Official (law text) |
| Total state duty | 155,950 — not refunded if refused | Official (MIA statement) |
| Old duty until 31 Oct 2026 | 105,000 incl. card — no longer applies | Official (superseded) |
| EAEU certificate of lawful residence (review + issue) | 30,000 + 5,950 = 35,950 | Official |
| Work entry visa | 15,000 reported from 1 Jan 2027; visa not yet issued | Reported, not yet official |
| Translation into Armenian, notarised (consulate rate) | 10,000 per page | Official |
| Medical certificate, notary in Armenia | ask for current prices | — |
| Tabsi Travel service fee | request a quote | — |
How long it takes
The law gives the MCS 30 days from filing to decide, taking the annual quota into account. That is a decision deadline, not an end-to-end time: add the employer's registration, the duty payment (review starts only after it), the in-person appointment and card collection. Under the old regime the MCS said the card was issued within 30 days of the employer's filing; one law firm reported 8–12 weeks end to end. No practice data exist for filings after 1 November 2026, so we do not quote a total. Your stay remains lawful while the case is pending.
Keeping your status: contracts, changing employer, re-applying
- Sign within 15 working days. No employment or service contract within 15 working days of obtaining the status is a ground for refusal or termination.
- Job ends early: you have 15 working days to sign a new contract through the digital employment-contract system, or the status is terminated; law-firm guidance treats day 16 onward as an overstay.
- Contract limits: the term may not exceed your residence validity; a contract is refused if the job legally requires Armenian citizenship, documents are false, or the employer previously breached foreign-hiring rules. If the promised job is not provided, the employer is liable for your living, relocation and return costs.
- No extension: temporary residence is granted for up to one year and the "renewable" wording was deleted — file a new application before expiry (see re-applying when your residence expires). Absence of 183 days or more must be notified through the platform within 10 days.
Permanent residence: there is no employment ground. Permanent status on entrepreneurial or family grounds requires three years of temporary status within the last five.
Indian business owners: the founder exemption is gone
Until 31 October 2026 founders and executive heads of companies with more than 50 % foreign voting capital could work without a permit; that exemption is gone. An Indian owner-director now needs either the employment permission, with your own company filing as the employer on mcs-permits.am, or entrepreneurship-based residence, which is itself exempt. The thresholds: an individual entrepreneur with at least AMD 1 million turnover in the previous reporting period or AMD 1 million in a bank account (mcs-permits.am), or a legal entity applying for its foreign owners, which by law needs at least AMD 2,000,000 invested in its charter capital — see residence through company registration and company registration in Armenia.
How Tabsi Travel helps (workers, employers and agents)
We prepare and file the employer's application on the Armenian-only mcs-permits.am platform, follow the case to the residence card, and accompany you at the in-person appointment and card collection in Yerevan. For Indian workers we also prepare the document set (apostille, translation, PCC guidance). Fee: request a quote. We do not recruit and do not sell job offers.
Useful contacts: Embassy of India, Yerevan — 50/2 India Street, cons.yerevan@mea.gov.in, emergency +374 55 009118. Embassy of Armenia, New Delhi (Anand Niketan) — the only Armenian consular office in India.
Frequently asked questions about the Armenia work permit
How do I get a work permit in Armenia?
Since 1 November 2026 there is no separate "work permit". Your employer files an application on mcs-permits.am; if approved, you receive an electronic employment permission and employment-based temporary residence for up to one year. A worker cannot file alone unless an exemption applies.
Can I get an Armenia work visa from India?
Not yet. The law creates a work entry visa of up to 120 days, but it starts only after Armenia launches its new e-visa system, and no launch was announced as of 2 November 2026. The e-Visa is a visitor visa. What exists today is the employer-led residence route.
Can I work in Armenia on a 120-day e-Visa?
No. The "Long-Term (120 days)" e-Visa is a visitor visa, and evisa.mfa.am has no work purpose. The Embassy of India states that a visitor visa does not permit employment and that Armenian authorities do not issue work permits to Indians who arrived on one.
Can I switch from a visitor e-Visa to a work permit inside Armenia?
Since 1 November 2026, applying for employment residence after entering on a visitor visa without changing visa type is a refusal ground (Article 19(1)(10)). The intended document is the work entry visa, which is not yet issued. Confirm interim practice with the MCS before travelling.
How much does an Armenian work permit cost?
State duty is AMD 150,000 for the review plus AMD 5,950 for the card — AMD 155,950, not refunded if refused. Add notarised Armenian translation at AMD 10,000 per page and the MEA apostille at INR 50 per document. Tabsi's fee: request a quote.
How long does the Armenia work permit take?
By law the MCS decides within 30 days of filing, subject to the annual quota. That excludes the employer's registration, the duty payment, the in-person appointment and card collection. No practice data exist for filings after 1 November 2026, so no total can be promised.
Do I need an apostille or a PCC for Armenia?
Indian public documents need an MEA apostille (INR 50 per document, via e-Sanad); no Armenian consular legalisation. A PCC comes from Passport Seva or the Embassy of India in Yerevan; its fee is not published consistently. The post-reform MCS checklist is not yet published.
What happens if I lose my job in Armenia?
If your contract ends before your residence expires, you have 15 working days to sign a new contract through the digital employment-contract system. If you do not, the status is terminated, and law-firm guidance treats day 16 onward as an overstay. Tell us early.
Official sources and review date
- Law "On Foreigners", consolidated text in force 1 November 2026 (ARLIS) — Art. 3, 7(3), 10(1), 15(2), 17(4), 17(8), 19(1), 23(1), 27, 29(1)
- Law HO-11-N of 20 January 2026 (ARLIS) — dates, Art. 30 transitional and deferral clauses
- Law "On State Duty", consolidated text in force 1 November 2026 (ARLIS) — base duty, Art. 14 item 8
- workpermit.am closure notice; mcs-permits.am — about the platform; employment-contract service; entrepreneurship service (Armenian)
- MCS notice, 19 June 2026 — digitisation; MCS press release, 30 October 2026 — 30-day decision, 5-day window, in-person collection with fingerprints
- MIA statement of 6 October 2026, republished by Armenpress — new duties, non-refundable, work-visa duty from 2027
- MCS "Acquiring Employment-based Residence Status" — the old procedure, not yet updated; MFA visa page — no work visa listed on 2 November 2026
- Armenpress, 24 August 2026 and 25 August 2026 — MCS residence statistics, first half of 2026
- Embassy of Armenia to India — visa for Indian citizens; consular fees; FAQ; evisa.mfa.am terms and conditions; MFA temporary visa exemption list, 30 June 2026
- Embassy of India, Yerevan — advisory for prospective emigrant workers; passport and PCC services; contacts
- HCCH Apostille Convention status table; HCCH — India competent authority; e-Sanad; MFA apostille member list
- Secondary, cited only for items marked "reported": EY Law Alert; SCHNEIDER GROUP; Fragomen
Last reviewed against official sources: 2 November 2026 · Tabsi Travel consulting team. Tabsi Travel is a private consultancy, not a government body.
Or call +374 33 099171, send the contact form, or visit our office at 209/2 Movses Khorenatsi Street, Yerevan 0008. We do not recruit or sell job offers; we quote per case.
