How Many People Have Applied for Armenian Citizenship: What Are the Conditions?

In the first nine months of this year, 16,060 individuals have applied for Armenian citizenship. This information was provided to Sputnik Armenia by the Migration and Citizenship Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia. The vast majority of applicants are from Russia, numbering 7,693, of which 3,588 applied directly to the Migration and Citizenship Service (MCS), while 4,105 submitted their applications through consular services.

“Previously, the average number of applications for Armenian citizenship was around 8,000, but after the Russia-Ukraine war, this number has multiplied, reaching an annual average of up to 25,000,” says Nelly Davtyan, Deputy Head of the MCS.

According to her, there is also significant activity from Lebanon, again linked to the security situation amid escalating conflict in the Middle East. Davtyan informed that 14,876 individuals have been granted Armenian citizenship by presidential decree, while 303 applications have been rejected (data from January to September).

There are several mandatory conditions for receiving Armenian citizenship. The first is permanent residence in Armenia for three years. “Sometimes there is a misunderstanding that a person should not be absent from Armenia for even a day; in reality, they must be present for 180 days or more. And this must be on a legal basis, not coming and going based on visa durations. The person must be registered in the state population registry, accordingly having residence status,” Davtyan states.

After three years, the individual must take a test on the Armenian language and the Constitution of Armenia (if the individual is of Armenian descent, there is no requirement for the test). If they pass, they can apply for Armenian citizenship. According to the Deputy Head of the MCS, after that, standard administrative procedures commence: the case is sent to the National Security Service, and relevant checks and reviews are conducted. The process takes four and a half months; however, there is currently a backlog for obtaining Armenian citizenship as well.

Meanwhile, in the first nine months of this year, 3,107 individuals have applied to the MCS to terminate their Armenian citizenship. By presidential decree, 2,859 individuals have had their Armenian citizenship terminated, while 63 applications have been denied. Davtyan explains that applications to terminate Armenian citizenship can also be submitted through consular services. However, Armenia has joined the UN Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons, aimed at preventing statelessness. Therefore, a request for renunciation of Armenian citizenship may be granted if the individual either holds citizenship of another country or presents documentation that they will acquire citizenship in another country upon termination of their Armenian citizenship.

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