Changes to Foreigners' Residency Status Regulations

During the November 24 meeting of the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Defense and Security, a package of legislative amendments and additions to the law on "Foreigners" was discussed in its first reading. Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Armen Ghazaryan noted that the primary objective of the initiative is to fully digitalize the administrative procedures for granting residency status to foreigners.

According to the reporter, it is proposed to establish two types of residency status: temporary and permanent. The next amendment pertains to the regulation of labor migration flows, for which a quota system is to be introduced. Each year, the Government will set the quantity of residency status grants based on type and grounds.

The project also revises the amounts of state fees. It is proposed to establish a fee of 150,000 drams for processing temporary residency applications and issuing residency cards, up from the current 105,000 drams. For permanent residency, the fee would be set at 250,000 drams, an increase from the current 140,000 drams.

Ghazaryan noted that these changes would significantly ease the administrative processes for dealing with foreigners by fully transferring it to the digital field, which would promote a faster administrative procedure. He added that in 2024, the number of individuals receiving all types of residency status in Armenia reached 12,491, most of whom came from Russia, followed by India, Iran, Georgia, Syria, Ukraine, and other countries.

Co-reporter, Committee Vice-Chairman Armen Khachatryan, proposed voting in favor of the legislative package. The Committee has given a positive conclusion to the Government's proposal, and it has been recommended for inclusion in the agenda of upcoming sessions of the National Assembly.