Your first 90 days in Armenia: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
The 180-day visa-free allowance makes it easy to drift without status, and people do — but banking, leases and any formal work want the residence card, and the days quietly accumulate. Decide early whether you are visiting or residing, because retrofitting status after a long informal stay is harder than starting it.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Apply for the residence status (temporary, permanent or special) at the Passport and Visa Department of the Police
Before your 180-day visa-free stay expires — most nationalities get 180 days in a year, which is unusually generous and removes the usual time pressure
Temporary residence is granted for one year and renewable, permanent for five. The file wants a medical certificate issued in Armenia, proof of the ground for residence, and passport translations notarised locally.
Get your Public Services Number (PSN / սոցիալական քարտ)
Banking, employment, tax filings with the State Revenue Committee and most government services key off it.
Issued by the Passport and Visa Department alongside residence, or applied for separately at a citizen services office; company registration through the State Register is quick and issues a tax number the same day.
Open a bank account
Ameriabank, ACBA and Inecobank open accounts for foreigners on a passport alone — Armenia is one of the easiest banking jurisdictions in the region and became a major destination for relocating tech workers after 2022. Multi-currency accounts in dram, dollars, euros and roubles are standard, and there are no meaningful exchange controls.
Enrol in healthcare
Public care is limited and largely out-of-pocket outside a basic state-guaranteed package; costs are low by international standards and private clinics in Yerevan are good. Most foreign residents pay privately for routine care and hold international cover for anything serious, with referrals typically to Georgia, Turkey or Europe.
Sort your driver's license
A foreign licence with an International Driving Permit is accepted for short stays; residents convert through the Road Police, with a theory test for most applicants and a practical test where no reciprocity exists. Driving is on the right.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Armenia: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Armenia?
Apply for the residence status (temporary, permanent or special) at the Passport and Visa Department of the Police — Before your 180-day visa-free stay expires — most nationalities get 180 days in a year, which is unusually generous and removes the usual time pressure. Temporary residence is granted for one year and renewable, permanent for five. The file wants a medical certificate issued in Armenia, proof of the ground for residence, and passport translations notarised locally. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the Public Services Number and do I need one?
Public Services Number (PSN / սոցիալական քարտ) is Armenia's personal tax/ID number. Banking, employment, tax filings with the State Revenue Committee and most government services key off it. Issued by the Passport and Visa Department alongside residence, or applied for separately at a citizen services office; company registration through the State Register is quick and issues a tax number the same day.
Can I drive in Armenia on a US license?
A foreign licence with an International Driving Permit is accepted for short stays; residents convert through the Road Police, with a theory test for most applicants and a practical test where no reciprocity exists. Driving is on the right. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Armenia?
Public care is limited and largely out-of-pocket outside a basic state-guaranteed package; costs are low by international standards and private clinics in Yerevan are good. Most foreign residents pay privately for routine care and hold international cover for anything serious, with referrals typically to Georgia, Turkey or Europe. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Armenia's system treats foreign residents.