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How To Obtain Citizenship By Descent In Armenia

4 min read

How To Obtain Citizenship By Descent In Armenia

Armenia is a beautiful and historic country located in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. If you have Armenian ancestry and wish to reconnect with your roots, obtaining Armenian citizenship by ancestry may be an excellent option. Anyone with Armenian blood can apply for Armenian citizenship. If you are of Armenian ancestry, you are eligible to apply for Armenian citizenship by descent.

 

ELIGIBILITY AND PROCEDURES FOR ARMENIAN CITIZENSHIP BY DESCENT

With the proper guidance, if you are an ethnic Armenian, the procedure may be a lot easier. Any ethnic Armenian, the spouse of an Armenian citizen, or the offspring of former Armenian citizens can easily apply for citizenship under the law.

 

If you are of Armenian ancestry, you are eligible to apply for Armenian citizenship by descent

If you are of Armenian ancestry, you are eligible to apply for Armenian citizenship by descent

ETHNIC ARMENIANS APPLYING FOR ARMENIAN CITIZENSHIP BY DESCENT

Ethnic Armenians obtaining Armenian citizenship must provide the following documents:

  • Citizenship Application
  • Citizenship Questionnaire
  • Identification document
  • 6 colour 35x45mm photographs
  • Birth Certificate
  • One of the documents proving Armenian citizenship

An application for Armenian citizenship by descent can be made in person at a consulate in your home country or in Yerevan, Armenia. If your application is accepted, you will be given Armenian citizenship after a decree from the President of the Republic of Armenia is issued.

If you have Armenian ancestors and can produce documentation, acquiring citizenship by descent is a feasible option to explore to improve your freedom of movement and residence. Most times,  Applicants tend to underestimate the difficulties and time required in acquiring documents and determining eligibility. After those requirements are completed, the application for Armenian citizenship might take many months. The most challenging part of the procedure is acquiring the requisite documents to prove your heritage.

 

The most challenging part of the procedure is acquiring the requisite documents to prove your heritage

The most challenging part of the procedure is acquiring the requisite documents to prove your heritage

NOT ETHNIC ARMENIANS APPLYING FOR ARMENIAN CITIZENSHIP

If you are not of Armenian ethnicity but still wish to obtain citizenship (not by descent), you must meet these requirements:

  • You must be at least 18 years of age or older to apply.
  • Maintaining an Armenian residence for a minimum of three years
  • An understanding of Armenian
  • Knowledge of the Constitution of Armenia

 

Related article: The Basics Of How To Get A Second Passport Or A Second Residency

 

This might be a birth certificate or another government-issued document indicating your ethnicity or the ethnicity of your parents, grandparents, or siblings

This might be a birth certificate or another government-issued document indicating your ethnicity or the ethnicity of your parents, grandparents, or siblings

HOW DO I PROVE MY ARMENIAN HERITAGE?

To apply for Armenian citizenship by descent, you must produce documentation proving your Armenian ancestry. This might be a birth certificate or another government-issued document indicating your ethnicity or the ethnicity of your parents, grandparents, or siblings. Applicants must sometimes be inventive (but always truthful) to establish their Armenian ancestry.

Ethnic background may be mentioned on official documents such as birth certificates or family records in certain countries. The birth certificate must be authenticated with an apostille and translated into Armenian. A baptism certificate from a religious institution that validates your origin is another option to show your Armenian ethnicity. The document is validated in this situation by the Armenian embassy or consulate in the nation where it was issued.

 

Related content: How To Obtain Swedish Citizenship By Ancestry

 

The birth certificate must be authenticated with an apostille and translated into Armenian

The birth certificate must be authenticated with an apostille and translated into Armenian

WHAT MAKES ARMENIA SO SPECIAL?

Armenia is a vibrant nation with a plethora of riches, and it's an excellent spot to visit if you want to live well at a moderate cost. Even if you don't intend to live in Armenia for a portion of the year, there are many practical advantages to obtaining Armenian citizenship by ancestry. One of these advantages is that Armenia is one of the few nations where you may become president with a second passport.

Becoming an Armenian citizen allows you to take advantage of greater banking and investing options in the nation. Armenian banks provide good interest rates on term deposits, and the country also boasts a plethora of attractive real estate investment prospects. A city center apartment in Yerevan costs about $50,000 USD, and with Armenian citizenship, you'll be allowed to acquire undeveloped property, which is generally not accessible to foreigners.

 

With Armenian citizenship, you'll be allowed to acquire undeveloped property

With Armenian citizenship, you'll be allowed to acquire undeveloped property

EXPANDING VISA-FREE ACCESS

Armenia constantly expands visa-free access, likely supplementing your current passport portfolio. An Armenian passport allows you to travel visa-free to several countries unfavourable to the West. Russia and Iran are two of them, while Armenia and China have just secured visa-free travel agreements for their nationals.

Although an Armenian passport isn't very strong (ranked 77th place on the Guide Consultants Passport Ranking Index), it may spare you the headache of obtaining visas to more closed-off nations such as Russia, Iran, and China if you need to go there. An Armenian passport also grants visa-free entry to many Central and South American countries. Armenia will likely sign visa-free travel with the EU in the coming years. Also, unlike many European citizenships, Armenian citizenship is quite simple to transfer to your spouse and children.

 

An Armenian passport also grants visa-free entry to many Central and South American countries

An Armenian passport also grants visa-free entry to many Central and South American countries

YOUR CHILDREN QUALIFY FOR ARMENIAN CITIZENSHIP BY DESCENT

Your children will immediately be eligible for Armenian citizenship by descent after you acquire your Armenian passport. And if you and your spouse remain in Armenia for a year, they will also be eligible for Armenian citizenship. However, you must have been married for more than two years. Lastly, obtaining Armenian citizenship by descent will take little time or effort if you have Armenian ancestors.

Obtaining Armenian citizenship by descent is one of the simplest methods to get a second passport, especially if you have evidence of lineage via your parents or grandparents. Unlike citizenship by investment, you won't have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to get a passport, and you won't have to put in the time and effort to get naturalized. Also, you will not need to learn Armenian to get Armenian citizenship by descent. The Armenian constitution has no certification requirement, and you don't even have to live there to be eligible.

 

You will not need to learn Armenian to get Armenian citizenship by descent

You will not need to learn Armenian to get Armenian citizenship by descent

DUAL CITIZENSHIP

Armenian citizenship guarantees all citizens the same duties and responsibilities, except in cases specified by international treaties or the laws of Armenia. The country has a different dual citizenship policy. Armenian citizens have the right to obtain citizenship in another nation while retaining their original citizenship. Foreigners can retain their citizenship of origin after acquiring Armenian citizenship without having to notify the government. However, an Armenian citizen with dual citizenship is only recognized as an Armenian citizen.

 

Related content: How Can I Become A Spanish Citizen If My Family Came From Spain?

 

Foreigners can retain their citizenship of origin after acquiring Armenian citizenship without having to notify the government

Foreigners can retain their citizenship of origin after acquiring Armenian citizenship without having to notify the government

CONCLUSION

Armenian citizenship by descent provides a way for individuals to connect with their ancestral homeland and access the benefits of Armenian citizenship. By proving your ancestral link to Armenia and meeting the requirements, you can acquire Armenian citizenship and enjoy the right to live, work, and travel in Armenia without any restrictions. The process can take several months to complete. Still, the benefits of Armenian citizenship can be significant if you are interested in exploring your cultural heritage and connecting with a rich and complex history.

 

WORK WITH ME

I help my clients to move offshore for freedom, privacy and autonomy by focusing on the immigration, legal, and tax issues that you will face when becoming an expat. If you would like to work one-on-one with me on getting out of your home country (or setting up a Plan-B location), then read this important letter and fill in an application form to become a Private Client. My fees are not cheap; however, I can assure you that when you work with a professional firm like ours, the results will be worth it.

 

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Mikkel Thorup

Written by Mikkel Thorup

Mikkel Thorup is the world’s most sought-after expat consultant. He focuses on helping high-net-worth private clients to legally mitigate tax liabilities, obtain a second residency and citizenship, and assemble a portfolio of foreign investments including international real estate, timber plantations, agricultural land and other hard-money tangible assets. Mikkel is the Founder and CEO at Expat Money®, a private consulting firm started in 2017. He hosts the popular weekly podcast, the Expat Money Show, and wrote the definitive #1-Best Selling book Expat Secrets - How To Pay Zero Taxes, Live Overseas And Make Giant Piles Of Money, and his second book: Expats Guide On Moving To Mexico.

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