Armenia Proposes Sharp Increase in Citizenship Fees
Pashinyan discourages diaspora Armenians from becoming citizens of Armenia
Armenia's Ministry of Internal Affairs has proposed significant changes to citizenship policy, effective January 1, 2028. The citizenship acquisition fee would increase fivefold from $138 to $689, while renunciation fees would jump tenfold from $413 to $4,132.
New requirements include a five-year legal residency period and 915 days of physical presence for most applicants. Ethnic Armenians face a shorter two-year residency requirement with 366 days of presence. All applicants must demonstrate Armenian language proficiency and constitutional knowledge.
The proposal also introduces a non-reviewable presidential rejection authority on national security grounds. If approved by parliament, the changes represent a significant tightening of Armenia's citizenship policy, contrasting with government goals to increase the country's population.
