Armenia-Russia Dual Citizenship: Current Aspects and Legal Nuances

Citizenship issues always generate significant interest, especially when it comes to the possibility of holding two passports. In the context of relations between Armenia and Russia, dual citizenship Armenia Russia has become a significant topic for many citizens. This issue remains relevant, offering certain advantages but also requiring a careful approach to legal nuances. In this article, we will thoroughly examine how dual citizenship Russia and Armenia is regulated, what steps need to be taken to obtain Armenian citizenship for Russians and Russian citizenship for Armenians, and what rights and obligations arise for dual nationals.

Legal Basis of Dual Citizenship Between Armenia and Russia

Since February 26, 2007, Armenia officially permits dual citizenship. This became possible due to amendments to the Constitution and changes to the Law “On Citizenship” of the Republic of Armenia. Thus, Armenia recognizes the right of its citizens to hold citizenship of another state, without requiring them to renounce it. This means that Armenian citizenship can be held simultaneously with Russian citizenship.

The Russian Federation, in turn, also does not prohibit its citizens from holding other citizenship. However, it is important to understand that there is no international treaty on dual citizenship between Russia and Armenia, unlike, for example, between Russia and Tajikistan. This means that for the Russian Federation, a citizen holding two passports (Russian Federation and Armenia) is considered exclusively as a citizen of the Russian Federation. Exceptions are possible only in cases explicitly provided for by federal law or an international treaty.

A key requirement for Russian citizens who obtain Armenian citizenship is the mandatory notification of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs about the presence of other citizenship. The notification period is 60 days from the date of acquiring foreign citizenship. Failure to comply with this deadline incurs administrative fines, and intentional evasion may even lead to criminal liability. These Armenian citizenship laws and Russian laws must be strictly observed.

How to Get Armenian Citizenship: Main Paths for Russians

Obtaining Armenian citizenship for Russians is possible on several grounds provided by the legislation of the Republic of Armenia. Applications for acquiring citizenship are submitted through the electronic system mcs-citizenship.am, starting from January 1, 2026.

Grounds for obtaining Armenian citizenship:

• By nationality: Persons of Armenian nationality have the right to obtain citizenship.
• Permanent residency: Persons who have permanently resided in the Republic of Armenia for the last 3 years in the manner prescribed by law.
• Marriage to an RA citizen: Those married to an RA citizen for the last 2 years and residing in Armenia for at least 365 days during these 2 years on legal grounds.
• Presence of relatives: Having a child or parent who is a citizen of the Republic of Armenia.
• Restoration of citizenship: Citizens who ceased their citizenship of the Republic of Armenia by their own application after January 1, 1995.
• Refugee or stateless person status: Persons who have refugee status in the Republic of Armenia or are stateless persons and reside in its territory.
• Former RA citizens: If parents (or one of them) previously held citizenship of the Republic of Armenia and have continuously resided in the RA territory for the last year.

Required documents for Armenian citizenship:

To obtain citizenship, a standard package of documents is required, which includes:

• Application form.
• Valid foreign passport and its copy.
• 6 color photographs measuring 35×45 mm.
• Birth certificate and its copy.
• Marriage certificate and its copy (if the surname has changed).
• Spouse’s passport and its copy (if the surname has changed).
• Child’s birth certificate and its copy, child’s or parent’s passport of an RA citizen (when applying based on the presence of relatives).
• Documents confirming Armenian ethnic origin (when applying by nationality).

All documents issued by foreign states must be apostilled or have consular legalization, and then translated into Armenian. The cost of acquiring citizenship of the Republic of Armenia is 50,000 RA drams.

Benefits and Limitations of Dual Citizenship Armenia-Russia

The benefits of dual citizenship between Armenia and Russia are obvious for those with close ties to both countries. These include:

• Freedom of movement: The ability to freely enter and exit both countries using the respective passport.
• Social rights: Access to social programs, education, and healthcare in both countries.
• Economic opportunities: Business conduct, property ownership, and employment without additional permits.
• Legal protection: Protection of rights and interests by both states (although in Russia, you will be considered only as a citizen of the Russian Federation).

However, there are also certain limitations and peculiarities that must be considered when holding dual citizenship RF and Armenia:

• Political activity: In Armenia, dual nationals have active voting rights (if they are in the country on election day) but are limited in passive voting rights. They cannot be elected as President, to the National Assembly, or hold certain state positions. In Russia, there are also restrictions for dual nationals in state service and elected bodies.
• Military service obligation: In Armenia, if a person has completed military service in another state (12 months of military service or 18 months of alternative service), they are exempted from this obligation in Armenia, except during mobilization. In Russia, RF citizens who have completed military service in a foreign state are exempted from military service in the RF.
• Tax obligations: Dual nationals pay taxes and customs duties on par with Armenian citizens, but also remain tax residents of the Russian Federation if they spend more than 183 days a year in Russia.
• Lack of a dual citizenship treaty: Since there is no such treaty between the Russian Federation and Armenia, each country considers the person exclusively as its own citizen. This can lead to complications in case of legal conflicts.

Russian Citizenship for Armenians: Simplified Procedures

The procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship for Armenians is regulated by the Federal Law “On Citizenship of the Russian Federation.” Although there is no separate dual citizenship treaty, citizens of Armenia can obtain Russian citizenship on general grounds, and also under a simplified procedure in some cases. For example, having close relatives who are Russian citizens, as well as certain categories of specialists or investors, can apply for expedited acquisition of a Russian passport. Those considering relocation to Canada for IT specialists might find this particularly relevant if they are exploring all their international mobility options.

It is important to note that when obtaining Russian citizenship, citizens of Armenia are not obliged to renounce their Armenian citizenship, as Armenia allows holding two passports. However, as in the reverse case, it is necessary to notify the Russian authorities about the presence of a second citizenship.

Renunciation of Russian Citizenship for Armenia: Myths and Reality

The question often arises: is renunciation of Russian citizenship for Armenia required? The answer is unequivocal: no. Russian legislation does not require the renunciation of Russian citizenship when acquiring citizenship of another state, if there is no corresponding international treaty between the countries. As already mentioned, there is no such treaty between Russia and Armenia. Therefore, a citizen of the Russian Federation can obtain Armenian citizenship without losing their Russian citizenship.

Nevertheless, it is important to remember the need to notify the Russian authorities about the presence of a second citizenship. This is not a request for permission, but rather an informative notification, which is a mandatory requirement of Russian legislation.

Conclusion

Dual citizenship Armenia Russia represents a convenient tool for those seeking to maintain close ties with both countries. The legislation of both states allows for holding two passports, albeit with certain caveats related to the absence of an interstate dual citizenship treaty. Understanding these nuances, as well as timely fulfillment of all notification and documentation requirements, will allow dual nationals to maximize the benefits of dual citizenship and avoid potential problems.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Armenia-Russia Dual Citizenship

1. Do I need to renounce Russian citizenship when obtaining Armenian citizenship?

No, you do not. Armenia officially permits dual citizenship since 2007, and Russia does not require renunciation of its citizenship when obtaining Armenian citizenship, as there is no dual citizenship treaty between the countries. However, you are obliged to notify the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation about the presence of a second citizenship.

2. What are the main grounds for obtaining Armenian citizenship for Russians?

Main grounds include Armenian ethnic origin, permanent residency in Armenia for 3 years, marriage to an RA citizen (2 years of marriage and 365 days of residency), having a child or parent who is an RA citizen, and restoration of citizenship for former citizens.

3. What documents are needed to get Armenian citizenship?

You will need an application form, a valid foreign passport, photographs, a birth certificate, a marriage certificate (if applicable), relatives’ documents (if applying on this ground), and documents confirming Armenian origin (if applicable). All foreign documents must be legalized or apostilled and translated into Armenian. For a complete list of necessary paperwork, refer to our guide on how to get a residence permit in other countries.

4. What restrictions exist for individuals with dual citizenship of Armenia and Russia?

In Armenia, dual nationals cannot hold certain state positions (e.g., President or member of the National Assembly). In Russia, there are also restrictions on state service and in elected bodies. Military service may be credited if service was completed in another country, but there are nuances during mobilization.

5. How long does it take to process an application for Armenian citizenship?

Applications for obtaining citizenship of the Republic of Armenia are processed within 90 working days from the date of receipt by the Migration and Citizenship Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.

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