The number of applications for Armenian citizenship exceeded 32,000 in 2025, marking a historic all-time high since Armenia’s independence, Deputy Interior Minister Armen Ghazaryan said at a news conference.
According to Ghazaryan, an analysis of migration flows and applications for Armenian citizenship showed that, in some cases, citizenship is used primarily to obtain a travel document.
“We are seeing a sharp increase in applications for Armenian citizenship among the Armenian community in Russia. If we look at the number of applications in 2025, it exceeded 32,000, an all-time high in the entire history of the Republic of Armenia. Russian citizens applying for citizenship are predominantly ethnic Armenians. This trend is related to our diaspora,” Ghazaryan said.
In his assessment, Armenian citizenship is, in some cases, “being instrumentalized simply to obtain a travel document.”
At the same time, the deputy minister stressed that the process of acquiring Armenian citizenship is not difficult for ethnic Armenians.
“When people say it is difficult to acquire Armenian citizenship, I can state with complete confidence that this is not the case. There may be administrative or documentation-related difficulties, but in terms of requirements, Armenia essentially imposes no requirements on ethnic Armenians seeking Armenian citizenship,” he emphasized.
Ghazaryan also said that, in his professional assessment, the situation constitutes a problem that requires appropriate solutions.
He said legislative amendments will be proposed in the near future to enhance the value of the institution of citizenship.
Another issue raised concerned cases in which a person renounces Armenian citizenship and, shortly afterward, applies to restore it. According to the deputy interior minister, this is particularly noticeable among male minors.
In the first half of 2026, a total of 11,619 people applied for temporary and permanent residency status in Armenia. Applications for temporary residency increased more than threefold, with 9,534 people applying in the first half of this year. Of those applications, 6,059 were approved. Last year and in 2024, the number ranged between 2,000 and 3,000. A total of 2,085 people applied for permanent residency.
