Register a Business in Armenia as a Foreigner: Sole Proprietor Guide
By WSE.AM editorial team, edited by Mark Muzyka · Updated 23 October 2026
How a foreigner registers as an individual entrepreneur in Armenia: documents, the 3 000 AMD paper filing fee, same day result and the 20 day tax deadline.
A foreigner can register as an individual entrepreneur (the Armenian form of a sole proprietorship) in person at a service centre of the State Register Agency of Legal Entities under the Ministry of Justice. You need your passport with a notarised Armenian translation and a receipt for the state fee, which is 3 000 AMD for a paper application, and the registration is issued immediately. Online filing is open only to holders of an Armenian ID card with a digital signature, and you must choose your tax regime by the 20th day after registration.
Up to date as of 23 October 2026. This is not legal advice: laws change, check the source or a lawyer before acting.
Can a foreigner register a business in Armenia?
Yes. The government services portal hartak.am states that individual entrepreneur registration is available to "RA citizens and foreigners". In Armenian the status is called անհատ ձեռնարկատեր (often shortened to IE in English sources). It is the simplest way to invoice clients and pay tax as a self-employed person.
What the official sources do not say:
- No residence permit or Armenian legal address requirement is written down. hartak.am says nothing about an address, and a residence permit is not on the document list for foreigners. This is not officially published, so confirm with the State Register Agency before your visit.
- No separate processing time for foreigners filing on paper. The portal only gives the general timing: "Immediately".
If you plan partners, staff or outside investors, compare this with a company: see our guide to opening an LLC in Armenia as a foreigner.
Documents you need
1. Your passport. 2. A notarised translation of the passport into Armenian (mandatory for non-citizens). 3. The receipt for the state fee.
The translation is certified by an Armenian notary. Under the Law on State Duty the duty for certifying a translation is 500 AMD per page; the notary's own service charge comes on top, and its official amount is not published. Details are in our article on notary costs in Armenia, and translation rules are in our guide to apostille and translation of documents.
Business registration cost in Armenia
Article 16(2) of the Law on State Duty charges three base duties for accepting a paper application to register an individual entrepreneur. The base duty under Article 8 is 1 000 AMD, so the total is 3 000 AMD.
There is a nuance worth showing openly:
- the law ties the 3 000 AMD to paper filing and names no duty for an online application;
- hartak.am lists 3 000 AMD for the service as a whole.
The law never says "online is free" in so many words. For a foreigner without an Armenian ID card the question is practical anyway: you will file on paper, so budget 3 000 AMD.
| What | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Individual entrepreneur, paper application | 3 000 AMD | Law on State Duty, Art. 16(2) |
| LLC registration | Free (per hartak.am) | hartak.am |
| Notary duty for certifying a translation | 500 AMD per page | Law on State Duty |
| Company name containing "Armenia", "Armenian" or "Armenians" | 600 000 AMD per year | hartak.am |
In person or online: how to register
| Route | Who can use it | Where | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|
| In person | Everyone, including foreigners | State Register Agency (49 Komitas Avenue, Yerevan), its regional offices, banks that offer the service, HayPost branches | Passport with notarised translation, fee receipt |
| Online | Only holders of an Armenian ID card with a digital signature | Register portal | ID card and digital signature |
Whether a foreigner without an Armenian ID card can file online with Mobile ID or a remote electronic signature is not officially confirmed. The only official wording is: online "with an ID card and a digital signature".
The first 20 days: choose your tax regime
This is the deadline that matters most. The turnover tax regime or the micro business regime is chosen by an application to the tax authority no later than the 20th day after the day of registration, inclusive (Tax Code Articles 254 and 267). If you file nothing, the general regime applies and you become a VAT payer (Tax Code Article 59).
| Regime | Who can use it | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| General | Everyone, applies by default | VAT 20% |
| Turnover tax | Turnover in the previous year not above 115 million AMD | Rate depends on the activity, quarterly reporting |
| Micro business | Turnover in the previous year not above 24 million AMD, excluded activities not allowed | Exempt from most state taxes |
The micro business regime is closed to software development, consulting, design, marketing, translation, intermediary services and anyone receiving rent under a current lease. Rates and limits are explained in our guide to individual entrepreneur taxes in Armenia in 2026.
After registration: bank, work rights, housing
- Beneficial ownership declaration. LLCs file it within 40 days of registration; individual entrepreneurs do not.
- Bank account. hartak.am makes it mandatory for legal entities. As an individual entrepreneur you will need one in practice to get paid: see how to open a bank account in Armenia as a foreigner.
- Right to work and stay. Registering a business does not by itself replace your migration status. From 1 November 2026 the law lists temporary residence on the entrepreneurship ground among the statuses that allow work without a separate permit. Read the work permit guide and residence permit types, plus the new rules from November 2026.
- Where you live. If you are moving to Yerevan to run your business, we can help you find a flat in Yerevan.
Sources
- hartak.am: individual entrepreneur registration
- hartak.am: business registration steps
- hartak.am: business registration, duties after registration
- Law of the Republic of Armenia on State Duty (arlis.am)
- Tax Code of the Republic of Armenia (arlis.am)
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner open a sole proprietorship in Armenia? Yes. hartak.am states that individual entrepreneur registration is open to Armenian citizens and foreigners. Without an Armenian ID card you file in person.
How much does business registration cost in Armenia? For an individual entrepreneur filing on paper the state duty is 3 000 AMD (three base duties of 1 000 AMD). LLC registration is listed as free on hartak.am.
How long does it take to register a business in Armenia? hartak.am gives "Immediately" for an individual entrepreneur. An LLC takes up to 2 business days, or is done immediately if you use the sample charter forms.
Can I register a business in Armenia online without an Armenian ID card? Officially, online registration requires an ID card and a digital signature. No official source confirms that Mobile ID or a remote signature works for foreigners.
Do I need a residence permit to register as an individual entrepreneur? A residence permit is not on the official document list for foreigners, and we found no rule requiring one. Check with the State Register Agency before you file.
What happens if I miss the 20 day tax regime deadline? The general regime applies and you become a VAT payer at 20%. The turnover tax or micro business application must reach the tax authority by the 20th day after registration, inclusive.
Read also
- LLC Registration in Armenia for Foreigners: Cost, Time, Documents
- Armenia Business Tax 2026: Turnover Tax, Micro Business, IT 1%, VAT
- Armenia Residence Permit: Types, Requirements, Cost, 2026 Changes
- Armenia Social Card (Public Service Number) for Foreigners
- Armenian Citizenship: By Descent, Dual Citizenship, Test, Portal
- Work Permit in Armenia for Foreigners: How It Works in 2026