Open a Bank Account in Armenia as a Non-Resident: Documents, Fees

By WSE.AM editorial team, edited by Mark Muzyka · Updated 23 October 2026

Can a foreigner open a bank account in Armenia? What the law requires, documents banks ask non-residents for, and fees at ACBA, Ameriabank and Ardshinbank.

Yes, a foreigner can open an account with an Armenian bank: the law only bans anonymous accounts and requires the bank to identify the client and establish their place of residence. Each bank sets its own document list and opening fee, and for non-residents the list is noticeably longer than for citizens. Most often banks ask for a passport, proof of address (a temporary address in Armenia can work) and papers on income and source of funds.

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 open a bank account in Armenia?

The general rule is in the Law on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing, Articles 15 and 16. Anonymous accounts and accounts in fictitious names are prohibited. The bank must identify you from a document bearing a photograph and record your name, citizenship, registered address (if any), date and place of birth and document number. It must also establish your place of residence.

The bank may complete these checks within 7 days after the relationship starts if it considers the risk manageable. That is why an account is sometimes opened on the spot and some documents are sent later.

We did not find a separate Central Bank act listing documents for foreigners: no such list is officially published, so ask the bank itself. Everything beyond the law is the bank's internal policy.

What the government portal says for non-residents

The hartak.am portal describes a typical set for a non-resident:

• a valid passport;
• at some banks, a notarised Armenian translation of the passport;
• proof of the purpose of the account or of your connection to Armenia;
• documents on income and source of funds;
• an address, which "could be a temporary address in Armenia".

The portal says plainly that requirements vary depending on the client's country of origin. It does not publish country-specific lists (for example for US, Indian or EU citizens), so ask your chosen bank what applies to your passport.

If you rent a flat, the lease often serves as your proof of address. To find one, see apartments for rent in Yerevan or ask us to find a flat in Yerevan.

Banks compared

Bank by bank

Ameriabank

For non-citizens of Armenia the bank asks for an identity document and a document showing your registered or actual address: a utility bill, a residence certificate or an equivalent. It may also ask for statements from another bank for at least 1 year, a reference from your employer, a property certificate or business documents. The list comes from the bank's document in edition 12, effective from 28 March 2023; a newer edition may exist, so check at a branch.

ACBA Bank

A non-resident individual pays 15 000 AMD once, when opening the first account: current, card or deposit. The current account is serviced free if the average daily balance is at least 50 000 AMD, otherwise 300 AMD a month.

Can you open a bank account in Armenia online? ACBA has an online application for non-residents. It must be completed in Armenian, with copies of your identity document, proof of address, last year's income tax statement, documents on the legal origin of funds, your employment contract and an account statement for the last 6 months.

Ardshinbank

We found only the tariff for non-resident legal entities and individual entrepreneurs, in force from 15 January 2026: 100 000 AMD to open an account and 10 000 AMD a year for maintenance. The PDF table is laid out in two columns, so the amounts were matched by row order. A tariff for non-resident individuals is not officially published in the documents we found; ask the bank.

Inecobank

The bank's website was unavailable when we checked and the tariff PDF did not open. According to search results for the bank's own document, opening a current account in AMD costs a non-resident individual 25 000 AMD; we found no official confirmation. Check the tariff at a branch before you go.

Accounts for a business

A bank account is mandatory for a legal entity. If you are registering a business, register first and then go to the bank with the company documents: see how a foreigner registers a business in Armenia and an LLC in Armenia for foreigners. Note the cost: at Ardshinbank opening an account for a non-resident legal entity or individual entrepreneur is 100 000 AMD.

Opening a bank account is also one of the situations where the public services number (social number) is required. Foreigners with a right of residence have it on their residence card; others can request one. See the Armenian social number for foreigners.

How to prepare

1. Check your passport's validity and get a notarised Armenian translation if your bank asks for one. Costs are in notary fees in Armenia. 2. Prepare proof of address: a lease, a residence certificate or a utility bill. 3. Bring a statement from your home bank and proof of income: both Ameriabank and ACBA ask for them. 4. Ask for the non-resident opening fee in advance: it differs from bank to bank.

If you spend most of the year in Armenia, check your tax status, since the bank's questions about income depend on it: see Armenia tax residency.

Sources

• Law on Combating Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing (English translation, Central Bank of Armenia)
• hartak.am: bank account for non-residents
• hartak.am: business registration
• Ameriabank: documents required to open an account
• ACBA Bank: current account
• ACBA Bank: online application
• Ardshinbank: tariffs for non-resident legal entities and individual entrepreneurs
• Inecobank: Current tariff (did not open when checked)

Frequently asked questions

Can a foreigner open a bank account in Armenia? Yes. The law only bans anonymous accounts and requires the bank to identify you from a photo document and establish your place of residence. Every other requirement is set by the bank.

Do I need a residence permit to open a bank account in Armenia? The law has no such requirement, and the government portal accepts even a temporary address in Armenia. A bank may still ask for extra documents, so check its list in advance.

How much does it cost a non-resident to open an account? ACBA Bank charges 15 000 AMD once for a non-resident's first account. Ardshinbank charges 100 000 AMD for non-resident legal entities and individual entrepreneurs; we did not find its tariff for individuals.

Can I open an Armenian bank account online as a non-resident? ACBA Bank accepts online applications from non-residents, completed in Armenian with copies of your documents. We did not find a fully remote option confirmed for other banks.

Can a US citizen open a bank account in Armenia? Nothing in the law bars it. hartak.am notes that requirements vary by the client's country of origin, and no official source we checked publishes a separate list for US citizens, so ask the bank directly.

Do I need an Armenian translation of my passport? According to the government portal, some banks ask for a notarised translation of the passport. Notary costs are covered in our article on notary fees in Armenia.

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