Foreign citizens are allowed to stay in Armenia for up to 180 days, but a holder of an Armenian visa is not entitled to work in Armenia unless he/she also holds a work permit.

Who doesn't need to obtain a work permit?
The following categories of foreigners don't need to obtain a work permit:

• Highly qualified foreign specialists in areas of 1) natural sciences, 2) information technologies (technician, operation and technical maintenance of computing equipment and computer systems; technician, operation of computing machines, complexes, systems, and networks; web designer), 3) agriculture
• Foreigners with higher education in 1) information and communication technologies; 2) management and administration; 3) food technology; 4) finances;
• Founders, directors, and representatives of commercial organizations with foreign investment
• Holders of permanent or special (issued to foreigners of Armenian origin) residency permits
• Holders of temporary residency permits if such permit is issued on the basis of being a family member of another holder of permanent (special, temporary) residence permit

Important note
A business visitor cannot undertake work activities while in Armenia, payment by an Armenian entity of salary or other remuneration would be evidence of work. Permitted activities during a business trip include meetings, interviews, discussions, negotiations, exploring business opportunities, attending conferences, conducting site visits, taking orders or purchasing goods or services.

Procedure: What an employer needs to do?
Step 1: Submitting the vacancy
The law requires employers to search for Armenian citizens to do the job, thus before hiring a foreigner a company needs to prove it can't find a specialist with required qualifications.

At the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MSLA) a company needs to fill in the form notifying about an open position.

Adress: Yerevan, Karapet Ulneci St., 68
tel: +060 65 27 01

The documents must be submitted by the CEO of the company or the entrusted person (bring the original copy of the power of attorney).

The process at the MLSA takes 5 days and involves a test of the Armenian market to ensure that there are no qualified and available Armenian workers to fill the position. If MLSA identifies Armenian nationals who may fit with the employer's requirements they will be referred to the employer for an interview. The employer needs to give valid reasons why the candidate doesn't suit the position.

If no candidates are referred by the MSLA to the employer or if the employer rejects these candidates, then the employer is allowed to apply for a work permit for a particular foreigner.

Important note
Filling in the form make sure the code of the vacancies you submit complies with the requirements to a certain vacancy issued by the Armenian institutions and the qualifications of a particular foreigner you are planning to hire.

For example, if a foreigner doesn't have higher education in the required filled, and that's one of the conditions, you will need to start the process once again, as, in the end, you won't be able to hire that specific foreign specialist.

Step 2: Hiring a foreigner
When a company has a permit to hire a foreign specialist, an employer needs to submit the following documents:

• Application form filled in Armenian
• Employee's passport
• A notarially certified translation of the passport
• Diplomas and other documents showing education or qualification, with consular legalization (or Apostille). The copy of the documents must be notarially certified in the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Internal Affairs in the country of origin/study and later must be notarially certified in the Embassy or Consulate of the country of origin in Armenia.
• Two photographs (3×4)
• Proof of payment of the government fees (25,000 AMD). The fee must be paid on behalf of the company legal entity where an employee will work.

All documents, except for the employee's passport, are retained by the MLSA. In 5 days after submitting the documents, MLSA will give the answer - either issue the work permit or ask for additional documents.

On the basis of a work permit, a foreigner can apply for a residence permit.

Penalties
The Code of Administrative Offences provides penalties for immigration/work permit violations. Failure to obtain a work permit/residence permit is punishable by a monetary fine of AMD 100,000 to 150,000 (around USD 208 to 313). Overstaying a visa or otherwise violating the immigration status is punishable by a fine of AMD 50,000 to 100,000 (around USD 104 to 208).