“Grantsoum” or Address Registration

In order to work in Armenia, you need to receive a grantsoum, or address registration. The purpose of the grantsoum is to be sure that you are actually living in Armenia. In countries like the U.S., you prove that you live somewhere by providing bills which are sent to your residence but since people don’t get utility bills in Armenia (it’s either done electronically or in person), this is how it’s done.

Although it’s not required that you get your grantsoum, if you want to work in Armenia or if you intend to be an employee of a business you establish, especially a sole proprietoriship, you must go through this process.

Getting Your Grantsoum

As soon as you’re granted residency or citizenship, you will need to book an appointment at your local police station for address registration (grantsoum) at at migration.e-gov.am. It’s not a complex process but can be time-consuming so it’s best to take care of this as soon as you get your residency card or passport. You will need to show proof that you reside in Armenia. It can be a certificate of ownership or lease of a residential property or the owner's consent to the registration. If none of these documents are available you may request the local police to make a factual check (normally takes up to two weeks) and confirm that you actually reside at the address in question. You’ll have to hand over your residency card to the clerk helping you and they will have you fill out a form asking you where you live and what your phone number is.

In the next week, you will receive a phone call from a police officer who will ask when you will be home. Be sure to plan your week so you do not have too many important things scheduled because it is expected that if you’re not already at your apartment, you will be able to get there within an hour, at most. The police officer will come to your home, look around, make sure you actually live there and fill out some paperwork that he will then ask you to sign. After your meeting, you will be able to pick up your registered and stamped residency card at the police station where you left it.