Customs

What are the rules about bringing goods to Armenia?

You can bring in a certain amount of goods for personal (not commercial) use without paying duty or tax if you transport them yourself. Tax-free allowance differs for various goods, for example:

• Foodstuff – 5 kilos

• Beverages – 2 liters

• Cigarettes – 400

• Cigars – 10

• Tobacco – 1 kilo

• Cell phones - 2

Used personal items with no original factory packaging and labelling are also tax exempt if you transport them yourself.

If you go over your allowance you pay customs duty and possibly other taxes. The exact rates will depend on the type of goods. Normally 10% customs duty and 20% import VAT should apply. You must pay the duties before the release of goods, unless they come from a Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) country in which case the payment may be deferred. 

You are allowed to bring in items through post. We recommend only using this for personal shopping, however, the information might come in handy in general. There is no difference here if the items are new or used. However, there are maximum amounts to the number of a certain item you may bring in. You can see the allowances made by the Customs Union here.

Starting from 31 March 2022, no customs fees or taxes are charged for goods imported in the Republic of Armenia by physical persons via carriers or in international postal deliveries from countries which are not members of the Eurasian Economic Union, as long as the total weight of the transported items does not exceed 30 kg, and the value does not exceed the sum 200,000 AMD. If the total weight of the transported items does exceed 30 kg, or the value does exceed the sum 200,000 AMD, a customs fee and taxes will be charged at the united rate of 15% of the exceeding part, but not less than 2 Euros (the equivalent in AMD) for every 2 kg over 30 kg.

You must declare cash of USD 10,000 and more (or the equivalent in other currency) if you take it between Armenia and any non-EEU country. Cash includes travelers’ checks.

What specific rules are that which apply to repatriates?

A repatriate can import tax-free used personal and household items with no original factory packaging and labelling that were purchased before his arrival to Armenia. There are restrictions on the number of personal and household devices (max. 3 items of each type) and furniture (1 set of each type). Moreover, only one vehicle can be imported tax-free, provided it was registered for at least 6 months in the name of the repatriate in the last country of residence before his arrival to Armenia.

A “repatriate” is a person who has permanently resided (i.e. spent at least 184 days per year) outside of Armenia for the last 5 years or has a status of a refugee.

The goods can be imported tax-free within 18 months following the repatriate’s “arrival for permanent residence” to Armenia. The date of “arrival for permanent residence” is the day when the repatriate registers his address with the police (or, if the address had already been registered, the day of filing a statement with the customs office). This must happen within 180 days after the repatriate’s actual arrival to Armenia.

The repatriate must file an application for tax-free import with the customs office specifying the name, weight and number of items imported. The customs office has up to 3 weeks to grant or reject the application.

A repatriate can take advantage of this tax exemption once every five years.

What are the costs of bringing goods to Armenia from X country?

You should check this with transportation companies.

What things are illegal to bring to Armenia?

The list of goods the import of which is prohibited or subject to special permits includes weapons, illegal drugs, endangered animal and plant species, obscene materials etc.