Armenia Proposes Citizenship Residency Rules; Zareh Sinanyan Says Diaspora Armenians Should Move, Pay Taxes, Raise Children in Armenia and Defend Its Borders

Armenians living abroad could soon be required to move to Armenia before qualifying for citizenship under proposed changes that would end decades of preferential treatment allowing ethnic Armenians to obtain passports without living in their ancestral homeland.

The draft legislation, introduced by Armenia’s Interior Ministry in September, would require applicants of Armenian descent to have two years of legal residency, including at least 366 days physically spent in the country. Other foreign nationals would need five years of legal residency.

The proposal would significantly change Armenia’s relationship with its large global diaspora, whose members have long been eligible for citizenship through a simplified process without residency, language or constitutional knowledge requirements.

Armenia’s High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, Zareh Sinanyan, defended the changes in an interview with Public Radio published October 21, saying Armenian ancestry alone should not be the basis for citizenship without a stronger connection to the country.

“Armenia is the homeland of all Armenians, but the Republic of Armenia belongs to its citizens,” Sinanyan said.

He argued that people who influence Armenia’s political future should also share the responsibilities that come with living in the country.

Sinanyan said diaspora Armenians seeking closer ties with the Armenian state should be prepared to relocate, pay taxes, raise their children in Armenia and defend its borders.

His remarks reflect a broader distinction being drawn by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's government between Armenia as the historical homeland of Armenians worldwide and the Republic of Armenia as a sovereign state governed by its citizens.

Sinanyan acknowledged that the distinction could be difficult for Armenians whose history has been shaped by displacement and separation from their homeland, but said it was necessary.

The proposed reforms would also change how applicants establish their Armenian ancestry.

Under the current system, baptism certificates issued by Armenian churches can serve as evidence of Armenian descent. Sinanyan said the requirement has created problems for people baptized decades ago in churches that no longer exist, as well as those who have never been baptized because of their religious beliefs.

Other applicants have faced difficulties when names on foreign birth certificates do not match their passports because of differences in spelling or transliteration.

In some cases, Sinanyan said, people who are clearly Armenian have been unable to proceed with their applications because they could not obtain the required church documents.

The government is considering transferring responsibility for verifying Armenian ancestry to a special commission under the Interior Ministry, reducing applicants' dependence on religious institutions.

Interior Minister Arpine Sargsyan told CivilNet in September that the proposed residency requirement is intended to ensure applicants see their future in Armenia rather than seeking citizenship simply to obtain a travel document.

Despite the tighter rules, Sinanyan said ethnic Armenians would retain an advantage over other applicants through the shorter residency requirement.

He also rejected suggestions that the government was trying to distance the diaspora from Armenia, pointing to what he described as a positive net inflow of ethnic Armenians over the past two years.

For Sinanyan, the central question is not whether Armenians abroad belong to the Armenian nation, but what responsibilities should come with citizenship in the republic.

He argued that people who do not share the obligations of Armenian citizens should not have the same influence over decisions affecting the country's future.

The changes remain proposals and have not yet become law. If adopted, they would make living in Armenia a requirement for ethnic Armenians seeking citizenship, replacing a system that has allowed generations of diaspora Armenians to become citizens while remaining abroad.

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