Western Asia · UN member
Armenia: Travel Guide & Requirements
Republic of Armenia · Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն
Armenia is a country in Western Asia with its capital in Yerevan. It has a population of 3.1 million (#137 in the world) and covers 29,743 km². The official language is Armenian. The currency is the Armenian dram (AMD, ֏).
Where is Armenia? Map of Armenia
Southwestern Asia, between Turkey (to the west) and Azerbaijan; note - Armenia views itself as part of Europe; geopolitically, it can be classified as falling within Europe, the Middle East, or both.
- Region
- Western Asia
- Coordinates
- 40° N, 45° E
- Neighbours
- 4 — see list
- Coastline
- Landlocked
- Armenia
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Armenia showing Yerevan (capital) and the largest cities: Gyumri, Vanadzor, Kapan and Sevan.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Armenia
- Passport
Armenia's Foreign Ministry says your passport needs to be valid during the whole period of your stay.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 69 need no visa, 70 need an eVisa, 59 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see Armenia entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
No official requirement. The Foreign Ministry's visa checker lists an air ticket reservation with return among the mandatory documents for some nationalities' visa applications (for example India), and says a one-way ticket is sufficient for th…
- Proof of funds
No official requirement. The Foreign Ministry's visa checker lists proof of financial means (a bank statement for the last 3 months, a certificate of employment with salary, a work contract or other proof) among the mandatory documents for some…
- Travel insurance
No official requirement. The Foreign Ministry's visa search tool lists travel (medical) insurance among the mandatory documents for some nationalities' visa applications (for example India) and among the documents to provide if available for ot…
- Customs allowance
Canada's travel advice says you must declare all foreign currency exceeding USD 10,000 or its equivalent (bank notes, traveller's cheques, treasury bills) on arrival and on departure, and bearer securities regardless of…
- Travel advice
High risk — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Armenia
- Safety: Travel to Armenia carries a high risk: the US State Department rates Armenia Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country.
- Best time to go: May — when daytime highs in Yerevan are around 25°C.
- Money: the Armenian dram (AMD) — 1 US dollar is about 360.5652 AMD.
- Plugs: type C and F, 230 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 112 / 911, Ambulance 112 / 911, Fire 112 / 911.
- Language: Armenian is official.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 60 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h outside built-up areas and 110 km/h on motorways.
- Time zone: UTC+4 in Yerevan.
- Capital: Yerevan. About 3.1 million people live in Armenia.
- Outdoors: 4 national parks and 3 ski areas.
Key facts
Armenia at a glance
Languages spoken: Armenian 97.2%, Russian 1.4%, Ezidian 1.0%; less than 1%: other, unknown (2022)
Geography & history
About Armenia
Armenia prides itself on being the first state to formally adopt Christianity (early 4th century). Armenia has existed as a political entity for centuries, but for much of its history it was under the sway of various empires, including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, Ottoman, and Russian. During World War I, the Ottoman Empire instituted a policy of forced resettlement that, coupled with other harsh practices targeting its Armenian subjects, resulted in at least 1 million deaths; these actions have been widely recognized as constituting genocide. During the early 19th century, significant Armenian populations fell under Russian rule. Armenia declared its independence in 1918 in the wak…
Read the full history
Armenia prides itself on being the first state to formally adopt Christianity (early 4th century). Armenia has existed as a political entity for centuries, but for much of its history it was under the sway of various empires, including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, Ottoman, and Russian. During World War I, the Ottoman Empire instituted a policy of forced resettlement that, coupled with other harsh practices targeting its Armenian subjects, resulted in at least 1 million deaths; these actions have been widely recognized as constituting genocide. During the early 19th century, significant Armenian populations fell under Russian rule. Armenia declared its independence in 1918 in the wake of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, but it was conquered by the Soviet Red Army in 1920. Armenia, along with Azerbaijan and Georgia, was initially incorporated into the USSR as part of the Transcaucasian Federated Soviet Socialist Republic; in 1936, the republic was separated into its three constituent entities, which were maintained until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. For over three decades, Armenia had a longstanding conflict with neighboring Azerbaijan about the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which historically had a mixed Armenian and Azerbaijani population, although ethnic Armenians have constituted the majority since the late 19th century. In 1921, Moscow placed Nagorno-Karabakh within Soviet Azerbaijan as an autonomous oblast. In the late Soviet period, a separatist movement developed that sought to end Azerbaijani control over the region. Fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh began in 1988 and escalated after Armenia and Azerbaijan declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By the time a cease-fire took effect in 1994, separatists with Armenian support controlled Nagorno‑Karabakh and seven surrounding Azerbaijani territories. Armenia and Azerbaijan engaged in a second military conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh in 2020; Armenia lost control over much of the territory it had previously captured, returning the southern part of Nagorno-Karabakh and the territories around it to Azerbaijan. In September 2023, Azerbaijan took military action to regain control over Nagorno-Karabakh; after an armed conflict that lasted only one day, nearly the entire ethnic Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh fled to Armenia. Turkey closed its border with Armenia in 1993 in support of Azerbaijan during the first period of conflict with Armenia and has since maintained a closed border, leaving Armenia with closed borders both in the west (with Turkey) and east (with Azerbaijan). Armenia and Turkey engaged in intensive diplomacy to normalize relations and open the border in 2009, but the signed agreement was not ratified in either country. In 2015, Armenia joined the Eurasian Economic Union alongside Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. In 2017, Armenia signed a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the EU. In 2018, former President of Armenia (2008-18) Serzh SARGSIAN of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) tried to extend his time in power, prompting protests that became known as the “Velvet Revolution.” After SARGSIAN resigned, the National Assembly elected the leader of the protests, Civil Contract party chief Nikol PASHINYAN, as the new prime minister. PASHINYAN’s party has prevailed in subsequent legislative elections, most recently in 2021.
Location
Southwestern Asia, between Turkey (to the west) and Azerbaijan; note - Armenia views itself as part of Europe; geopolitically, it can be classified as falling within Europe, the Middle East, or both
Climate
highland continental, hot summers, cold winters
Terrain
Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley
Highest point
Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m
Natural resources
small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, bauxite
Natural hazards
occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
National symbols
Mount Ararat, eagle, lion
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Armenia
The default speed limits in Armenia are 60 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h outside built-up areas and 110 km/h on motorways. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.4‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 2020 km/hResidential zonesLiving streets & residential areas
- 6060 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and citiesWith a trailer: 70 km/h
- 9090 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roadsWith a trailer: 70 km/h
- 110110 km/hMotorwaysMotorways / freewaysWith a trailer: 90 km/h
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1968 ViennaCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Alcohol limit0.4‰ blood alcohol (0.04% BAC)
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsNo national child-restraint law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)13.6 per 100,000 peopleClose to the world median (12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Armenia safe to visit?
Travel to Armenia carries a high risk: the US State Department rates Armenia Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to parts of the country.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: New information about entering Armenia across the land border from Iran (‘Entry requirements’ page)
Updated 1 Mar 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Armenia
The best time to visit Armenia is May, when daytime highs in Yerevan are around 25°C. September to October are also a good time to go. July is the warmest month (35°C by day), January the coldest (-5°C at night), and May the wettest with about 60 mm of rain.
- Jan5°C-5°C
- Feb8°C-4°C
- Mar14°C1°C
- Apr20°C6°C
- May25°C11°C
- Jun31°C16°C
- Jul35°C20°C
- Aug35°C20°C
- Sep29°C15°C
- Oct22°C8°C
- Nov13°C1°C
- Dec6°C-4°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Armenia
Plugs & sockets
230 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Ski resorts
3 ski resorts in Armenia
- 34 km of slopes
- 10 lifts
- up to 2,817 m
Biggest: Ծաղկաձոր լեռնադահուկային առողջարան · Myler Mountain Resort · Jermuk
National parks
4 national parks in Armenia
- 2,335 km² protected
- oldest from 1978
Largest: Sevan National Park · Arevik National Park · Lake Arpi National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Armenian dram exchange rates today
Armenia uses the Armenian dram (AMD, ֏). One US dollar buys 360.5652 AMD; over the last 30 days the AMD has gained 0.8% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in AMD
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Armenia ranks
How Armenia compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Armenia
12 airports and airfields — 2 large, 1 medium and 8 small, plus 1 heliports. 2 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Armenia borders 4 countries along 1,570 km of land borders. It is landlocked.
Military
Armenian armed forces
Armenia ranks #94 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $1.7 billion (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Yerevan (1.1 million)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
brandy, mining, diamond processing, metal-cutting machine tools, forging and pressing machines, electric motors, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, jewelry, soft…
Export partners
Russia 37%, UAE 25%, Hong Kong 7%, China 5%, Georgia 4% (2023)
Top exports
gold, diamonds, copper ore, broadcasting equipment, jewelry (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Armenia
Next public holiday
New Year's Eve — Thursday, 31 December 2026. Then New Year's Day (1 Jan).
Armenian passport
Ranked #135: 35 countries visa-free, 34 with visa on arrival, 3 with an eTA and 34 with an eVisa.
Armenian passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Armenia's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Armenia
Dial +374 before the local number. Internet domain .am.
Climate footprint
7.4 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 2.50 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Armenia: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Armenia
Azerbaijani passport ranks 76th for visa-free travel worldwide
Azerbaijan shares 76th place with the Philippines in a global passport ranking by Swiss company Henley & Partners, with Azerbaijani citizens able to …
Armenia opens pre-registration for new biometric passports and ID cards on 31 October
Armenia's new system for issuing biometric passports and identity cards is set to become operational within days. Armenian citizens can pre-register …
Armenia begins return of Azerbaijani citizen who crossed border near pastures
Armenia's National Security Service confirmed on 22 October that an Azerbaijani citizen, reportedly a shepherd who got lost, entered Armenian territo…
Frequently asked questions about Armenia
What do I need to travel to Armenia?
How long must my passport be valid for Armenia?
Where is Armenia?
What is Armenia known for?
What is the capital of Armenia?
What language is spoken in Armenia?
What currency does Armenia use?
What is the calling code of Armenia?
Which countries border Armenia?
How strong is the Armenian passport?
What is the speed limit in Armenia?
Is Armenia safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Armenia?
What plug type does Armenia use?
How many airports does Armenia have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.