Translating documents into Armenian for Armenian citizenship

Translations of documents for Armenian citizenship are ordered from us by all kinds of people — diaspora Armenians from Los Angeles, young people born in Russia, French and Italian spouses of Armenian citizens. Everyone has the same task: foreign documents have to become Armenian and be acceptable to Armenian state bodies. In this guide we explain how to do it without unnecessary visits or paying twice.

Who needs this translation

Three groups of people come to us most often. Their documents differ, but the logic is the same: a foreign official document is first certified in its own country, then translated into Armenian and certified in Armenia.

• Diaspora Armenians who want Armenian citizenship or special residence status based on Armenian origin.
• Spouses of Armenian citizens applying for a residence permit and later for citizenship.
• Foreigners who have lived and worked in Armenia for years and want to regularise their status.

In all cases documents are usually submitted to the Migration and Citizenship Service of Armenia or, abroad, to an Armenian diplomatic mission. Always check the current list of requirements there. You will find more on residence documents in our article on translating residence documents.

Which documents are usually translated

The list depends on the basis (Armenian origin, marriage to an Armenian citizen, long-term residence), but the packs that pass through our office most often contain:

• a foreign passport;
• a birth certificate (sometimes also parents’ or grandparents’ certificates to prove Armenian origin);
• a marriage certificate, if you are applying on the basis of marriage;
• name change or divorce documents;
• a police clearance certificate as a separate document, if required;
• church baptism certificates or archival documents confirming Armenian origin.

For the specifics of marriage certificate translation, read our article on translating a foreign marriage certificate.

Apostille or legalisation — in the country that issued the document

This is the most important point, and many people miss it. As a rule, a foreign official document must first be apostilled or consularly legalised in the country that issued it, and only then translated into Armenian. So an apostille on an American birth certificate is issued by the relevant US authority, on a French one by the French authority — it cannot be obtained in Armenia.

What an apostille is and why it is needed is explained in detail in our article on the apostille. There are exceptions (for example, documents from some CIS countries under legal assistance agreements), so check your case with the Migration and Citizenship Service.

For example, Nare was born in Marseille and wanted Armenian citizenship. She brought her French birth certificate without an apostille. We advised her to get the apostille in France first and only then translated the document together with the apostille text. Had she done it the other way round, the translation would have had to be redone.

Armenian citizenship documents: notarized, stamped, apostille

When a notarized translation is needed

The final pack submitted to a state body usually requires a notarized translation into Armenian. We translate from English, Russian, French, German, Spanish and Italian. The notary binds the translation to the original (or its notarized copy), so it must physically reach our office. We go to the notary on your behalf.

When a stamped translation is enough

If you first want to show the documents to a lawyer or the migration service and find out whether they are sufficient, order a stamped translation. It is fully online: you send a scan and receive a PDF with the agency stamp by e-mail, wherever you are.

When an apostille is needed

For a foreign document the apostille (or legalisation) is done in the issuing country. For Armenian documents, apostilles in Armenia are issued by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, but they are usually not needed for an Armenian citizenship application. We do not issue apostilles; we only give free advice on the order of steps.

Have a question about your specific document? Call +374 33 130371 or write on WhatsApp/Viber.

Writing your name in Armenian

In a foreign document your name is written in Latin or Cyrillic letters, but in the Armenian translation it has to be in Armenian letters. A frequent question arises here: should “Garabedian” be written «Գարաբեդյան» or «Կարապետյան»? “Ter-Petrossian” as «Տեր-Պետրոսյան» or otherwise?

If your family already has Armenian documents (for example, a parent’s Armenian passport), send us a copy. Spelling the same surname differently in different documents can later become a problem, for example when getting an Armenian passport. We always agree the spelling with you before notarization.

The same applies to place names. For example, if your grandfather was born in one of the villages of Musa Dagh or in Aleppo, we will write their traditional Armenian names in the accepted form and, if needed, give the original spelling in brackets.

How to send originals from abroad

If you are still abroad, this is the order of steps that works best:

1. Get the apostille or legalisation in the country that issued the document.
2. Send us clear scans of all pages so we can calculate the price and confirm the names.
3. If needed, order a stamped translation for a preliminary check.
4. Send the originals to our office by international courier or through a relative.
5. We do the notarized translation and hand the finished pack to you or a person you nominate in Yerevan.

For example, Lisa, the Italian wife of an Armenian citizen, started the process while still in Milan. She sent the scans, received the stamped translation and showed it to a migration service adviser. Once she was sure everything was correct, she sent the originals by courier, and the notarized version was ready the day she arrived in Yerevan.

The most common mistakes

For years we have seen the same mistakes among people ordering Armenian citizenship document translations. Avoiding them is much easier than fixing them later:

• Translating before the apostille. If the apostille is added after the translation, its text remains untranslated and the pack is considered incomplete.
• A translation made abroad without Armenian certification. An Armenian translation made by a foreign translator may not be accepted if it is not certified in a way recognised in Armenia. Check before you pay.
• Translating only the first page. Translating foreign documents into Armenian must cover everything: notes on the back, seals and the apostille.
• Different spellings of the surname. When a parent’s and a child’s documents are translated in different places, the surname is often spelled differently.
• Old certificates. Police clearance and other certificates may have a limited validity period.

For example, David, born and raised in Boston, had his documents and his father’s translated at two different agencies. One wrote the surname as «Գարաբեդյան», the other as «Կարապետյան». We reviewed both translations, agreed one spelling with him, and the pack became consistent.

Price and turnaround

Standard translation starts at 2,500 AMD per standard page (1,800 characters), from Russian at 3,000 AMD. Urgent orders carry a +50% surcharge. You can see the notarization fee in the online calculator. One translator works on the whole pack so that names and place names are consistent, and we agree timelines for large packs in advance.

When ordering, it helps to tell us three things: which authority you are submitting the documents to, whether they already have an apostille or legalisation, and your application deadline. With this information we can suggest the most practical route — for example, a stamped version first and the notarized one as soon as we receive the originals.

If one of your documents is already in Armenian (for example, a parent’s Armenian certificate), it does not need translating, but a copy helps us spell names and place names correctly in the other documents. And if a document is in a language we do not work with, we will tell you honestly and advise you on what to do.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get an apostille in Armenia on an American or Russian document?

No. The apostille is issued by the country that issued the document. The apostille or legalisation of a foreign document must be obtained in that country, and then the document is translated into Armenian.

Can you do a notarized translation if I am abroad?

Yes, but the original must physically reach our office — by courier or through a relative. We go to the notary; you do not need to be present.

How will my surname be written in Armenian?

We propose a spelling and agree it with you. If you have Armenian documents or your parents’ Armenian passports, send a copy so that the spelling matches.

From which languages do you translate into Armenian?

From English, Russian, French, German, Spanish and Italian.

Who decides which documents are needed?

The Migration and Citizenship Service of Armenia or the Armenian diplomatic mission where you apply. Always check the current list with them; we will help with the translation.

If you are planning to apply for Armenian citizenship or residence, send us scans of your documents, even if you are still abroad. We will tell you whether they have the required apostille, propose the Armenian spelling of names and calculate the price. Call +374 33 130371 or write on WhatsApp/Viber, see the price in the calculator and our office address on the contact page. Welcome home.

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