WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION  
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DU COMMERCE  
ORGANIZACIÓN MUNDIAL DEL COMERCIO WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
19 May 2010 
 (10-2773) 
Trade Policy Review Body 
6 and 8 April 2010 Original: English/ 
 anglais/  inglés 
 
  
TRADE POLICY REVIEW 
ARMENIA 
Record of the Meeting
 
Addendum  
Chairperson:  H.E. Mr. Bozkurt Aran (Turkey) 
 
 This document contains additional replies provided by Armenia.1 
__________________________________________________________________________________ 
 
Organe d'examen des politiques commerciales 
6 et 8 avril 2010  
EXAMEN DES POLITIQUES COMMERCIALES 
ARMÉNIE 
Compte rendu de la réunion
 
Addendum  
Président:  S.E. M. Bozkurt Aran (Turquie)  
 
 Le présent document contient les réponses additionnelles fournies par l'Arménie.1 
__________________________________________________________________________________ 
 
Órgano de Examen de las Políticas Comerciales 
6 y 8 de abril de 2010  
EXAMEN DE LAS POLÍTICAS COMERCIALES 
ARMENIA 
Acta de la reunión
 
Addendum  
Presidente:  Excmo. Sr. Bozkurt Aran (Turquía) 
 
 En el presente documento figuran las r espuestas adicionales facilitadas por Armenia.1 
                                                      
1 In English only./En anglais seulement./En inglés solamente.  WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
 Page 3 
 
 
  ADDITIONAL REPLIES PROVIDED BY ARMENIA 
China 
Could Armenia please provide its regulations regarding foreign investment in mineral 
exploitation and tourism?  What are the specific polic ies, if any, to encourage foreign investment?  
And what are its policies with respect to  foreign labours and foreign exchanges? 
Answer:  
The above-mentioned questions are regulated by the following laws of the Republic of Armenia, 
which are attached: 
• "Law on Foreign Investment", 
• "Law on Foreigners". 
Non official translation 
THE LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA 
"ON FOREIGN INVESTMENTS" 
This law shall establish the legal, economic a nd organisational basis for the implementations 
of foreign investments in the territory of the Re public of Armenia and shall be directed at the 
provision of protection of the rights, lawful interest s and property of foreign investors, along with the 
creation of necessary conditions for attraction of fo reign material and financial resources as well as 
investment and effective use of foreign adva nced technologies and management and organising 
experience. 
SECTION 1 
GENERAL PROVISIONS  
Article 1. Definitions 
"Foreign investor"  shall mean any foreign state, foreign legal entity, foreign citizen, stateless 
person, citizen of the Repub lic of Armenia permanently residing ou t of the territory of the Republic of 
Armenia, as well as any international organisation which engages, in accordan ce with the legislation 
of the country of its location, in investment in the Republic of Armenia. 
"Foreign investment"  shall mean any type of proper ty, including financial resources and 
intellectual values, which is being directly invest ed by a foreign investor in commercial and other 
activities implemented in the territory of the Repub lic of Armenia to gain profit (revenue) or to 
achieve any other beneficial result. 
"Enterprise with foreign investment"  shall mean an enterprise of any organisational-legal 
type created in compliance with the legislation of the Republic of Armenia, the founder or a 
participant in which is a foreign investor. 
Article 2. Legal Regulation of Foreign Investments 
Relationships arising from foreign investment in  the Republic of Armenia shall be regulated 
by this law, as well as by other legislation of th e Republic of Armenia a nd international treaties. WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
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  Should international treaties of the Republic of  Armenia establish rules which differ from the 
one in this law, the rules of the internati onal treaties shall apply to the respective cases. 
Article 3. Forms of Foreign Investments 
Foreign investors shall be entitled to investment in the territory of the Republic of Armenia by 
means of: 
(a) foreign currency;  other currency values, a nd the national currency of the Republic of 
Armenia; 
(b) movable and immovable property (structures, buildings, equipment, and other material 
values) and any property right related to that property; 
(c) stocks, bonds, and other securities as established by  legislation of the Republic of Armenia; 
(d) any right to claim money or performance of contractual obligations;  any claim 
(e) any valuable right to intellectual property; 
(f) a right, conferred by the legislation of the Repub lic of Armenia or by contract, to engage in 
economic activities, including the right to expl ore, extract, develop, or exploit natural 
resources; 
(g) paid services;  and 
(h) any other type of investment not prohibited by legislation of the Republic of Armenia. 
Implementation of the establishment forms of  foreign investments may be prohibited or 
limited only in a manner provided by legi slation of the Republic of Armenia. 
Article 4. Methods of Implementing Foreign Investments 
Foreign investors shall be entitled to implem ent investments through the following methods: 
(a) creation of enterprises entirely owned by foreign investors, creation of branches, divisions 
and representative offices owned by foreign legal entities, and the take- over of ownership of 
going concerns; 
(b) foundation of joint ventures with legal entities a nd unincorporated enterprises of the Republic 
of Armenia as well as citizens of the Republic of  Armenia, or acquisition of shares in going 
concerns; 
(c) acquisition, within the limits defined by legisl ation of the Republic of Armenia, of stocks, 
bonds, and other securities as established by legi slation of the Republic of Armenia; 
(d) attainment of the right to use land independently  or with the participation of legal entities or 
unincorporated enterprises of the Republic of Ar menia as well as citizens of the Republic of 
Armenia and procurement of concessions to u se natural resources in the territory of the 
Republic of Armenia; 
(e) acquisition of other property rights;  and  WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
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  (f) other methods not prohibited by legislation of  the Republic of Armenia, particularly the 
conclusion of contracts with legal entities or unincorporated enterprises of the Republic of 
Armenia. 
 Implementation of foreign investments through the established methods may be prohibited or 
limited only in a manner provided by legi slation of the Republic of Armenia. 
Article 5. Appraisal of Foreign Investments 
Foreign investments shall be appraised according to the foreign investor's choice, in freely 
convertible foreign currency or the nationa l currency of the Republic of Armenia. 
The amount of foreign currency shall be estimated  in the national currency of the Republic of 
Armenia at the exchange rate no higher than the one established in the Republic of Armenia by the 
Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia at the moment of investing. 
SECTION 2 
STATE GUARANTEES CONCERNING THE PROTECTION 
OF FOREIGN INVESTMENTS 
Article 6. Legal status of Foreign investment 
The legal regime governing foreign investments and the methods of their implementation of 
the Republic of Armenia cannot be less favourable than the regime governing the property, property 
rights and investment activities of citizens, le gal entities and unincorporated enterprises of the 
Republic of Armenia. 
To encourage foreign investments in the most  significant fields of social and economic 
development, additional privileges for such inv estments may be established in a manner provided by 
legislation of the Republic of Armenia. 
The legislation of the Republic of Armenia may define those areas of the Republic of 
Armenia, wherein the activities of foreign invest ors and enterprises with foreign investment are 
limited or prohibited due to requirements of national security. 
 Article 7. Guarantee in the Event of Amendments to the Legislation of the 
Republic of Armenia 
In the event of amendments to the foreign inv estment legislation of the Republic of Armenia, 
the legislation which was effective at the moment of  implementation of investments shall be applied, 
upon the request of a foreign investor, during a five years period from that moment. 
Article 8. Guarantees against Nationalisation and Confiscation 
Foreign investments in the Republic of Armeni a shall not be subject to nationalisation.  
Government bodies cannot, also, confiscate foreign investments. 
Confiscation may be allowed only as an extreme means in case of emergency declared in 
accordance with the legislation of the Republic of  Armenia, and it may be applied only upon the 
judgement of a court of law and with full compensation. WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
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  Article 9. Compensation for Dam ages Caused to Foreign Investors 
Foreign investors shall be entitled to compensati on, through a court order, for those material 
and moral damages, including lost profits, which da mages are caused to them as a result of illegal 
actions by Government bodies of the Republic of Armenia or their officials as well as improper performance, by those bodies or their officials, of their obligations established by legislation of the 
Republic of Armenia toward a foreign investor  or enterprise with foreign participation. 
All the damages caused to foreign investors as a result of actions identified in Article 8 and 
Article 9, Par. 1 of this law shall be subject to pr ompt compensation at current market prices or prices 
determined by independent auditors.  This compensation shall be paid either in the currency invested, 
or in any other currency mutually agreed upon by the parties. 
For the period from the moment of origination of the right to compensation through the 
moment of its execution, an interest in the due am ount of compensation shall be calculated at current 
rates for deposit accounts established on the lo an market of the Republic of Armenia. 
 Article 10. Disposal of a Foreign Investor's Profits (Revenue) and Other Means 
A foreign investor's profit (revenue), afte r paying the taxes and other fees established by 
legislation of the Republic of Armenia,  shall remain under his/her disposal. 
Foreign investors shall be entitled to open in the banks of the Republic of Armenia current 
and other accounts authorised by legislation of th e Republic of Armenia, in a manner established by 
legislation of the Republic of Armenia. 
Foreign investors shall be entitled to use thei r legally obtained means to acquire foreign 
currency or commodities on the domestic market of th e Republic of Armenia, in a manner established 
by legislation of the Republic of Armenia. 
Article 11. Guarantees Regarding the Export of Property, Profits (Revenues) and 
other Means Related to Foreign Investments 
Foreign investors and foreign employees shall be entitled to and shall have the benefit of 
guarantees to freely export their property, profits (revenue) and other means legally gained as a result 
of investments or as a payment for labour or as a compensation under Article 9 of this law. 
SECTION 3 
CREATION OF ENTERPRISES WITH FOREIGN INVESTMENT 
AND TERMINATION OF ACTIVITIES THEREOF 
 Article 12. Foundation and Registration of an Enterprise with Foreign Investment 
Enterprises with foreign investment, their divi sions, branches, representative offices and 
economic associations of enterprises, shall be founde d and registered in a manner established by the 
Law of The Republic of Armenia "On Enterprises a nd Commercial Activities" and other legislation of 
the Republic of Armenia. 
 Article 13. Termination of Activities of an Enterprise with Foreign Investment  
Activities of an enterprise with foreign investment, its division, branches, and representative 
offices shall terminate in a manner and in cases provi ded by their founding documents and legislation 
of the Republic of Armenia.  WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
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  SECTION 4 
CONDITIONS OF ACTIVITIES OF FOREIGN INVESTORS  
AND ENTERPRISES WITH FOREIGN INVESTMENT 
Article 14. Fields of Activities of Enterprises with Foreign Investment  
Enterprise with foreign invest ment may conduct any economic activity which complies with 
the goals and objectives stated in its charter and whic h is nor prohibited by legislation of the Republic 
of Armenia. 
Certain economic activities, as defined by legisl ation of the Republic of Armenia, may be 
conducted by enterprises with foreign investment only after obtaining a license in the established 
manner. 
Article 15. Customs Duties 
The import of the goods included in the list estab lished by the Government of RA, which is 
directed at supplementing the charter capital by the enterprises with foreign investments, is exempted 
from custom duties.  In case of sal e of the goods in the period of 3 years, after using the mentioned 
privilege, the custom duty, including the collection of calculated penalties for its payment delay is 
carried out in accordance with the rules and pr ocedures set by the customs legislation. 
Property imported into the Republic of Armeni a on an international contractual basis as a 
foreign investment shall be exempted from custom s duties within the time-limits established by the 
corresponding contracts. 
Property imported into the Republic of Armenia by foreign employees of enterprises with 
foreign investment and intended for their persona l use shall be exempted from customs duties. 
Article 16. Exportation and Importat ion of Products, Works and Services  
Enterprises with foreign investment shall be entitled to export their own products, works and 
services and import products, works and services for their own needs without any license, with the exception of those cases defined by legislation of  the Republic of Armenia and by international 
treaties.  Regulations regarding the certifica tion of exported products, works and services as the 
private products of the above men tioned enterprises shall be established by legislation of the Republic 
of Armenia. 
Products, works and services being imported for th e needs of the above mentioned enterprises 
shall be recognised as their own in a manner established by legislation of the Republic of Armenia. 
Profits (revenues), including currency, gain ed by the above mentioned enterprises from 
exportation of their own products, works and services,  after the payment of taxes established by 
legislation of the Republic of Armenia, rema ins at the disposal of those enterprises. 
Exportation and importation of other products, works and services by enterprises with foreign 
investment shall be done on a basis generally estab lished by legislation of the Republic of Armenia. 
Article 17. Taxation of Enterprises with Foreign Investment  
Enterprises with foreign investment shall pay taxes and enjoy tax privileges in a manner 
established by legislation of the Republic of Armenia. WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
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   Article 18. Establishment of Privileg es for Enterprises with Foreign Investment  
Privileges established by this law shall apply to  those enterprises with foreign investment 
where such investment is no less than 30 (thi rty) per cent at the moment of foundation. 
For the purpose of drawing up the balance sheet and inventory, an enterprise with foreign 
investment shall convert foreign currency into the national currency of the Republic of Armenia at the 
exchange rate determined in accordance with Artic le 5 of this law and ot her legislation of the 
Republic of Armenia. 
 Article 19. Property Rights over Land and Other Natural Resources 
The acquisition by foreign investors of propert y rights over land and ot her natural resources 
shall be regulated by the relevant le gislation of the Republic of Armenia. 
Article 20. Leasing of Property 
Property may be leased to foreign investors a nd enterprises with foreign investment on the 
basis of lease contracts, in a manner established by legislation of the Republic of Armenia. 
Article 21. Concession Contracts 
Any foreign investor shall be entitled to e xploit renewable and non-renewable natural 
resources on the basis of concession contracts signed by the foreign investor and the Government of 
the Republic of Armenia or authorised governmental  body, in a manner established by the Republic of 
Armenian's legislation on concessions. 
Concession contracts may contain exceptions from the legislation in force in the Republic of 
Armenia.  In such cases they sha ll be subject to approval by the Supreme Council (i.e. the Parliament) 
of the Republic of Armenia. 
Article 22. Intellectual Property Rights 
The exercise and protection of foreign inv estor's intellectual property rights shall be 
guaranteed in accordance with legislation of the Republic of Armenia. 
Article 23. Insurance of Property and Risks 
Foreign investors may insure their property a nd risks at their discretion, unless otherwise 
stipulated by legislation of the Republic of Armenia. 
Article 24. Procedure for Resolution of Disputes 
Disputes arising between foreign investors and th e Republic of Armenia in respect to foreign 
investments shall be considered by the courts of the Republic of Armenia, in a manner established by 
the legislation of the Republic of Armenia. 
Those disputes related to foreign investments,  to which the Republic of Armenia is not a 
party, shall be considered by the courts of the Republic of Armenia or by other bodies for economic 
dispute settlement, in accordance with legislation of the Republic of Armenia.  Such disputes shall be 
considered by a mediation court, should be parties have so agre ed unless, otherwise established by 
international treaties or by the preliminary agre ement (founding documents, economic contracts, and 
so on) of the parties.  WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
 Page 9 
 
 
  Article 25. Responsibility and Ob ligations of Foreign Investors 
Foreign investors shall bear responsibility for an y violation of legislation of the Republic of 
Armenia, as defined by legisla tion of the Republic of Armenia. 
Property of a foreign investor, including working capital and property rights may be used by 
that investor to guarantee any type of its/his/her obligations. 
President of the Republic of Armenia L.Ter-Petrossian 
31 July 1994 
Adopted 25.12.2006 
Signed 16.01.2007 Entered into force 03.02.2007 
LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA ON FOREIGNERS 
Adopted on 25 December 2006 
PART 1 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
ARTICLE 1.  SCOPE OF THE LAW 
1. This law shall govern the terms and conditions of the entry into, stay in, residence in, transit 
over and exit from the Republic of Armenia, as  well as other relations associated with 
foreigners. 
2. The provisions of this law shall apply to fo reign citizens and members of their families 
visiting and staying in the Republic of Armenia for carrying on business activity in diplomatic 
mission or consular offices of foreign states in the Republic of Armenia as well as in 
international organizations or their missions in as much as the peculiarities of relations 
associated with the latter are not stipulated by international treaties of the Republic of Armenia. 
3. This law shall not apply to term s and conditions relating to the grounds for granting, rejecting 
or losing relevant legal status or asylum to foreigners seeking refugee status or political 
asylum in the Republic of Armenia. 
ARTICLE 2.  FOREIGNERS 
In the meaning of this law the word "foreign citizen" implies anyone who is not a citizen of 
the Republic of Armenia, who is a citizen (foreign c itizen) of another state or who is not a citizen of 
another state (stateless persons). 
ARTICLE 3.  DEFINITIONS  
Basic definition applied for the law purposes: 
Passport or travel document (hereinafter:  pass port) – internationally special identity card for 
foreigners issued by a foreign country or intern ational organization and enabling to cross the state 
border. WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
Page 10  
 
  Certificate or visa for entry (hereinafter visa fo r entry) – authorization by competent body of 
the RA Government, which permits a foreigner to en ter into, transit over, stay in and exit from the 
Republic of Armenia with the objectives, terms and conditions mentioned therein. 
Temporary residence permit – authorization by competent body of the RA Government, 
which permits a foreigner to reside in the Re public of Armenia for a limited period of time. 
Permanent residence permit – authorization by  competent body of the RA Government, which 
permits a foreigner to permanently r eside in the Republic of Armenia. 
Special residence permit – authorization by the president of the Republic of Armenia, which 
permits a foreigner to reside in the territory of Armenia within the period of validity of the status 
identity document. 
Work permit - authorization by the state bod y of the RA Government which enables the 
foreigner to work in the Republic of Armenia. 
Home county – a country, of which he is a citizen or a county, where a person without 
citizenship resides, or a person, w hose citizenship cannot be determined. 
Invitation or reference letter (hereinafter i nvitation) – a document, which gives reasonable 
grounds for the entry and stay of foreigners in the territory of the Republic of Armenia with the terms 
and conditions mentioned therein. 
Expulsion– forcible expel of a foreigner from th e Republic of Armenia lacking legal basis for 
stay and residence in territory of Armenia. 
Group expulsion – expulsion of a group with mi nimum two foreigners without adopting a 
decision based on objective and reasonable consid eration relying on personal data and special 
residence permit of each member of the group. 
Carrier – organizations carrying out land and air transport international carriage. 
Attendant – leader of the group of foreigners  under 18 visiting the Republic of Armenia for 
participating in cultural, sporting, youth events or for the sake of tourist travel. 
Host organization – a public administration or local self-governing bodies of the Republic of 
Armenia, legal entity registered in the Republic of Armenia who arranges cultural, sporting, youth 
events or travelling tours with the participation of foreigners under 18. 
ARTICLE 4.  LEGISLATION ON THE LEGAL STATUS OF FOREIGNERS IN THE 
REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA 
1. The relations relating to the status of foreigne rs in the Republic of Armenia are regulated by 
the RA Constitution, by international treaties of  Armenia, by this law and other legal acts. 
2. Other provisions established by international trea ties of the Republic of Armenia are applied 
unless otherwise prescribed by this law.  WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
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  ARTICLE 5.  PRINCIPLES OF THE LEGAL STATUS OF FOREIGNERS IN THE 
REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA 
1. The foreigners in the Republic of Armenia shall have the same rights, freedoms and 
obligations as the RA citizens, unless otherwise stipulated by the RA Constitution, laws and 
international treaties. 
2. The foreigners in the Republic of Armenia mu st respect the RA Constitution and laws, other 
legal acts, national customs and traditions. 
3. The foreigners in the territory of the Republic  of Armenia bear the same responsibility as the 
RA citizens except for cases provided for by th e international treaties of the Republic of 
Armenia. 
CHAPTER 2 
THE ENTRY, EXIT FROM AND TRANSIT OF FOREIGNERS OVER 
THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA 
ARTICLE 6.  ENTRY INTO THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA 
1. Foreigners enter the Republic of Armenia by crossing state borders with a valid travel 
document, entry visa or status documents and in case of authorization by the public 
administration body of the RA Government competent for control of crossings of the state borders, unless otherwise stipulated by this la w or international treaties of the Republic of 
Armenia. 
2. Foreigners under 18 may enter the Republic of Armenia with their parents, a parent, and other 
legal representative or together with the attenda nt or alone, if they come to the Republic of 
Armenia to visit their parents, a parent, ot her legal representative or  a host organization. 
3. Foreigners, arriving at the crossing of the state border of the Republic of Armenia without 
passport, with the substituting document or invalid  passport or receiving denial of entry visa 
at the crossings of the RA state border or not  allowed to enter the country by the body 
competent for control of the border crossings, ma y not enter into the territory of the Republic 
of Armenia and as soon as possible they are forc ibly expelled at once to their home county or 
to a country from which they come by the sa me transport carriages, except for the cases when 
they visit Armenia with the refugee status or with the goal of seeking political asylum. 
4. If there is a lack of personal savings of forei gners mentioned in clause 3 of this Article the 
costs to take them back are incurred in accordance with the procedure established by 
international agreements by a carrier, who brou ght those citizens to the Republic of Armenia 
or by the Republic of Armenia in accordan ce with the procedure established by the RA 
Government. 
ARTICLE 7.  THE RIGHT OF FOREIGNERS TO STAY IN THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA 
WITHOUT A VISA FOR ENTRY INTO THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA 
1. The citizens of these countries for whom the system for visiting the Republic of Armenia 
without a visa for entry is prescribed may not stay longer in the territory of Armenia than 
90 days in a year, unless otherwise prescribed by  international treaties of the Republic of 
Armenia. WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
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  2. The date of arrival to the Republic of Armeni a is specially entered into the passport of 
foreigners mentioned in clause 1 of this Artic le in accordance with the procedure established 
by the RA Government. 
ARTICLE 8.  GRANTING, (EXTENSION OF THE PERIOD OF VALIDITY), REJECTING 
THE VISA FOR ENTRY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA TO A FOREIGNER, 
REPEALING OR THE VISA FOR ENTRY OR DISALLOWING THE ENTRY 
1. A foreigner shall be refused the issuance (extension of the period of validity) of visa for entry, 
the issued visa for entry shall be repealed or  the entry into the Republic of Armenia is 
disallowed, if: 
(a) he/she is expelled from the territory of the Re public of Armenia or is deprived of the 
residence permit and there was not a three year lapse upon the entry into force of the decision 
on expulsion or deprivation of status; 
(b) in case of violating this law an administrative action has been brought against him and there 
has not been year lapse upon the entr y into force of decision thereon; 
(c) there is reliable data that he/she carries out such business, participates, organizes or is a 
member of such an organization, the objective of which is: 
• threat the national security of the Republic of Armenia; disrupt the constitutional 
 order; and weaken protection; 
• he/she is engaged in terrorism; 
• transport across the border of illegal (without  a relevant permit) arms, ammunition; 
 explosives, radioactive substances, drug precursors, psychotropic substances;  or 
• conduct trade (trafficking) in human be ings and (or) illegal border crossings. 
(d) he/she is infected with communicable disease which endangers the h ealth of population 
except for cases when he enters into the Republic  of Armenia for treating such a disease.  The 
list of those communicable diseases is established by the RA Government;  
(e) while seeking for the entry permit he/she submitte d false information about himself or did not 
submit required information or there is data on the fact that his entry into  or the stay in the 
Republic of Armenia pursues an objective other than the declared one;  or 
(f) if there are other considerable and substantial threats are caused by them to the public security 
or social order of the Republic of Armenia. 
2. The granting (extension of the period of validit y) of visa for entry to a foreigner may be 
refused, repealing the issued visa for entry or forb id the entry into the Republic of Armenia, if 
he was convicted of grave or particularly grav e offence in the Republic of Armenia provided 
for by the RA Criminal Code, and the conviction was not removed or cancelled. 
(a) The provisions of this part do not apply to persons having close relatives (husband, child, 
father, mother, sister, brother, grandparent, grandchildren). 
3. The visa for entry granted to a foreigner shall be  repealed if he/she works in the Republic of 
Armenia without a valid work permit.  WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
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  4. Exceptionally, if there are grounds mentioned in clauses "a" and "b" of the first part of this 
Article, the entry of foreigners may be allowed if there are good reasons for it. 
5. The form established by the RA Government sha ll be mentioned in fore igners' protocol on the 
refusal of granting (extension of the period of validity) visa for entry, repealing the visa for entry or denial of entry based on this Article. 
6. The data on persons mentioned in clauses 1-3 of th is Article shall be entered into the database 
on foreigners deemed to be undesirable in the Republic of Armenia. 
The database is maintained by public administ ration bodies competent in the national security 
of the Republic of Armenia, which enters required information in the database.  With the purpose of 
entering information into database the information is  submitted to the authorized state body competent 
in national security by the President's Office of the Republic of Armenia, by authorized state body 
competent in national security, competent police admi nistration, authorized state body competent in 
foreign affairs. 
President's Office of the Republic of Armenia, by authorized state body competent in national 
security, competent police administration, authori zed state body competent in foreign affairs, 
authorized state body competent in border control as well as in cases prescribed in the law courts of 
the Republic of Armenia, RA criminal prosecution implementing bodies have an access to the aforementioned database. 
The procedure for entering information into the database and making use thereof shall be 
established by the RA Government. 
ARTICLE 9.  VISA FOR ENTRY 
1. Visa for entry of the Republic of Armenia sha ll be issued for maximum 120 days with the 
possibility of extension up to 60 days, unless othe rwise prescribed in this law or international 
agreement of the Republic of Armenia. 
2. Visa for entry in Armenia shall be issued for one  entry unless otherwise prescribed in this law 
or international agreement of the Republic of Armenia. 
3. Visa for entry of the Republic of Armenia shall be issued on individual and if needed on 
group basis. 
4. The Government of the Republic of Armenia sh all elaborate the list of those countries the 
citizens of which for obtaining visa for entry ma y apply to diplomatic missions and consular 
offices of the Republic of Armenia in foreign countries and only on the basis of invitations envisaged by Article 11 of this law. 
5. The Government of the Republic of Armenia base d on reciprocity principle or if needed also 
unilaterally may prescribe without visa entrance regimes for citizens of specific countries or 
may release a specific category of persons from th e requirement of obtaining visa for entry. 
6. State duty is levied on foreigners for obtaining the visa for entry into the Republic of Armenia 
in the size and way prescribed by the RA Law on State Duty. 
7. Based on the law citizens of certain countries or persons of a special category may be released 
from state duty established for visa for entry or the rates of state duties may be reduced or 
increased. WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
Page 14  
 
  8. The procedure for considering the application for obtaining visa for entry into the Republic of 
Armenia, the list of documents accompanying th e application and the procedure for the issue 
of group visa for entry are established by the RA Government. 
ARTICLE 10.  TYPES OF VISA FOR ENTRY INTO THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA  
1. The kinds of visa for entry into the Republic of Armenia are: 
(a) Travel visa – to visit for going and seeing rela tives (friends), for family reunification (in cases 
prescribed in clauses "c" and "d" of the first part of Article 15 of this law), for tourism (recreation), for treatment, for studying at hi gher educational institutes of the Republic of 
Armenia, for participating in cultural, sporti ng, scientific and other events or conferences 
arranged in the Republic of Armenia, for implementing technical assistance, humanitarian, 
charitable, financial support short term project s, for taking part in business negotiations, for 
carrying out operational activity, for launc hing economic activity (for founding trade 
organizations, mission or representative office to foreign country trade organization, for 
making investment in the Republic of Arme nia, for importing and exporting goods and 
services), as well as for the members of staff of land or air carriages for one entry or multiple 
entry with a period of validity with up to one year. 
(b) Official visa – for persons with official (service) passport: 
• For employees of diplomatic missions and consular offices accredited in the Republic 
 of Armenia, from international organiza tions with headquarters in Armenia or 
 employees without diplomatic status from their representative offices as well as  members of their families for a multiple visa w ith the period of validity of up to three 
 years. 
• For officials from foreign countries or international organizations visiting the 
 Republic of Armenia for service at the invitation of state bodies of the Republic of  Armenia or accredited diplomatic missions and consular offices in Armenia,  international organizations and their re presentative offices for one entry or multiple 
 entry with a period of validity of up to one year. 
• For members of formal delegations with re gular passports for one entry or multiple 
 entry with a period of validity of up to one year. 
(c) Diplomatic visa – for persons with dipl omatic passport or diplomatic status: 
• For employees of diplomatic missions and consular offices accredited in the Republic 
of Armenia, from international organiza tions with headquarters in Armenia or 
employees without diplomatic status from their representative offices as well as members of their families for a multiple visa with the period of validity of up to three years. 
• For the member of delegation visiting the Republic of Armenia for official, public, 
business or service purposes as well as for member of their families, for state officials for a visa for entry with the period of validity of up to one year. 
• For those visiting the Republic of Armeni a not for business purposes for a visa for 
entry with the period of validity of up to 120 days.  WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
 Page 15 
 
 
  (d) Transit visa – for those travelling by ail or land  transport across the territory of the Republic 
of Armenia for one entry or multiple entry visa with the period of validity of up to one year, to sojourn for at the longest three days and to  be extended for at the most up to 4 days. 
2. Visa for entry established in accordance with  the procedure elaborated by the RA 
Government are encoded by the type of travel. 
3. In foreign countries diplomatic missions or consular offices of the Republic of Armenia in 
foreign countries are granted with visa for entr y of the Republic of Armenia whereas at state 
border checks of Armenia and if required also in the territory of the Republic of Armenia 
competent police administration as well as the au thorized state body competent in foreign 
affairs. 
4. An authorized state body competent in foreign affairs issues and extends visas for entry 
mentioned in clauses "b" and "c" of the first part  of this Article as well as electronic visas for 
entry the procedure for the issuance of which is established by the RA Government. 
5. A competent police administration of the Republic of Armenia issues and extends the types of 
visas for entry mentioned in clauses "a" and "d" of the first part of this Article. 
6. The period of validity of a visa for one entry i ssued by diplomatic missions or consular 
offices of the Republic of Armenia in foreign c ountries exceeds by two years the deadline for 
sojourn in the Republic of Armenia whereas the period of validity of visa for one entry at state border crossing checks of Armenia and if need ed also in the territory of the Republic of 
Armenia corresponds to the deadline of sojourn.   The period of validity of visa for entry 
issued by diplomatic missions or consular offices may be aligned with the term of entry into 
the Republic of Armenia declared by a foreigner in the written form. 
7. A foreigner may apply to diplom atic missions or consular offices of the Republic of Armenia 
with a request of obtaining the RA visa for entry at the most four months before the planned visit. 
8. Visa issuing bodies enter the data on persons w ith visa for entry into a relevant database 
which is maintained by a competent police admi nistration.  The procedure on maintaining the 
database of persons with a visa for entry, on en tering and providing data is established by the 
RA Government. 
ARTICLE 11.  INVITATION 
1. For visiting the Republic of Armenia foreigners may be invited by: 
(a) a citizen of the Republic of Armenia residing in Armenia; 
(b) a foreigner with residence permit in the Republic of Armenia; 
(c) a legal entity registered in the Republic of Armenia; 
(d) public administration bodies, local self-governing authorities, accredited diplomatic missions, 
consular offices as well as international orga nizations and their representative offices in the 
Republic of Armenia. WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
Page 16  
 
  2. Letter of invitation contains the data on inviter and invitee, the goal of invitation, the terms of 
sojourn of the invitee in the Republic of Armeni a.  The form of invitation letter is approved 
by the RA Government. 
3. The invitation is valid upon the approval by an authorized state body of the Republic of 
Armenia for which state duty is levied in th e size and way prescribed by the RA Law on State 
Duty. 
4. While submitting letter of invita tion for approval by an authorized state body of the Republic 
of Armenia, the citizens mentioned in clause "a" of  the first part of this Article shall submit a 
passport, the ones mentioned in clause "b" – a passport and residence permit (special RA 
passport), and legal entities mentioned in clause "c " of the first part of this Article shall 
submit the copy of registration certificate issued by the RA state register. 
The persons mentioned in this part shall also submit information by the invitee on covering 
expenses of sojourn, including e xpenses of possible medical care and travel to the Republic of 
Armenia or undertake an obligation on covering on  his own all the aforementioned expenses in both 
cases submitting state duty payment invoice. 
5. The approval of invitation by a competent body may be denied if there are grounds mentioned 
in the first part of Article 8 of this law or if  the invitee did not fulfil the obligations covered 
by clause 4 of this Article. 
6. The invitations for visiting to the Republic of  Armenia and petition letters for extending visas 
for entry is approved at the most within a 15 day time period: 
(a) in cases prescribed in clauses "a" and "b" of pa rt one of this Article by competent police 
administration; 
(b) in cases prescribed in clauses "c" and "d" of pa rt one of this Article by competent foreign 
affairs body; 
(c) in case of an invitation for business purposes in the Republic of Armenia by a competent 
body responsible for work and employment of foreigners (hereinafter a competent body). 
The approval and registration procedure of invita tions is established by the Government of the 
Republic of Armenia. 
ARTICLE 12.  EXIT FROM THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA 
1. Foreigners may exit from the Republic of Armeni a in case of a valid passport and or a valid 
document certifying legal stay or residence till th e moment of the exit from the territory of the 
Republic of Armenia unless otherwise is stipul ated by law or international agreements. 
2. The exit from the Republic of Armenia shall be prohibited if in the procedure prescribed by 
law: 
(a) an action has been brought against him/her until the end of the proceeding or the termination 
of the criminal prosecution against that person; 
(b) such a punishment is imposed the enforcement of which is possible only in the Republic of 
Armenia until the expiration of the term of punishment or exemption from the punishment in 
the procedure prescribed by law.  WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
 Page 17 
 
 
  ARTICLE 13.  TRANSIT THROUGH THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA 
1. The transit through the Republic of Armenia shall be deemed the transportation of foreigners 
from any state to another third state through the territory of the Republic of Armenia via land 
or air transportation means. 
2. In case of transit foreigners shall submit ticke ts and (or) the entry visa for the third country 
and can stay in the Republic of Armenia no more than 72 hours except for emergency cases. 
3. If a foreigner stays in transit zone and does not  enter into the territory of the Republic of 
Armenia, he/she may stay in transit zone no more than 48 hours, except for emergency cases. 
CHAPTER 3 
RESIDENT PERMITS OF FOREIGNERS IN THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA 
ARTICLE 14.  RESIDENCE PERMITS OF FOREIGNERS 1. The following residence permits shall be define d for foreigners in the Republic of Armenia: 
(a) temporary; 
(b) permanent; 
(c) special. 
2. Documents certifying temporary, permanent a nd special residence permits of Armenia shall 
be temporary residence document, permanent residence document and a special passport, the forms of which shall be approved by the Government of Armenia. 
3. State fee shall be levied for gr anting residence permit to forei gners in Armenia in the amount 
defined by the Law of Armenia on State Duty. 
ARTICLE 15.  BASIS AND TERMS FOR ISSUING TEMPORARY RESIDENCE PERMIT 
1. Temporary residence permit may be issued to a foreign citizen, if he/she proves that there are 
ground basis for his/her residence in Armenia for 1 and more years. 
Such fact may be: 
(a) education;  or 
(b) work permission according to Chapter 4 herein;  or 
(c) marriage with a citizen of Armenia or with a fo reigner having legal residency in Armenia;  or 
(d) a close relative (parent, brother, sister, spouse,  child, grandparents, grandchild) of a citizen of 
Armenia or a foreigner having a permanent residence permit in Armenia;  or 
(e) entrepreneurship activity. 
2. The temporary residence permit is issued for not more than one-year period and may be 
extended for maximum one year in each case. WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
Page 18  
 
  The application for extension temporary reside nce permit shall be submitted within 30 days 
prior to the expiration of the permit. 
3. The foreigner having obtained temporary r esidence permit on the basis prescribed in 
Clause 1 (c) herein in case of solving or a nnulling the marriage with the foreigner with 
resident permit in the Republic of Armenia may apply to extend temporary residence permit if 
he/she has been married and resided in the Republic of Armenia at least 1 year. 
ARTICLE 16.  GROUNDS AND TERMS FOR OBTAINING PERMANENT RESIDENCE 
PERMIT 
1. Permanent residence permit shall be granted to a foreigner if he/she: 
(a) proves the existence of his/her near relatives (parent, spouse, brother, sister, child, 
grandparents, grandchild) in th e Republic of Armenia,  and 
(b) has a flat and surviving means in Armenia; 
(c) has been resided in the Republic of Armenia in  the procedure prescribed by law until applying 
for permanent residence permit. 
Permanent residence permit may be granted to a foreigner involved in the entrepreneurship 
activity. 
The conditions specified in point "b" herein sh all be deemed as satisfactory if the foreigner 
has sufficient means for himself and family member s under his/her custody or has family member or 
members, who are able and obliged to provide means for his/her residence. 
2. The temporary residence permit is granted for 5-year period and may be extended for 
maximum one year in each case. 
The application for the extension of permanen t residence document shall be presented within 
30 days before the expiry of the period of the currently valid temporary residence. 
ARTICLE 17.  SUBMISSION, DISCUSSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR TEMPORARY 
AND PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMIT AND REGISTRATION OF FOREIGNERS WITH TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMITS 
1. An application for temporary or permanent residence permits shall be submitted to the 
competent police administration of Armenia. 
2. Discussion procedure of an application for temporary and permanent residence permits, the 
list of documents submitted with the applica tion shall be defined by the Government of 
Armenia. 
3. The decision on granting or refusing to grant te mporary or permanent residence permit shall 
be adopted by the competent police administration of Armenia within 30 days upon the 
submission of the application. 
4. The competent police administration of Armenia shall register the foreigners having 
temporary or permanent residence permits in th e procedure prescribed by the Government of 
Armenia.  WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
 Page 19 
 
 
  5. The foreigner having permanent residence permit in case of absence from the Republic of 
Armenia more than 6 months shall notify the competent police administration of Armenia in 
writing. 
ARTICLE 18.  GROUNDS AND TERMS FOR GRANTING SPECIAL RESIDENCE PERMIT 
1. Special residence permit is granted to forei gn citizens of Armenian origin.  The special 
residence permit is also granted to other fo reign citizens who carry out economic, cultural 
activity in Armenia. 
2. Special residence permit is granted for a period of  ten years.  It is granted more than once. 
3. An application for special residence permit in  Armenia shall be presented to the competent 
police administration of Armenia whereas in a foreign state to the diplomatic representation 
or the Councillor's office. 
4. Discussion procedure, terms of an application for granting special residence permit and the 
list of documents presented with the application shall be approved by the President of the 
Republic of Armenia. 
5. The President of the Republic of Armenia shall take a decision on granting or refusing to 
grant special residence permit.  The decision is final and may not be appealed. 
6. The competent police administration of Armenia in the field of police shall register the 
foreigners with special residence permits in the procedure prescribed by the Government of 
Armenia. 
ARTICLE 19.  GROUNDS OF REFUSING TO GRANT RESIDENCE PERMIT 
Granting of residence permit may be refused if: 
(a) he has been expelled from the territory of the Republic of Armenia or was previously 
deprived of residence permit and there has been no 3 year lapse at the moment of entry into 
force of the decision on expulsion or on refusal of residence permit; 
(b) he was convicted in the Republic of Armenia of committing a grave or particularly grave 
crime provided for in the Criminal Code of Armenia and the conviction was not removed or 
cancelled in the prescribed order; 
(c) there is reliable data that he/she is engaged in such an activity, participates, organizes or is a 
member of such an organization the objective of which is to: 
• threaten the state security of the Repub lic of Armenia, disrupts the constitutional 
 order, weaken the defence capacity;   
• carry out terrorist activity; 
• illegally transport across the border (without  a relevant permit) arms, ammunition, 
 explosives, radioactive substances, na rcotics, psychotropic substances;  or 
• carry out trafficking in human beings and (or) illegal border crossings. 
(d) he/she suffers one of the diseases spec ified in Article 8 (1, d) herein; WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
Page 20  
 
  (e) there are other considerable and justifiable threats caused by him to the state security or social 
order of the Republic of Armenia; 
(f) while seeking residence permit he/she has subm itted false information about himself or has 
not submitted required documents or there is data on the fact that his stay in the Republic of 
Armenia pursues an objective other than the declared one;  or 
(g) he/she has been subject to administrative punish ment for violation of this law and there has 
been one year lapse upon the entry into force of the decision thereon. 
ARTICLE 20.  APPEAL AGAINST REFUSAL OF APPLICATION FOR OBTAINING 
RESIDENCE PERMIT 
1. Except for a special residence permit a foreigner may appeal the refusal of the application for 
obtaining or extending residence permit through judicial procedure. 
2. If the entry visa or the period of validity of the residence permit expires prior to the case 
examination by the court or entry into for ce of the court decision the competent police 
administration of Armenia issues a temporary resi dence permit prior to the entry into force of 
the decision. 
3. If the court decides to enforce the decision on th e refusal to obtain or extend residence permit 
a foreigner shall be obliged to voluntary leave the country within 10 days period upon the entry into force of the court decision. 
4. If the granting of a residence permit is refused a foreigner may apply for a residence permit 
after one year about which is indicated in the decision on refusal. 
ARTICLE 21.  GROUNDS FOR REPEALING THE DECISION ON THE GRANTING OF 
RESIDENCE PERMIT, FOR REFUSAL OF  APPLICATION FOR EXTENSION OF 
RESIDENCE PERMIT, CONSEQUENCES TO DEPRIVE OF RESIDENCE PERMIT AND APPEAL AGAINST DEPRIVING OF RESIDENCE PERMIT 
1. The residence permit granted to a foreigner h as been repealed and a foreigner shall be 
deprived of a residence permit if: 
(a) it was found out that he/she has submitted fa lse information about himself or there are 
evidences that his/her stay in the Republic of  Armenia pursues an objective other than the 
declared one; 
(b) the marriage with the Armenian citizen or a foreigner having residen ce permit which served a 
basis for granting residence permit to a foreigne r has been terminated or dissolved except for 
the case specified in Article 15 (3) herein; 
(c) in case of having permanent residence permit he /she has been absent from the Republic of 
Armenia more than 6 months or has perman ently left the Republic of Armenia without 
informing on his intention to leave the count ry to the competent police administration of 
Armenia; 
(d) his/her stay in Armenia threatens state security  or social order of the Republic of Armenia. 
The application for extension of a foreigner' s residence permit may be refused on grounds 
specified in Clauses (a), (c), (d) herein.  WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
 Page 21 
 
 
  2. The Decision on refusal of application for repealing or extending residence permit also 
specifies terms of a foreigner's voluntary departure from the territory of the Republic of Armenia, his/her place of residence prior to the departure from the territory of the Republic of 
Armenia and the ban to leave that place of residence without permission. 
3. A foreigner deprived of a residence permit and a foreigner whose appli cation for extension of 
residence permit has been refused shall be oblig ed to leave the Republic of Armenia within 
the terms specified in the decision on refusal of application for depriving or extending the 
residence permit if after receiving the decision on refusal of application for depriving or extending the residence permit has not been ap pealed through judicial procedure within 
5 days period. 
4. Data on a foreigner deprived of residence pe rmit or on a foreigner whose application for 
extension of residence permit has been refused shall be entered into data bank specified in 
Article 8 (6) herein. 
CHAPTER 4 
WORK OF FOREIGNERS IN THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA 
ARTICLE 22.  WORK OF FOREIGNERS IN THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA 1. Foreigners shall be entitled to freely manage their work skills, chose type of the profession 
and activity, be engaged in economic activity not prohibited by the Armenian legislation 
retaining restrictions set forth in the Armenian legislation.  The principle of legal equality of 
the parties to employment relations defined by the Labour Code of Armenia is guaranteed 
irrespective of sex, race, nationality, language , citizenship and other circumstances not 
dealing with the employee's work skills. 
2. Employers of the Republic of Armenia shall be  entitled to conclude an employment contract 
(service contract) with a foreign worker and u se his work based on the work permit issued to 
the foreign worker by a competent authority.  While granting work permit to a foreign worker 
the Armenian competent body responsible for work  and employment of foreigners takes into 
account the needs and developments of the RA labour market. 
3. For the assessment of the RA labour market need s the Decree of the Government of Armenia 
shall specify a term for the employer during whic h he/she shall be obliged to replenish his job 
opening with the citizens of the Republic of  Armenia.  If the Republican Employment 
Services do not nominate any candidate meeting its requirements within the specified term the employer may find a foreigner who meets these requirements and apply to the competent 
authority for the issuance of work permit fo r him within the specific term by submitting 
necessary documents defined by the RA Government Decree. 
4. A foreigner shall be entitled to work in the Re public of Armenia if he/she provides the work 
permit given by the employer. 
ARTICLE 23.  EXCEPTIONS FOR OBTAINING WORK PERMIT 
Without work permit those may work in the Republic of Armenia who have: 
(a) permanent and special residence permit in the Republic of Armenia and temporary residence 
permit of Armenia on grounds specified in Article 15 (1) (d) herein; WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
Page 22  
 
  (b) temporary residence permit of Armenia on grounds  specified in Article 15 (1), (c) herein 
within the terms not exceeding the period of residence permit; 
(c) family members of employees working in diplomatic representation and consular offices, 
international organizations and their repr esentative offices accredited in the Republic of 
Armenia based on reciprocity principle; 
(d) employees of border regions and cu lture and sport specialists arri ving for a short period of 
time; 
(e) founders, directors or authorized representativ es of commercial organizations with foreign 
participation; 
(f) employees of commercial organizations of a foreign country for working in representative 
offices of those organizations located in the Republic of Armenia; 
(g) foreign specialists residing in Armenia not mo re than 6 months with the view to train 
employees for installing, repairing and explo iting machines, equipments delivered to its 
branch or representative office by a commerc ial organization of a foreign country or 
purchased from foreign commercial organizations; 
(h) specialists or other persons coming to the Repub lic of Armenia based on international treaties; 
(i) lectures of foreign educational institutions inv ited to deliver lectures at higher educational 
establishments of Armenia; 
(j) accredited representatives of foreign media organizations; 
(k) foreign citizens having refugee status, those obtained political asylum in the Republic of 
Armenia and stateless persons within the term s not exceeding the period of residence permit; 
(l) students involved in work exchange programm es based on relevant international treaties. 
ARTICLE 24.  ISSUANCE AND REFUSAL OF WORK PERMIT 
1. The work permit shall be issued and refused by  a competent authority by the procedure and 
terms prescribed by the Government of Armenia. 
2. The work permit shall be issued to a foreigne r for a period no longer than one year and it may 
be extended only once for the same period of tim e retaining the requirements of Article 22 (3) 
herein.  A foreign citizen may be issued a ne w work permit if he/she resided continuously 
outside the territory of Armenia not less than one year. 
3. The work permit shall specify the work a fo reigner shall perform and the name of the 
employee with whom he/she shall work.  A fore igner issued a work permit shall be granted 
temporary residence permit or its period is ex tended within the terms specified in the work 
permit. 
4. The employer is levied state duty by the procedure and size prescribed by the Law of 
Armenia on State Duty for obtaining work permit and for extending the periods of the required permissions.  WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
 Page 23 
 
 
  ARTICLE 25.  GROUNDS FOR REFUSI NG TO ISSUE WORK PERMIT 
The issuance of work permit is refused if: 
(a) the status of labour market of Armenia based on a serious analysis thereof does not allow that 
work; 
(b) the laws of Armenia require Armenian c itizenship for performing the given work; 
(c) the required information or documents are falsified; 
(d) an employer with whom a foreigner shall wo rk has previously breached the recruitment 
requirements of foreigners; 
(e) there are reasons threatening the state security of the Republic of Armenia; 
(f) the employer does not have a license to be engaged in activities subject to licensing. 
ARTICLE 26.  APPEALING THE REFUSAL OF WORK PERMIT 
1. A foreigner shall be notified of the refusal of work permit in writing. 
2. A foreigner may appeal the refusal of work permit through judicial procedure. 
ARTICLE 27.  CONCLUSION OF EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT (SERVICE CONTRACT) 
1. Employment contract (service contract) is concluded in accordance with the requirement of 
the RA Labour Code only with a period of vali dity of a work permit.  Employment contract 
(service contract) shall also cover issues related to transport of a foreign worker and members of his family to the Republic of Armenia as we ll as issues related to their social security and 
insurance, meeting, provision of shelter and registration in the place of residence and their 
return. 
2. In case of suspension of employer's activities a foreign worker shall be entitled to conclude a 
new employment contract (service contract) w ith another employer for the remaining period 
of validity of the work permit provided that at le ast 3 months are left till the termination of the 
specified period and the employer has received the agreement of the competent authority. 
3. Within 3 days period after the conclusion of employment contract (service contract) with a 
foreigner the employer shall submit its copy to a competent body responsible for work and 
employment of foreigners for the registration. 
ARTICLE 28.  REVOCATION AND SUSPENSION OF WORK PERMIT 
1. A work permit is revoked if: 
(a) A foreigner has obtained the work permit in a fraudulent manner; 
(b) A foreigner has not concluded an employment c ontract (service contract) within one month 
period after obtaining the work permit or he was employed without work permit. 
The work permit shall be suspended if the empl oyment contract (service contract) has expired 
or the contract was terminated. WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
Page 24  
 
  2. The work permit is revoked by a competent body. 
3. The competent body shall notify of the decisi on on revocation of work permit in writing to a 
competent police administration, to an employer and to a foreigner within 5 days period. 
ARTICLE 29.  FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL MIGRATION 
1. If an employer does not provide a foreign worker entered into the territory of Armenia legally 
with the job for which he has obtained the work  permit an employer shall cover expenditures 
associated with his and of his family members' return that are allowed to accompany or join 
him as well as expenditures related to their r eaching the country of origin and livelihood and 
to transport of personal property. 
2. To supply accurate information to a foreign wo rker the competent body responsible for work 
and employment of foreigners provides free s upport and service and advice aimed at the fight 
against misleading information.  The competent body responsible for work and employment of foreigners shall be obliged to provide free advice to a foreigner prior to his entering into 
the territory of Armenia on the provisions of th e employment contract concluded between an 
employer and a foreigner and verify their act ual compliance after entering into the Republic 
of Armenia. 
CHAPTER 5 
ARTICLE 30.  VOLUNTARY DEPARTURE AND EXPULSION OF A FOREIGNER 
A foreigner shall be obliged to depart from the territory of Armenia voluntary if: 
(a) His entry visa or the period of validity of residence permit has expired. 
(b) The entry visa was revoked on grounds specifi ed in Article 8 (1), (2), (3) herein. 
(c) The application for obtaining or extending residence permit has been refused. 
(d) He has been deprived of residence permit on grounds specified in Article 21 herein. 
ARTICLE 31.  COMMENCEMENT OF PROCEEDINGS AGAINST EXPULSION OF A 
FOREIGNER 
If a foreigner has not left the territory of Armenia voluntary in cases stipulated by Article 30 
herein a competent police administ ration commences proceedings against the expulsion of a foreigner 
and goes to court. 
ARTICLE 32.  CIRCUMSTANCES PROHIBITING EXPULSION OF FOREIGN CITIZENS 
1. It is forbidden to expel foreign citizens to a state in which his/her rights are violated and 
particularly if he/she is per secuted because of his/her race, religious, social origin, citizenship 
or political opinion or to a state in which he might be exposed to torture or inhuman or 
degrading treatment or punishment or death penalty. 
Evidences on persecution, tortures or inhuman or de grading treatment or existence of real risk 
of death penalty are brought to court by the given foreigner. 
2. It is prohibited to expel the foreigner resi ding in the Republic of Armenia provided that:  WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
 Page 25 
 
 
  • he/she is a teenager and his parents live in the Republic of Armenia legally;  or 
• he/she has a teenager under his custody;  or 
• he/she is above 80. 
3. Collective expulsion of foreigners is prohibited. 
ARTICLE 33.  RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF FOREIGNERS DURING CASE 
EXAMINATION 
A foreigner who is subject to expulsion from the Republic of Armenia enjoys all rights 
envisaged by RA laws for judicial authority. 
ARTICLE 34.  DECISION ON EXPULSION OF A FOREIGNER 
1. As a result of examination of a case on expulsion the court takes a decision on expulsion or 
refusal of expulsion a foreigner. 
2. The court decision on expulsion specifies expulsion date, route, state border crossing, 
expulsion expenditures, his place of residence prior to leaving the territory of Armenia, 
obligation to regularly go to a relevant subdivision of competent police administration and 
ban to leave the place of residence without perm ission, keeping under arrest or releasing prior 
to expulsion in case of being arrested in cases specified in chapter 6 herein. 
3. The court decision on refusal of expulsion specifies the obligation of a competent police 
administration granting temporary residence permit. 
ARTICLE 35.  APPEAL AGAINST COURT DECISION 
1. The decision on expulsion may be appealed by the procedure prescribed by the law. 
2. In case of appeal against decision on expulsion the expulsion of a foreigner from the Republic 
of Armenia is suspended. 
ARTICLE 36.  EXECUTION OF COURT DECISION ON EXPULSION 
1. The decision on expulsion shall be indicated in the foreigner's passport. 
2. The competent police administration executes the decision on expulsion of a foreigner. 
3. The competent police administration implements separate registration of  expelled foreigners 
and the data on them shall be entered into th e data bank specified in Article 8 (6) herein. 
4. The diplomatic representation or consular office of the country of origin of an expelled 
foreigner or the diplomatic representation of ot her country representing th e country's interests 
are notified of the expulsion within 3 days period. 
5. If a foreigner does not cover expulsion expenditures they are covered from the state budget of 
the Republic of Armenia. WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
Page 26  
 
  LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA ON FOREIGNERS 
PART 2 
Adopted on 25 December 2006 
CHAPTER 6 
DETENTION OR IMPRISONMENT OF FOREIGNERS 
IN CASE OF BREACHING THIS LAW  
ARTICLE 37.  THE DETENTION OF FOREIGNERS WITHOUT ENTRY PERMIT AT 
STATE BORDER CROSSINGS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA 
1. As prescribed by Article 6 (3) of this law if it is impossible to return a foreigner to his home 
country or to a country whence he came, the foreigners who arrived at the state border 
crossing of the Republic of Armenia without p assport, with invalid passport or refused of 
entry visa at state border crossing of Armeni a or without an entry permit by the body 
competent for control of the crossing of the state border may be detained in a transit area or in some other shelter established for that purpose. 
2. If foreigners mentioned in section one of this Article are family members they are detained 
together. 
3. If the person mentioned in section one of this Ar ticle 1 is a person under 18 travelling without 
parents or accompanied by a legal representative, he may not be detained in a special shelter 
or may be immediately accompanied by a parent (parents) or a legal representative. 
4. The body competent for control of the crossing of  the state border providing a special shelter 
to a foreigner within 24 hours goes to cour t for rendering decision on the permission for 
detaining a foreigner for up to 90 days. 
For rendering a court decision, a detainee is transported to court premises accompanied by a 
representative of the body competent for control of the crossing of the state border. 
5. If within 90 days it is impossible to return a foreigner to home country, the RA competent 
police administration body issues temporary allowance till the expulsion from the Republic of 
Armenia for no longer than one year. 
6. The procedure on the operation of special shelters in crossings of state border and transit areas 
and on detention of foreigners. 
ARTICLE 38.  ARREST OF FOREIGNERS FOR DETENTION PURPOSES 
1. A foreigner may be arrested and detained in  specialized facilities in accordance with a 
procedure under the present Law if there are good reasons to suspect that he can hide himself 
till the case on expulsion is examined in the c ourt or the execution of expulsion decision in 
force.  Within 48 hours upon arresting a forei gner or detaining in specialized facility the RA 
competent police administration body goes to c ourt for rendering decision on the permission 
for detaining a foreigner for up to 90 days. 
2. The RA competent police administration body not later than within 24 hours informs on the 
arrest of diplomatic mission or consular office of  the home country of an arrested foreigner or 
to diplomatic missions of another country re presenting the rights of a country concerned and 
(or) to close relatives of a foreigner living in the Republic of Armenia.  WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
 Page 27 
 
 
  3. An arrested foreigner may be detained for no lo nger than 90 days in a specialized facility till 
the legal entry into force of court decision as a result of expulsion case examination.  The provisions of Article 36 of this law are applied to  foreigners upon the entry into legal force of 
court decision. 
4. The procedure on the operation of special asylums and detention of arrested foreigners in the 
territory of the Republic of Armenia is  established by the RA Government. 
ARTICLE 39.  RIGHTS OF ARRESTED OR DETAINED FOREIGNERS 
As stipulated by Articles 37 and 38 of this la w detained or arrested foreigners enjoy the 
following rights: 
• to learn about the reasons for detention and arr est in a comprehensible language or with the 
help of a translator; 
• to repeal any court decision relating to himself; 
• to attend an advocate or other legal representa tive (including non-governmental organization), 
an official of diplomatic mission or consular office of the country of origin; 
• to go to court with a claim to set him free; 
• to get a needed medical care. 
CHAPTER 7 
THE EXTRADITION OF FOREIGNERS AND THE TRANSFER  
FOR BEARING FURTHER PUNISHMENT  
ARTICLE 40.  THE EXTRADITION OF FOREIGNERS AND THE TRANSFER FOR 
BEARING FURTHER PUNISHMENT 
1. The extradition of foreigners is executed based  on the Code of Criminal Procedure of the 
Republic of Armenia or in the procedure est ablished by the RA international treaties. 
2. Those foreigners which were convicted to impr isonment in the Republic of Armenia may be 
transferred to their country of origin establishe d by international treaties of the Republic of 
Armenia for bearing further penalty.  
ARTICLE 41.  CIRCUMSTANCES RULING OUT THE EXTRADITION OF FOREIGNERS 
The extradition of foreigners is forbidden, if for the act for which foreigners are called to 
account a death penalty is envisaged or there are good reasons to suspect that they may undergo torture, brutal, inhuman or humiliating punishment or treatment. 
CHAPTER 8 
PROTECTION OF PERSONAL DATA ON FOREIGNERS  
AS PRESCRIBED IN THIS LAW 
ARTICLE 42.  PROTECTION OF PERSONAL DATA ON FOREIGNERS  
While elaborating personal data  of foreigners as well as other persons in the database of 
undesirable foreigners prescribed in Article 8 (6) of this law, in the database of visa for entry WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
Page 28  
 
  envisaged by Article 9 (4), in the process of regist ration of invitations as prescribed in Article 11 (6), 
in the process of registration of foreigners w ith temporary and permanent residence permit as 
prescribed in Article 17 (4), in the process of regist ration of foreigners with special residence permit 
as prescribed in Article 18 (6), as well as in the process of registration of deported foreigners as 
prescribed in Article 36 (3), personal data is prot ected based on the provisions of the RA Law on 
Personal Data. 
CHAPTER 9 
RESPONSIBILITY IN CASE OF BREACHING THIS LAW 
ARTICLE 43.  RESPONSIBILITY IN CASE OF BREACHING THIS LAW  
In case of violating this law foreigners, invita tions, as well as employers bear responsibility in 
accordance with a procedure under the present Law. 
CHAPTER 10 
TRANSITIONAL AND CONCLUDING PROVISIONS 
ARTICLE 44.  THE ENTRY INTO FORCE OF THIS  
1. This law shall enter into force on the tenth day after its official publication. 
2. To repeal the RA Law on Legal status of foreign citizens in the Republic of Armenia 
(LA 110, 17 June 1194) upon the entry into force of this law. 
ARTICLE 45.  TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS 
1. Before the entry into force the residence perm it issued based on the law of the Republic of 
Armenia on the Legal status of foreign citizens in the Republic of Armenia is in force till the 
validity period expires.  After the period expi res foreigners may obtain residence permit as 
prescribed in this law if there are relevant grounds established by this law. 
2. Within 90 day period upon the entry into force of this law the citizens of those countries 
should leave the Republic of Armenia or apply for obtaining a relevant residence permit as 
prescribed in this law with which the Republic of Armenia has a system without a visa for entry unless otherwise prescribed in the RA international treaties. 
3. Foreigners without work permit as prescribed in  this law working in the Republic of Armenia 
Before the entry into force of this law within 30 days period upon the entry into force of this 
law must apply for work permit. 
Employers who signed an employment contract (service contract) with foreigners without 
work permit as prescribed in this law before the entr y into force of this law, those contracts within 
15 days period upon the entry into force of this la w are aligned with the requirements stipulated by 
this law and their copies are submitted to a competent body with registration purposes. 
16 January 2007 
LA-47-N  WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
 Page 29 
 
 
  EUROPEAN UNION 
REPORT BY THE SECRETARIAT (WT/TPR/S/228) III.   MEASURES AFFECTING MARKET ACCESS FOR GOODS 
(3)  R
ULES OF ORIGIN  
Page 26, Para 20 
1. Could Armenia clarify the link between a 'customs' certificate of origin and the SPS 
measures?  Does the certificate of origin  substitute the 'sanitary' certificate? 
Answer:  
There is no any link between the certificate of origin and the SPS measures.  The certificate of 
origin doesn't substitute the ''sanitary'' certificate. 
(5)  O THER CHARGES AFFECTING IMPORTS  
(ii)  Indirect taxes 
Page 30, Paragraph 41 
Follow-up to question14: The EU welcomes Armenia's decision to start work ing immediately on a new legislation on taxation 
of cigarettes.  We would appreciate to receive th e following additional information in this regard: 
2. Could Armenia confirm that the new legislation will provide for equal levels of respectively 
VAT and excise tax for imported and domestical ly produced cigarettes as well as for a 
customs duty rate on imported cigarettes within the level bound in the WTO? 
Answer: 
 
The working group established by the Decree of Prime Minister N222-A-2010, investigated the 
issue concerning the differences of excise tax and VAT on goods imported and domestically 
produced in the Republic of Armenia.  The working group is preparing corresponding legislative changes for providing equal levels of respectively excise tax and VAT for imported 
and domestically produced cigarettes as well as for a customs duty rate on imported cigarettes 
within the level bound in the WTO. 
3. Could Armenia provide details on the foreseen  levels of these taxes and customs duty? 
Answer: 
 
The levels of these taxes and customs duty are under consideration. 
4. When is the new draft legislation supposed to be submitted to the Parliament and 
subsequently adopted and applied? 
Answer:  
The new draft legislation is supposed to be s ubmitted to the National Assembly during the 
2010 year. WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
Page 30  
 
  (9)  S
ANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES  
Page 37, Para 87 
5. Which are the 'responsible international or ganizations' mentione d in paragraph 87? 
Answer:  
The "responsible international organizations" ar e:  the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the 
World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the International Plant Protection Convention 
(IPPC), the International Standardization Organization (ISO). 
Page 33, replies to questions 24 and 25 (" It is allowed to import Armenia only healthy animals, meat 
and meat food which is produced from slaughter of healthy animals and reprocessed in the 
enterprises that have export permission..." ): 
6. Should an import permit/license (veterinary or sanitary permit) be delivered for each 
consignment of animals/plants/animal-product/v egetables/feed intended for importation into 
Armenia?  If yes, how are such permits/licenses delivered? 
7. Who in Armenia provides these export permissions?  How can importers/exporters find out 
which are the 'enterprises that have export permission'? 
Answer:  
The permissions for export and import are issu ed to the economic entities of the Republic of 
Armenia by the Authorized Body (Ministry of Ag riculture of RA).  It has specific consultative 
nature that the product is originated from a safe and secure territory from the veterinary, 
sanitary and phytosanitary point of view, and is  based on the interest of the economic entity.  
This provision is regulated by the RA Gov ernment Decree N1228-N of 2004, which will be 
removed in the nearest future. 
It should be mentioned, that these permissions a re not related to the sani tary and phytosanitary 
certificates.  Meanwhile, the import and export of food products is neither subject to licensing 
nor quotas. 
V.   OTHER MEASURES AFFECTING INVESTMENT AND TRADE 
(6)  I NTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS  
Page 54, Para 56 According to Paragraph 56 a draft Law aimed at broadening the coverage of rights related to 
geographical indications (GIs) was sent to the National Assembly at the end of 2009. 
8. Does the new/current law allow for registrati on of third country geographical indications? 
Answer
 
The Article 4 "Rights of Foreign Persons" of th e new Law on Geographical Indications states:  
"1.  Foreign physical and legal entities shall, in  accordance with international treaties to which 
the Republic of Armenia is a party, or under the principle of reciprocity, enjoy the rights 
provided by this Law and bear liability on an equal basis with the citizens and legal entities of the Republic of Armenia;  and 2.  For the purpose of benefiting from the principle of reciprocity, the existence of reciprocity shall be established by the person seeking to benefit from it."  WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
 Page 31 
 
 
  9. If so, under which formula (international agre ement and /or individual registration)? 
Page 54, Para 57 
Answer:  
Please see the above mentioned answer. 
10. Does the new law allow for co-existence be tween GIs and pre-existing trademarks? 
Answer:  
Yes, except of the Article 10.5 "Grounds for Re fusing to Register the Geographical Indication, 
Designation of Origin and Guaranteed Traditional Product", which states:  
"The name cannot be registered as geographical i ndication or designation of origin, where it:  
1) is identical with or similar to an earlier registered trademark of the same or similar goods, 
when the reputation and recognition of the trademark, as well as the duration of its use, the 
registration may mislead the consumer as to the true nature of the goods." 
11. If yes, under which criteria?  If not, please explain why not. 
Answer:  
All the other co-existences are subject to reg istration except the Article 10, Para. 5(1). 
12. Are industrial products such as mineral waters  excluded from the scope of the new law? 
Answer:  
Yes, under the Article 1(2). 
13. Are wines and spirits included in the scope of the new law? 
Answer:  
Yes, under the Article 8. 
VI.   TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR 
(4)  S ERVICES  
Page 66 and 70-72 
14. What measures and legislative actions are planned by the Armenian Government to improve 
the quality, access and competition in the servi ce sector, especially with respect to 
telecommunications and postal services? 
Answer:  
In order to improve the quality, access and competit ion in the postal service sector the Ministry 
of Transport and Communication of the RA has undertaken measures to bring Armenian legislation on postal services in compliance with the European standards.  The measures will be 
implemented in the framework of TAIEX under the European Neighbourhood and Partnership WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
Page 32  
 
  Instrument.  Meanwhile, with the same aim presently the amendments in the RA Law "On 
Electronic Communication" are being proposed. 
(iii)  Telecommunications 
Page 70, Para 69 
15. What kind of powers does the Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC) enjoy? 
Answer:  
 
The Public Services Regulatory Commission ha s the following legal powers necessary to 
perform its functions: 
1. adopt regulations, establish rules and procedures, and issue orders; 
2. adjudicate disputes between non-dominant  operators, non-dominant operators and 
end-users, or non-dominant service provi ders and end-users where the PSRC considers 
such actions justified and necessary to prese rve competition in a market, service quality 
or cost-based rates, considered as a whole; 
3. hold public hearings and meetings pertaining to its functions; 
4. acquire information relevant to the performance of its functions; 
5. conduct investigations and research; 
6. authorize a representative of the PSRC to enter premises or buildings which are utilized 
for the provision of public electronic comm unications services or operation of a public 
electronic communications network; 
7. initiate, in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Armenia, administrative 
proceedings against a licensee for no n-compliance with such laws; 
8. on its own motion or upon request of a part y, intervene in disputes for the purposes of 
ensuring effective cooperation and maximu m economic efficiency in the electronic 
communications sector and clarification of th e rates or conditions of interconnection 
agreements; 
9. levy fees according to the law; 
10. in exercising its rulemaking and adjudica tive powers, the PSRC has the discretion to 
determine the type of hearing or proceeding it will employ and may, but is not obliged 
to, hold a trial-type hearing or meeting.  The PSRC shall afford interested parties the right to present evidence, whether orally or in writing, to cross-examine or challenge 
opposing witnesses.  For good cause set forth in writing, the PSRC shall have the 
authority to limit participation in the meetings to the parties; 
11. in exercising the authority granted under the law, the PSRC shall issue a written 
statement of its reasons for each regulation or  other legislative act and shall make such 
statement available to the public.  Such stat ement shall set forth the reasons why the 
public interest is best served by the a pproach selected by the PSRC, and why other 
options were not selected;  WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
 Page 33 
 
 
  12. the PSRC may conduct dispute resolution process in a manner conforming to the 
reasonable and proper business practice and to the principles of justice.  The PSRC 
shall have discretion in planning its activities, by determining the priorities among the range of its responsibilities,  and allocating resources. 
UKRAINE 
REPORT BY THE SECRETARIAT (WT/TPR/S/228) l. Ukraine is seeking further clarifications as re gards what effective measures the government of 
Armenia will take in the area of IPR law enforcemen t in order to eliminate violations in relation to 
trademarks. 
Answer: 
 
For strengthening IPR enforcement following meas ures have been initiated and others are in 
the process to be launched in the coming mont hs by the Government and the Ministry of 
Economy: 
• Based on the necessity to activate the straggl e against the infringements in the sphere of 
intellectual property, including trademarks, in December 2004 a new Division of "Straggle Against Organized Crime in the Sphere of Intellectual Property" was 
established under the General Department of Straggle Against Organized Crime within 
the structure of the Police of the Republic of Armenia. 
• Establishment of an Interagency Commi ssion on IPR enforcement by the Prime 
Minister in August 2009 and adoption of a "Policy Paper on Implementing Reliable and Effective Protection of IP" by the Government in April 2009 (attached). 
• The Ministry is elaborating a survey on co unterfeiting and piracy in cooperation with 
EU AG and AEPLAC.  The Parliament is foreseen to adopt ad-hoc  legislation based on 
the EU Enforcement Directive 2004/48/EC and EU Customs Regulation on IPR 
(including a follow-up of any update on the current EU enforcement aquis ). 
• The preparatory work of the Ministry is geared to EU harmonized Trademarks and 
GI/DO legislations to be under adoption, an d it is foreseen to update the patent and 
designs legislation in the upcoming months. 
• The use of EU instruments (e.g., Twinnings, TAEIX and SIGMA) aiming at 
strengthening of institutional capacity building is under study. 
2.   We encourage the government of Armenia to take speedy and effective steps to comply with 
the national treatment provisions, since Armenia had committed it would apply its domestic taxes in a 
non-discriminatory manner upon accession to the WTO.  Ukraine would appreciate a detailed update on the developments in this area. 
Answer: 
 
The working group chaired by the Minister of Finance was established by the Decree of Prime 
Minister N222-A-2010 to settle an issue.  The working group investigated the issue concerning 
the differences of excise tax on goods imported and domestically produced in the Republic of 
Armenia. WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
Page 34  
 
  The working group is preparing corresponding legi slative changes for providing equal levels of 
respectively excise tax and VAT for import ed and domestically produced goods. 
The new draft legislation is supposed to be s ubmitted to the National Assembly during the 
2010 year. 
Annex to the RA Government 
Protocol Decree Nº 14 dated April 2, 2009 
POLICY PAPER ON IMPLEMENTATION OF RELIABLE AND EFFECTIVE 
PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 
This Policy paper on Implementation of Reliabl e and Effective Protection of Intellectual 
Property (hereafter:  Policy Paper) presents the current peculiarities of the intellectual property 
protection system, describes, through analysis, the curre nt state of use of intellectual property subject 
matters in economy, reveals the existing problem s and proposes effective solutions to them. 
The analyses are based on the international lead ing practice, taking into account the current 
development trends of the Republic of Armenia ec onomy and the need to provide competitiveness in 
the knowledge based global economy. 
In particular, in this field the experience of  developed countries was considered, systems of 
which reflect the free market demands in a most clear manner. 
Consultations on the international best practi ce were given with the assistance of the World 
Intellectual Property Organization and the European Patent Organization. 
Intellectual Property includes two main spheres of right, industrial property and copyright. The industrial property rights are various.  The most popular ones are the rights in inventions 
and trademarks.  Patent on invention grants the inventor an exclus ive right for a limited period of time 
provided the technical essence of the invention is disclosed. 
Legal protection to trademarks, as identifi cation marks of proposed goods and services by 
particular right-holders, is granted for an unlimite d period, provided that their use with commercial 
purpose continues. 
Industrial property rights also include relatively less known rights, such as rights in industrial 
designs, geographical indications, trade names and new plant varieties. 
The other main field of intellectual property is copyright, which includes rights in works in 
literary, scientific, art domains, as well as the ri ghts of performers, phonogram producers, film 
producers, broadcasting organizations, publishers, makers of database, which are known as related 
rights. 
The general feature for intellectual property ri ghts is that the right-holder is entitled to 
prohibit the illegal use of intangible subject matte r of potential trade value notwithstanding of its 
being a solution serving as a basis for a novel product or process, an indication of origin of a good, a name of a trade organization, music, computer program or an audiovisual work.  WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
 Page 35 
 
 
  1. Challenges 
Intellectual property protection is one of the most important conditions for novelty.  It 
promotes the establishment of institute of research  and development, as well as the transfer of 
knowledge from laboratory to manufacturing dom ain, and from manufacturing to the market. 
Besides, intellectual property protection is an important condition for art and culture 
development. 
Precise and effective regime of intellectual pr operty protection is the main condition for free 
movement of knowledge and works in the global market.  It can also make a part of a broader policy and have essential significance for solu tion of global issues and key issues. 
2. Economic benefits of industr ial property rights protection 
Property, whether material or non-material, has a decisive role for market economy.  
Industrial property rights, especially rights on invent ions, industrial designs and new plant varieties 
serve a drive for creation of new inventions and ot her innovations providing exclusive rights in them 
for a limited period of time.  Provision and protection of these rights contribute to the entry of newcomers to the market, including risk capital inv estments, ensuring production of goods (licensed 
by them) by capable companies. 
In the knowledge-based global economy the si gnificance of inventions and innovations 
increases as a competitiveness incentive.  In this  environment the continually increasing role of 
business entities, especially SMEs and research or ganizations, as well as universities becomes more 
important related to the goods production based on their licenses.  Exchange of knowledge between 
private sector and research organizations increases co mpetitiveness.  This approach creates favourable 
conditions for formation of a higher-level activity field and facilitates international exchange of 
knowledge. 
The more actively research organizations implement business activities related to licensing of 
products, the closer their needs and problems appr oach SME needs and problems.  For that reason 
activities undertaken for SMEs to some extent can be beneficial for research organizations. 
It must be taken into account that provision of industrial property rights, as an important 
component for management of intellectual property subject matters, has a big role in the general 
business strategy of companies.  It is conditioned by  the fact that business strategy, besides stipulating 
rights for new solutions, innovations and producing goods based on them, suggests creation of other 
new solutions through them and their implementation.   Stipulation of rights for the latter solutions 
gives an opportunity to their right-holders to  make potential competitors overlook patented 
technologies through new researches and developments , restraining activities of competitors in the 
market. 
3. The Current State of the Intellectual Property Protection System 
3.1  Inventions, Utility Models, Industrial Designs 
The current phase of legal protection of inven tions, utility models, industrial designs in the 
RA is described by legislation specifics and its im plementation practice.  Since 1993 the legislation 
underwent a number of changes, which were made considering economy development specifics, as 
well as the circumstances that timelines of providing rights for the mentioned subject matters must be 
reduced as much as possible, and costs related to them must reach the minimum and protection of 
those rights must be reliable and effective.  These issues, to a certain exte nt, are solved by the WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
Page 36  
 
  "RA Law on Inventions, Utility Models, Industrial D esigns" adopted in 2008, which is in line with 
norms envisaged by international agre ements and corresponding EU Directives. 
The main peculiarity of the law is that the i nvention patent is provided without conducting an 
essential examination (i.e. during the examination pate nt capability of the invention is not checked), 
which can be valid for 10 years.  The patent can be valid also for 20 years, if before the end of the 
9
th year of validity evidence is provided by the patent-holder on the patent capability of the given 
invention.  Evidence must be provided only by an internationa lly recognized search centre, 
specialized in the given area.  Su ch an approach provides a possibility to avoid the need of having a 
big number of experts, ensuring high quality at the same time. 
The other peculiarity of the law is that it cl early defines the patent rights implementation 
mechanism, when there is an issue of prohibiting the use of the given invention by third parties.  In 
such cases, the Law envisages to im plement the exclusive right based on the patent only when there is 
evidence proving the patent capability of the given inve ntion.  Such an approach, to a certain extent, 
will reduce cases of issuing a patent for inventi ons without corresponding quality, receipt of similar 
applications and will exclude the possibility of creating non-justified obstacles in the business. 
3.2 Trademarks, Designations of Produc t Origin and Geographical Indications 
On the legal protection of Trademarks, Desi gnations of Product Origin and Geographical 
Indications the RA legislation started to be formed  since 1995, the future ch anges of which aimed at 
legislation improvement, considering requirements of  the RA international agreements, international 
leading practice and the need to solve problems originated in the law implementation practice. 
At the same time the fact was considered that ri ghts for the trade mark play an important role 
for creation of a conscientious competitiveness syst em, since it is these marks that enable the 
consumer to distinguish goods and services of one organization from goods and services of another 
organization.  Besides, the role of trademarks becomes important also because on the one hand they 
serve as a means for information and advertising, on  the other hand they are considered the symbol of 
capacities and reputation of the organization. 
In connection to this the "RA Law on Trade and Service Marks, Designations of Product 
Origin" stipulates mandatory consideration in each case of rights valid earlier (for providing legal 
protection to trademarks), which were acquired not only for trademarks but also trade names. 
The legislation on legal protection of trademar ks today generally corresponds to the norms, 
which are defined by a number of international agreem ents in the area, as well as by the agreement on 
concepts related to WTO Intellectual Property Trade. 
Despite this, there is a need to harmonize the legisl ation to requirements defined by new international 
agreements and EU Directives.  Besides, practice of law implementation shows that some clauses of conducting an examination need clarification and must  be harmonized to the strictest international 
standards. 
Slightly different is the situation with legal protection of Designations of Product Origin and 
Geographical Indications.  Despite the availability of the Law (in force) on Designations of Product 
Origin, there are still certain issues related to its impl ementation.  Particularly the fact of the law so 
far being used for mineral water names already creat ed a need for serious discussions and stipulation 
of new approaches. 
Some clauses regulating legal protection of Geogr aphical Indications were placed in the "RA 
Law on Trade and Service Marks, Designations of Product Origin."  Main clauses of definition and  WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
 Page 37 
 
 
  protection of Geographical Indications are defined by the RA Civil Code.  Therefore, the fact that 
order and conditions of providing and stopping lega l protection of Geographical  Indications and their 
use are not clearly regulated by a separate legislative act can become a reason for creation of some problems, particularly their illegal use will inev itably bring to unconscientiously competitiveness. 
The solution of the mentioned problems must be  implemented by adoption of new laws on 
Trademarks and Geographical Indications. 
3.3  Copyright 
The situation in copyright:  the other area of intellectual property, is essentially different.  
Copyright and related rights are regulated by th e new "RA Law on Copyright and Related Rights" 
adopted in 2006.  The law is completely in li ne with norms defined by the RA international 
agreements and requirements of EU Directives. 
In accordance with the law, for protection of interests of the authors and management of 
property rights an organization (already fully estab lished) for collective management of property 
rights of right-holders was created and works, whic h is integrated in the corresponding international 
network and cooperates with state, public and private structures. 
According to the law no registration is required for copyright origin, the right is originated by 
the fact force for creation of the corresponding work and preparation of the related right subject matter. 
4.   Strategy of Industrial Property Rights 
In protection of industrial property rights the RA strategy must aim at responding to 
challenges of knowledge-based global economy in the 21
st century. 
The industrial property protection system must continue to serve as an incentive for activation 
of invention and innovation activities.  To achieve this, certain criteria are already internationally 
adopted, in particular: 
• a mechanism for receipt of applications of industrial property subject matters by modern 
technologies;  
• high quality system strictly in line with inte rnational standards and examination accepted in 
practice;  
• quality of provided rights, clear legislation and affordable prices, joint law interpretation and 
court procedures;  
• database creation on subject matters that recei ved legal protection, their exchange with 
databases of corresponding foreign agencies, provision of their accessibility for the public;  
• valuing intellectual process results and ensu ring easy circulation of inventions and 
innovations. 
Justification of rights, provided in connection to  it, is very important for all aspects (of the 
whole system), which promote business, including SME activities, contribute to knowledge exchange 
and serve a powerful and effective means in fight ing against circulation of false and counterfeit 
goods, as well as piracy. WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
Page 38  
 
  Besides, as a civil right subject matter, ensuring full circulation of intellectual property can be 
made only based on intellectual property assessment, which is not regulated by law.  And the 
corresponding legislative framework can have high e fficiency of implementation, if universities are 
involved in preparation activities of assessors. 
It is necessary to: 
• Introduce systems for electronic receipt, discussion and publication of industrial property 
subject matters. 
• Implement outsourcing (as much as possible) for conducting invention examination activities 
to international and foreign search centres accredited by World Intellectual Property 
Organization. 
• Expand the circles of exchanging industrial prope rty information databases and ensure their 
availability for the public through internet. 
• Introduce a system for making descriptions of services provided in relation to intellectual 
property and assessing performance. 
• Contribute to reinforcement of rights for intellectual property in foreign states. 
• Introduce an intellectual property assessment sy stem, which suggests ensuring corresponding 
legislative framework and form ing an institute of assessors. 
5.   The quality of industrial property rights 
5.1  Inventions 
In terms of ensuring quality it is important what  inventions and innovati ons are granted patent 
protection.  In this respect it is necessary to preven t (by consultation provided to applicants) or reduce 
(as much as possible) the entry of applications for inventions without patent capability, which have a 
negative impact, since because of them the time requi red for examination of more important invention 
applications is aimlessly delayed.  The menti oned consultation must be implemented by the 
Intellectual Property Agency, since the expertise an d professional skills of experts play an important 
role. 
Protection of utility models has its special place  in ensuring quality and faster implementation 
in economy.  For the protection of utility models we aker requirements are defined:  only novelty and 
industrial use requirements, testing of which is co mparatively easy and less costly and the expiration 
date is shorter:  10 years. 
In terms of ensuring quality of inventions and utility models it is also important to make the 
information on them accessible to companies and inventors. 
For ensuring corresponding quality of provided rights it is necessary to:  
• Implement comprehensive study of patents to analyze rights acquired with weaker bases and 
find effective means to avoid their provision. 
• Study possible problems created by unused pa tents, assess their creation reasons and 
undertake relevant means.  WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
 Page 39 
 
 
  5.2  Trade marks 
For the RA economy it is necessary to have a strong and reliable system of trademark 
protection.  It is an effective means to prevent unconscientious use of trademarks, violation of rights 
against it, use with improper permission, as well as review of rights, in case of not using them.  The process of providing legal protection (registration) requires high quality, strict criteria, including the 
examination, which will ensure their being valid and in line with consumer requirements as a result of 
registration. 
The quality of rights for trademarks is important  especially for formation of a conscientious 
competitiveness system and prevention of unconscientious cases. 
For ensuring corresponding quality of provided services it is necessary to: 
• conduct examination of trademarks by examina tion implementation approaches accepted in 
practice and strictly in line with international standards;  
• envisage clauses (in trademark legislation), wh ich would provide a possibility to consider 
during the examination foreign famous trademarks, brands not registered in the RA;  
• for limiting the right against the unused regist ered trademarks legally clarify conditions and 
mechanisms for early end of registration of these trademarks, taking into account clauses defined by international agreements and EU directives;  
• ensure ongoing improvement of professional skills of experts. 
6.   Invention support to SMEs 
Implementation of industrial property rights can  greatly promote SME development.  Usually 
the SME depend less on protection of industrial prope rty rights.  When it's a result of insufficient 
awareness, consultation or other required support, it is necessary to urgently apply a corresponding 
policy.  Therefore, the state must create conditi ons for the SME to use opportunities offered by the 
market, as well as relevant informa tion on inventions and trademarks. 
Besides, it is necessary to improve SME dispute solution system (related to industrial 
property rights), which can imply application of an alternative mechanisms for dispute solution, 
particularly trade arbitrations, which can add to th e court system, if they operate more quickly and 
comprehensively and are more affordable in terms of the price.  Through solution of key aspects of 
relations between courts and trade arbitration solutio n of disputes related to intellectual property rights 
will become rather easy. 
The main objective of programs based on in tellectual property must be raising SME 
awareness and ensuring support services. 
It is necessary to:  
• study as to how operation of trade arbitrations can be promoted in the future and how their 
current work can be facilitated in terms of  court procedures related to patent issues; 
• provide sufficient support to SMEs for strengt hening industrial property rights acquisition 
activities and providing relevant and wide-ranging support services;  WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
Page 40  
 
  • improve provision of information for all th e organizations and research institutes on 
intellectual property management, as well as SMEs. 
7.   Implementation of intellectual property rights:  fight against piracy and counterfeiting 
Protection of innovations must go with use of effective implementation mechanisms.  
Falsification and piracy of products is a ne gative phenomenon (that reached enormous volume), 
which grows with absolute value and proportiona lly parallel to international trade growth and 
technical capacity development.  It essentially damages the country's economic development growth 
and creation of new employment places, risking the health and safety of citizens. 
The annual turnover of counterfeit and pirated goo ds makes approximately US$ 200 billion.  
In the RA similar examinations were not conducte d, however counterfeiting and piracy, especially in 
copyright, is evident.  Thus, actually stolen products are freely sold in the mark et.  Such activities are 
mainly implemented out of the tax field, especial ly in cases, when it is about copyright area:  
particularly turnover of pirate ve rsions of audiovisual works, CDs and computer software.  This 
phenomenon greatly harms the culture and economy pr ohibiting their development.  Moreover, their 
presence damages the country's international reputa tion, reduces probability of potential flow of 
foreign investments, increasing their risk factor. 
In circulated volumes of counterfeit and pirate d goods a certain part is products imported 
from the foreign states, which is evident in the trade net even without conducting special 
examinations. 
Presence of big volumes of counterfeit and pirated goods is mainly  conditioned by the 
following circumstances: 
• insufficient follow up of right-holders regard ing protection of their intellectual property 
rights;  
• weak cooperation between state bodies fighting agai nst law violations in intellectual property 
and absence of a joint action plan; 
• weak sanctions stipulated by the law for law vi olations in the area and imperfection of their 
implementation mechanisms. 
It is necessary to: 
• for strengthening fight against law violations in intellectual property and coordination of its 
implementation an interagency commission was created (chaired by the RA Minister of Economy), which will include representatives of the RA Ministries of Economy, Culture, 
Diaspora, RA National Security Service, RA Police, RA State Revenue Committee by the 
Government, State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition of the Republic of Armenia, as well as NGOs representing interests of right-holders;  
• implement periodical market analyses to clarify turnover volumes of counterfeit and pirated 
goods and extent of damages;  
• develop and implement a joint action pl an against counterfeiting and piracy; 
• for ensuring implementation of intellectual pr operty rights envisage (in the current laws) 
contemporary implementation clauses (meeting inte rnational requirements), which must be in 
line with the EU Implementation Directive 2004/ 48/EC.  For effective implementation of  WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
 Page 41 
 
 
  those clauses ensure  mutually agreed proper actions by corresponding institutional 
infrastructures and responsible bodies at all leve ls from the police, customs services and other 
state structures to courts;  
• ensure implementation of border activities envi saged by the law and undertake measures to 
ensure information exchange between right-hol ders and customs services to discover transfer 
of counterfeit and pirated goods;  
• study international practice in reserving the right to the customs bodies for implementation of 
ex officio actions envisaged by the WTO Agreem ent on intellectual property trade concepts in 
order to exclude suspicious transfers and prev ent entrance of counterfeit and pirated goods to 
the market;  
• take measures for improving ar ea related knowledge of the corresponding employees of the 
police and customs bodies (bodies ensuring implementation of intellectual property legislation) and judges;   
• expand the volume of public awareness activiti es, which would change the attitude of the 
public toward counterfeit and pirated goods. 
UNITED STATES 
1)  Regarding Armenia's response on Page 56 to  the U.S. question re:  Import prohibitions, 
restrictions and licensing:  
In response to our question regarding Armenia's compound import licenses, Armenia states "A 
compound license is granted based on the conclusion of the respective commission established by the 
Licensing Authority."  Please provide details on  the operation of these commissions, including 
structure, members and license review process. 
Answer:  
 
The commissions are established by the orders of  the Heads of Licensing Authorities.  The 
commissions are comprised of the representativ es from the relevant Ministries, agencies, 
scientific institutions and non-governmental organizations. 
The procedures of granting compound licenses for separate types of activities are defined by the 
corresponding RA Government Decrees. 
2)  In Armenia's response to the United States' original question regarding the interpretation of 
Article 23 of the Law on Copyright and Related Rights of the Republic of Armenia, Armenia said that 
"Article 23, second paragraph states that the repr oduction is not permitted with respect to written 
works to the extent of the whole book."  Please give  specific examples of what types of reproductions 
would be acceptable under the private use exception in  Article 23.  For example, would a user be 
permitted under Article 23 to copy all but  a few pages of book for private use? 
Answer:  
Any part of a work is allowed to be copied if pr ovided that it does not constitute substantial part 
of the work. WT/TPR/M/228/Add.2 
Page 42  
 
  ARTICLE 65.  ACTIONS CONSIDERED TO BE INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT AND 
RELATED RIGHTS: 
(1)  Any use of a work or its substantial part or other subject matter of related rights 
protected by this Law is illegal, if such use is not obtained beforehand from the holder of 
copyright or related rights. 
Substantial part of a work shall mean any part of a work, if any person fam iliar with the work can 
on his own identify as a part of that work. 
(2)  A person who does not implement the require ments of this Law shall be considered as 
an infringer of copyright or related rights. 
(3)  Copies of protected subject matters made or  distributed without the consent of the right 
holder shall be considered false or counterfeited.  
3)  In its response to the question regardi ng which provisions of the Law on Copyright and 
Related Rights of the Republic of Armenia provide  for the reproduction of whole books by private 
users, Armenia pointed to Article 24.  Article 24(3) (a)  says libraries and archives, educational and 
cultural institutions can make one copy of a publis hed work for restoring or substituting the lost or 
damaged copies, or for replacing a lost copy "if in or dinary conditions the obtaining of such a copy in 
other ways is impossible".  Please clarify what c onstitutes "ordinary conditions" in light of Article 13 
of TRIPS. 
Answer:  
 
This means that the book is never more published a nd it is impossible to obtain it as it is no 
more in circulation. 
4)  Article 24(3) (b) allows for reproductions in  certain circumstances by libraries and archives 
for study and research purposes, as well as by educa tional institutions for classroom studies.  Please 
advise whether these uses are permissible only, without  any purpose of direct or indirect commercial 
advantage. 
Answer:   
This type of use is allowed only for the purpo ses set forth in the Law without any direct or 
indirect commercial purpose. 
 
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