First — which path applies to you?
Armenia has two routes. Which one you're on depends entirely on whether you already hold a visa or residence permit from one of a specific list of countries. Check this before doing anything else — it changes what you need to provide.
Path A — The Shortcut
You hold a qualifying visa or residence permit
If you have a valid current visa or residence permit from the EU/Schengen, USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, or Russia — or a residence permit from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, or Oman — you qualify for the simplified route.
✓ Far fewer documents. No invitation letter, no bank statement needed.
Path B — The Standard Route
You don't hold any of the above
This applies to most Indian leisure travellers. You'll need an invitation letter and proof of financial means in addition to the basics. We provide the invitation letter as part of our service — you do not need to arrange this yourself.
More documents required — see Section 3.
1
Required From Everyone — Both Paths
These three items are mandatory regardless of which path you're on
1
Facial Photograph
A recent passport-style photo. Accepted formats: JPG, PNG, or BMP. Maximum dimensions 6000 × 6000 pixels, maximum file size 6MB. Plain background, full face, front view, eyes open, neutral expression.
2
Passport Scan — Bio Page
A clear scan of the passport data page. Accepted formats: JPG, PNG, BMP, or PDF (max 6MB). Your passport must meet three specific conditions — see the box below. These are strict and are the most common reason for a rejected application.
3
Travel / Medical Insurance
Mandatory on both paths — this is not optional. The policy must cover the full period of your stay in Armenia. Submit the policy document as a PDF or image file.
⚠ Passport Conditions — Check These Before Applying
- Passport must be valid for at least 3 months after your intended departure date from Armenia
- Passport must have at least 2 completely blank pages — no visas, stamps, or markings on them
- Passport must have been issued no more than 10 years ago — this rule catches people out. An older passport, even if still within its validity period, can be grounds for rejection.
2
Path A — If You Hold a Qualifying Visa or Permit
The simplified route — significantly fewer documents
In addition to the three items in Section 1, you only need to provide a scan of your qualifying visa or residence permit. No invitation letter. No bank statement. No employment certificate.
Valid Visa or Residence Permit accepted from:
EU / Schengen states
United States
United Kingdom
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
South Korea
Japan
Russian Federation
Residence Permit only (a visa alone is not sufficient for these):
United Arab Emirates
Saudi Arabia
Kuwait
Qatar
Bahrain
Oman
Worth checking carefully
The visa or permit must be currently valid — an expired US or Schengen visa does not qualify you for Path A. If you're unsure whether your document qualifies, send us a scan and we will confirm which path applies to you before you gather anything else.
3
Path B — The Standard Route
Applies to most Indian travellers — additional documents required
In addition to the three items in Section 1, the following are required:
1
Return Air Ticket Reservation
Confirmed booking showing both onward travel to Armenia and return travel out of Armenia, covering the dates of your intended stay.
2
Invitation Letter — We provide this
The invitation letter must come from a party with a registered interest in your visit to Armenia. Caravan Compass arranges and provides this letter as part of the USD 25 service fee — you do not need to source it, and there is no additional charge. This is the single most common point of failure on Armenia applications; we handle it directly so it isn't one.
3
Proof of Financial Means
Any one of the following is acceptable: a bank statement for the last 3 months, a certificate of employment stating your salary, or a work contract. A bank statement is the most commonly accepted — if you're providing one, ensure it's system-generated and shows a healthy, consistently maintained balance.
4
Hotel Reservation
Accommodation confirmation covering all nights of your stay. If you're travelling on a Caravan Compass program, we provide this.
Additional supporting documents help
Armenia's system explicitly recommends attaching any additional documents that support the purpose of your visit. If you have anything relevant — previous international travel history, property documents, a letter explaining your itinerary — send it to us. A well-supported application is materially more likely to be approved, and there is no downside to including more.
4
Information We Need From You
Details for the application form — no documents needed, just accurate information
Beyond the documents, we need the following details to complete your application. Every detail must match your passport exactly — including your middle name, if your passport shows one.
Full name as per passport
Given name, surname, and middle name if it appears on your passport
Passport number & dates
Number, date of issue, and expiry date
Date of birth
Format used is dd/mm/yyyy
Place of birth
City and country as shown on your passport
Nationality
As shown on your passport
Occupation
Your current job title or occupation — no document needed
Residential address & phone
Your home address in India and a contact number
Address & phone in Armenia
Hotel address and phone — we provide this if booked with us
Criminal conviction declaration
The application form asks directly whether you have ever been convicted of any offence or crime. This must be answered truthfully. If the answer is yes, tell us in advance so we can advise you properly — a false declaration is far more damaging than a disclosed one.
Travelling with a minor?
If any traveller in your group is a minor, the parent's passport must also be attached to that application. Let us know at the outset if this applies so we can request the correct documents from you.
5
How the Process Works
From document submission to visa in hand
1
Tell us which path you're on
Send us a scan of your passport and any existing visas or residence permits. We'll confirm within a few hours whether you qualify for Path A or need to go via Path B, and tell you exactly what to gather.
2
Send us your complete document bundle
Share everything at once rather than piecemeal. We review every document before submission and flag anything that could cause a problem — this pre-check is where most rejections get prevented.
3
We arrange the invitation letter (Path B)
If you're on Path B, we produce and attach the invitation letter. This is included in the USD 25 fee and requires nothing from you.
4
We submit and track the application
We handle submission and monitor the application. Standard processing is 3 working days. We will keep you updated on progress.
5
Visa issued and shared with you
Once approved, the visa is issued for single entry, valid for a 21-day stay. We share it with you directly — carry a printout and a digital copy for immigration at Zvartnots Airport.
Read This Before You Apply
Honest warnings — we would rather you know now than be surprised later
Rejections happen, and no reason is given
The Armenian authorities do not provide clarifications or comments in the event of a rejection. You will not be told what went wrong. This is stated openly by the Embassy of Armenia. It means a rejected application cannot be diagnosed and corrected with confidence — only resubmitted with a stronger document bundle.
Fees are non-refundable on rejection
If the application is refused, the USD 25 fee is not refunded. This is standard across visa services and reflects the fact that the work is done regardless of outcome. We will advise on whether a reapplication is worthwhile, but a second application means a second fee.
Apply early — do not leave this to the last minute
Standard processing is 3 working days, but we strongly recommend applying at least 3–4 weeks before travel. This gives room to reapply if something goes wrong. Clients who apply a week before departure and are refused have no runway left, and non-refundable flights become a real financial loss.
The 10-year passport rule catches people out
Your passport must have been issued within the last 10 years. Some older passports remain technically valid past this point but will not be accepted. Check your passport's issue date now — if it's approaching or past 10 years, renew it before applying, not after a rejection.
Incomplete applications are the main cause of failure
In our experience, the overwhelming majority of Armenia refusals are on incomplete Path B applications — typically missing the invitation letter or with weak financial documentation. This is precisely why we review every bundle before submission and provide the invitation letter ourselves. A complete, well-supported application has a strong track record.
No guarantee can be given — by anyone
Visa decisions rest solely with the Republic of Armenia's authorities. No agent, DMC, or visa service can guarantee an Armenian visa approval, and you should be sceptical of anyone who claims otherwise. What we can do is submit the strongest possible application and be honest with you about the risks — which is what this page is for.
Please Note
Visa decisions are made solely at the discretion of the relevant authorities of the Republic of Armenia. In the event of a visa refusal, all fees paid are strictly non-refundable, and no reasons for refusal will be provided by the authorities. Caravan Compass shall not be held responsible or liable for any visa rejection or related outcomes. Visa validity as stated: single entry, 21-day stay.