Return certificate to RA

Certificate of Return to the Republic of Armenia - is a temporary one-way travel document issued to return to Armenia from foreign countries. The Certificate of Return issued to citizens of Armenia who lost passports, traveling to Armenia in a matter of urgency and who do not have time to exchange unusable passport (including the former Soviet Union and the Child Insert to the passport of the Republic of Armenia).

Certificate of return to the RA is issued for:

1. The citizens of the RA
2. Persons recognized as refugees in RA
3. Stateless persons who have residence permit for RA

In order to receive a Return Certificate, the following documents must be submitted to the diplomatic missions and consular offices of RA;

1. Application form for receiving Return Certificate
2. the invalid passport of the citizen of RA or identification card (in case of lost passport- only the copy, if available)
3. In case of a former USSR passport- non-citizen certificate issued by the authorities of the host state
4. If the passport has been stolen – police report and explanation for loss of the passport (if available)
5. Two photos (35x45mm)
6. Fee for issuing the Return certificate

For children-citizens of RA who have never been granted passport before, the following documents must be submitted:

1. Application form for receiving Return Certificate
2. Birth certificate issued by the Armenian authorities or by the authorities of the host state, certified according to the norms of international treaties RA is a member of
3. Two photos (35x45mm)
4. Copies of parents' passports

If an application is submitted by the certificate seeker’s parent, brother, sister, spouse, child or an authorized representative will have to submit the following documents:

• a. in case of a parent - the applicant 's passport (identity card) and a copy of the original certificate seeker’s passport (identity card) and a copy of birth certificate;
• b. in case of the applicant's brother and sister - the original and the photocopy of the applicant’s passport (ID card), the photocopies of the certificate seeker's birth certificate and passport (ID card);
• c. in case of the spouse, the original and the photocopy of the applicant's passport (identity card), the photocopy of the certificate seeker's marriage certificate and passport (ID card);
• d. in case of a child - the original and the photocopy of the applicant's passport (identity card) and the photocopy of the certificate seeker's birth certificate and passport (ID card);
• e. in case of an authorized representative - the authorized person's passport (identity card), the original of power of attorney and copy of the passport (identity card) of the certificate seeker. In this case the power of attorney is to have been approved according to the international treaties or legislation of the Republic of Armenia. 
• Certificate of Return to the Republic of Armenia is issued during a maximum of 15 working days.
• Certificate of Return to the Republic of Armenia is issued also in accordance with Readmission agreements.
• The Certificate of Return to the Republic of Armenia has one month validity period.
• If the certificate is issued in the framework of Readmission the validity period of the certificate might be changed, based on the provisions of a certain agreement.

Cases where Certificate of return to the Republic of Armenia is issued free of charge

Free Certificate of return to the Republic of Armenia is issued to:

1. Those citizens of the Republic of Armenia who has not been granted RA national passport before,
2. Children -citizens of RA under 16 year old and adults after 63,
3. Persons recognized as refugees in RA
4. Any RA citizen applied for the national passport of the Republic of Armenia (exchange) and failed to receive the passport within due period,
5. Any RA citizen leaving for the Republic of Armenia for being called for military service, participation in training sessions or mobilization,
6. Any RA citizen, member of large family (four and more minors)
7. Any first or second class disabled person, citizen of RA
8. Any citizen of the Republic of Armenia leaving for the Republic of Armenia on the basis of decision of court or any other authority
9. Citizens of the Republic of Armenia released from detention centers of the foreign countries,
10. Any citizen of the Republic of Armenia lost his RA national passport as a result of theft or criminal actions, as well as force majeure circumstances (natural or technical disaster, political actions, war, etc.), provided that appropriate evidence of such circumstances are presented,
11. Those citizens of the Republic of Armenia with permanent residence in foreign countries for whom such circumstances, treating their lives and health have occurred.

If the certificate seeker is in a country or a place from where it is difficult or impossible to apply to the diplomatic missions and consular offices of RA, the certificate of return can be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, through the certificate seeker's parent, brother, sister, husband and child, as well as the authorized representative.