How do you hire an Armenian employee in 2026?
Armenia sets one of the shortest probation-exit windows in the region. Either side can end the contract during probation with just 3 days notice. Standard probation runs up to 3 months, extended to 6 months for managerial or specialist roles.
· Armenia guide
Illustration · Yerevan, Armenia
The Armenia hire process has five steps. Offer letter, work-permit check, written employment contract, onboarding registration, first payday.
The written employment contract must be signed before the employee starts. Armenia's Labour Code requires a written contract for every employment relationship.
Probation runs up to 3 months for standard roles, up to 6 months for managers and specialists. Either side can exit during probation with 3 days notice.
What does the end-to-end Armenia hire process look like?
Five steps take you from accepted offer to first payslip. Offer letter, work-permit or visa check, written employment contract, onboarding registration, first payday.
The written contract must be in place before the employee starts work. Armenia's Labour Code does not allow a grace period after the start date.
| Step | What happens | Owner | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Offer letter | Written offer with role, salary, start date, and key terms | Client / Teamed drafts | Same day after verbal accept |
| 2. Work-permit check | Verify citizenship or valid work permit before the employee starts | Teamed | Before the start date |
| 3. Written employment contract | Signed written contract of employment required under the Labour Code | Teamed (legal employer) | Before day one |
| 4. Onboarding registration | Register the employee with the State Revenue Committee; collect tax ID (HSHN) and bank details | Teamed | Days 1 to 7 |
| 5. First payday | First payslip issued; payroll tax return filed with the State Revenue Committee by the 20th of the following month | Teamed | End of first monthly pay period |
-
Issue the offer letter
Send a written offer the same day as verbal acceptance. Include role, salary, start date, probation of up to 3 months, probation notice of 3 days for either side, and any conditions such as work-permit verification or references.
-
Complete the work-authorisation check
Verify citizenship or check the Armenian work permit for foreign nationals before the employee starts. Record the document details and retain a copy. EAEU citizens do not need a separate permit.
-
Issue the written employment contract
The Armenian Labour Code requires a signed written contract before the employee starts work. Teamed's standard Armenian contract meets all current requirements. Clients choose commercial terms; Teamed signs as the legal employer.
-
Complete onboarding registration
Register the employee with the State Revenue Committee, collect the HSHN (social insurance number) and tax ID, enrol in the mandatory funded pension scheme, and collect bank details. This runs across days one to seven.
-
Issue the first payslip and file the payroll return
Run the first payroll at the end of the first monthly pay period. File the payroll tax return with the State Revenue Committee by the 20th of the following month. The employee receives their payslip and is on the payroll record.
What must an Armenian offer letter include?
The offer letter is not the binding contract. It is the document the candidate decides against.
Include role title, reporting line, start date, gross monthly salary, working hours of 40 hours per week, work location, probation period, probation notice of 3 days, and any conditions such as work-permit or reference checks.
Three traps to avoid in Armenian offer letters:
- Quoting net salary. Armenia applies a flat income tax rate on all employment income. Committing to a net figure in writing creates problems if tax rules change. Quote gross only.
- Setting an overly long probation. Standard probation is capped at 3 months under the Labour Code. A longer period written into the offer letter is not enforceable. For a managerial or specialist role the cap rises to 6 months, but must be stated in the contract.
- Skipping the resignation notice. Employees must give 30 days notice to resign after probation. If the offer letter mentions notice only for the employer, candidates may assume they can leave at will. State both sides clearly.
Teamed's standard Armenian offer letter template covers all required ground. Clients choose commercial elements; Teamed holds the legal-employer position and issues documents in Armenian and English where requested.
Armenia work-authorisation checks
Armenian citizens can be hired without any work permit. They make up the large majority of the local workforce.
Foreign nationals must hold a valid work permit issued by the Migration Service of the Republic of Armenia before they start work.
Armenian citizens and permanent residents
Citizens of the Republic of Armenia and holders of permanent residency do not need a separate work permit. The employer checks a national ID card or passport and retains a copy before the start date.
Citizens of EAEU member states
Citizens of Eurasian Economic Union member states (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan) have reciprocal work rights in Armenia and do not require a separate Armenian work permit. The employer checks the national passport and records the details.
Other foreign nationals
Citizens of countries outside the EAEU must hold a valid Armenian work permit before employment begins. The permit is applied for by the employer through the Migration Service of the Republic of Armenia. Processing time varies by permit category. The employer checks the permit number, type, and expiry date before the start date. A follow-up check is required before the permit expires.
Foreign nationals who are not citizens of EAEU member states require a work permit to take up employment in Armenia. The permit must be in place before the employment relationship begins. Employers are responsible for verifying and recording the permit details.
Source: Republic of Armenia Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Visas and Permits
Ongoing checks for time-limited permits
For employees on time-limited work permits, Teamed tracks the expiry date and triggers a renewal reminder well before the deadline. An expired permit is a compliance breach. Teamed manages the calendar so no renewal is missed.
The Armenian written contract: what must it contain?
Armenia's Labour Code requires a written employment contract for every employment relationship.
The contract must be signed before the employee starts work. It is the legally binding document. The offer letter is not.
What the Armenian employment contract must include:
- Names and addresses of both the employer and employee
- Start date and, if fixed-term, the end date or trigger condition
- Place of work
- Job title or description of the work to be performed
- Gross salary and any bonus or allowance components, plus pay frequency (monthly)
- Working hours: the standard working week is 40 hours
- Annual paid leave entitlement (the law sets a minimum of 20 days per year for a five-day week)
- Probation period, if agreed (up to 3 months for standard roles; up to 6 months for managerial or specialist roles)
- Notice periods: during probation 3 days for either side; after probation the employer notice scales with tenure from 14 days for under one year of service up to 60 days for 15 or more years
- Reference to any applicable collective agreement
- Disciplinary and grievance procedures
The Labour Code of the Republic of Armenia governs all employment relationships. Fixed-term contracts are permitted where the nature of the work justifies a time limit; otherwise contracts are open-ended. Teamed's standard Armenian employment contract satisfies all current Labour Code requirements.
Key source: Labour Code of the Republic of Armenia via ARLIS (Armenian Legal Information System).
Onboarding admin in the first week
Days 1 to 7: written contract signed, tax ID collected, employee registered with the State Revenue Committee, bank details collected, and benefits set up.
Teamed handles the payroll and compliance side. The client handles the operational and cultural side.
| Onboarding task | Who does it | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Written employment contract signed | Employee and Teamed | Before day one |
| Work-authorisation check completed | Teamed | Before start date |
| Social Insurance Number (HSHN) and tax ID collected | Employee submits to Teamed | Day 1 |
| Employee registered with State Revenue Committee | Teamed | Days 1 to 3 |
| Bank account details collected for payment | Teamed | Days 1 to 7 |
| Pension contribution enrolment (mandatory funded pension) | Teamed | Days 1 to 7 |
| Benefits enrolment (if applicable) | Teamed (admin) and Client (decision) | Days 1 to 7 |
| Equipment and system access | Client | Days 0 to 1 |
| Manager introduction and first-week plan | Client | Days 0 to 7 |
| 30-60-90 day plan documented | Client (manager) | Days 1 to 14 |
How does Teamed handle Armenian employment for you?
Teamed becomes your legal employer of record in Armenia for from $599 per employee per month, with zero FX mark-up in any currency.
Payroll, the written Labour Code contract, State Revenue Committee registration, and the full Armenian employment law stack run on one platform.
Real HR and legal experts handle your Armenian hires, from the first offer letter through every monthly payroll tax filing with the State Revenue Committee. An actual person, not a chatbot or a pooled queue. There is no setup fee and no exit fee. Employer cost passes through at cost, itemised on every invoice.
EOR payroll, contractor onboarding, and entity setup all live on one platform. An Armenian contractor who converts to full employment keeps their record. Run the Crossover Calculator to see the month your Armenian hire is ready to graduate to your own entity. Start from the Armenia hiring overview; each guide here takes one layer of Armenian employment law.
Key sources: Labour Code of the Republic of Armenia and State Revenue Committee of Armenia.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to hire someone in Armenia through Teamed?
Teamed can onboard an Armenian citizen or EAEU-national employee within a few business days. The critical path is the written contract, which must be signed before the start date, and State Revenue Committee registration, which runs across the first week. Foreign nationals who need an Armenian work permit will take longer, as the permit must be in place before they start.
What is the probation period in Armenia and how does it work?
Standard probation in Armenia runs up to 3 months under the Labour Code. For managerial or specialist roles the cap rises to 6 months. During probation, either side can end the contract with 3 days notice. After probation ends, the employer notice scales with tenure: from 14 days for under one year of service to 60 days for 15 or more years.
What must an Armenian employment contract include?
Armenia requires a written employment contract for every employment relationship, signed before the start date. It must include the names and addresses of both parties, start date, place of work, job description, gross salary, working hours (the standard week is 40 hours), annual leave of at least 20 days per year, probation terms, notice periods, and reference to any applicable collective agreement. Teamed's standard Armenian contract covers all Labour Code requirements.
How much notice must an employee give to resign in Armenia?
After probation, an employee must give 30 days notice to resign. During probation, the notice is just 3 days for either side. If the employer and employee agree, the notice period can be shortened or waived by mutual consent.
What is the minimum annual leave entitlement for an Armenian employee?
The minimum paid annual leave under Armenia's Labour Code is 20 days per year for a five-day working week. Armenia has 14 public holidays per year. Employers may offer leave above the statutory minimum; the contract must state the entitlement clearly.
Armenia requires the written contract before day one, not within a few days of it. That is the point where most international hires run into trouble: the paperwork arrives late and the employment is technically unregistered for its first few days. We run the contract signing in parallel with the offer, so the employee is properly engaged from the moment they start.
Armenia gives you no grace period on the written contract. It must be signed before the first day of work.
The 3 days probation exit window is shorter than most countries in the region.
Get the contract right before day one and the rest of the Armenian onboarding follows a clear path.
