The language for Armenia citizenship: the requirements and how long to learn
There is no separate Armenian language exam: applicants take a test on the Constitution of Armenia, and it is administered in Armenian — that is the language check. Thirty-three questions, no limit on attempts. Residence: three years; two for spouses of Armenian citizens, one for children of citizens. The level on the Common European Scale is named nowhere, so there is nothing to count hours “up to the level” against. Checked against the Armenian citizenship services portal.
What is required
| Which language | Armenian |
| Level | no level named on the scale |
| Residence term | three years of permanent residence; two for spouses of Armenian citizens (with 365 days of residence within that term); one if the parents were citizens |
| How it is checked | a test on the Constitution of Armenia and the Armenian language — 33 questions, attempts unlimited. There is no separate language exam with a level on the common scale: the test is in Armenian and doubles as the language check. |
| Is a language required for the residence permit | For the residence permit the source names no language requirement: the language is asked at citizenship, not at the permit. |
- Armenian for the citizenship of Armenia: no level named on the common scale. a test on the Constitution of Armenia and the Armenian language — 33 questions, attempts unlimited. There is no separate language exam with a level on the common scale: the test is in Armenian and doubles as the language check.checked against the primary source
- Vocabulary size by level: A1 — about 650 words, A2 — about 1300 words, B1 — about 2400 words. These are lists for German exams; for another language they transfer as an order of magnitude.checked against the primary source
How long it takes to learn
The requirement names no level on the common scale, so there can be no honest arithmetic of “so many hours” here: there is nothing to count from. Orient yourself by what is checked on the spot — and that is conversation, not a test.
For comparison: up to level A2, at which a person gets by on simple everyday topics, the Cambridge exam board names 180–200 study hours. It is an institutional benchmark, not a research finding, and the spread between people is enormous.
How we help, and what we do not cover
Armenian we do have: 4060 words (in size, a vocabulary at the B1 level), audio for every word, a from-scratch script course, a phrasebook by situation and grammar in plain words.
The level in brackets is about vocabulary size and nothing else. The thresholds come from the word lists the Goethe-Institut publishes for its exams: at A1 — about 650, at A2 — about 1300, at B1 — about 2400 ([the B1 list](https://www.goethe.de/pro/relaunch/prf/de/Goethe-Zertifikat_B1_Wortliste.pdf), checked September 7, 2026). The lists are German; for another language they transfer as an order of magnitude. And the main thing: the level is set by skills, and the list is derived from the level — not the other way around — so a dictionary of the right size is still not a passed exam.
What to do, step by step
- Open the primary source and check the requirement as of today — it may have changed after our check.
- Find out whether you fall under the exemptions: a degree in the right language or a school certificate often removes the exam entirely.
- Learn the check format in advance: an interview is prepared for differently than a written test.
- Start with everyday language and listening: in any format, understanding other people's speech gives out first, not your stock of words.
- A month before filing, practice conversation with a native speaker: the commission listens to speech, not to a test.
Frequently asked
Which language is required for the citizenship of Armenia?
Armenian. a test on the Constitution of Armenia and the Armenian language — 33 questions, attempts unlimited. There is no separate language exam with a level on the common scale: the test is in Armenian and doubles as the language check.
Is a language required for the residence permit in in Armenia?
For the residence permit the source names no language requirement: the language is asked at citizenship, not at the permit.
How long will preparation take?
There is nothing to count from: the requirement names no level. Orient yourself by the check format — it is a conversation, not a test, and preparing for it means talking.
How far can this data be trusted?
The requirement was read on the website of the authority that imposes it: the Armenian citizenship services portal. The check date is September 7, 2026, the link is on the page. We do not process paperwork and charge nothing for it, so we have no interest in rounding terms in a pleasant direction.