Armenia: Update to Response to Information Request AMN28094.E of 7 November 1997 on the significance of trilingual stamps (in Armenian, Russian and English) stating "Property of the Government of Armenia" placed in the last page of USSR passports; on whether the holder of such a stamped passport, which was issued in 1995 and indicates nationality as Armenian on the first page, is currently an Armenian citizen; on whether the holder of such a stamped passport, which was issued in 1991 before the dissolution of the Soviet Union and indicates nationality as CCCP/URSS on the first page, is currently an Armenian citizen; on the process from January 1994 to December 1995 to obtain the above-mentioned stamp; on the documents or forms that were required to be submitted in order to obtain the stamp; on the length of time to receive a stamp (after applying for one); and on whether the passport holder had to appear in person to obtain it
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 February 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | AMN28796.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Armenia: Update to Response to Information Request AMN28094.E of 7 November 1997 on the significance of trilingual stamps (in Armenian, Russian and English) stating "Property of the Government of Armenia" placed in the last page of USSR passports; on whether the holder of such a stamped passport, which was issued in 1995 and indicates nationality as Armenian on the first page, is currently an Armenian citizen; on whether the holder of such a stamped passport, which was issued in 1991 before the dissolution of the Soviet Union and indicates nationality as CCCP/URSS on the first page, is currently an Armenian citizen; on the process from January 1994 to December 1995 to obtain the above-mentioned stamp; on the documents or forms that were required to be submitted in order to obtain the stamp; on the length of time to receive a stamp (after applying for one); and on whether the passport holder had to appear in person to obtain it, 1 February 1998, AMN28796.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac4a28.html [accessed 2 June 2023] |
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A letter sent to the Research Directorate on 8 January 1998 by the second secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Ottawa states:
According to the Decree No. 596 on December 23, 1997 by the Government of the Republic of Armenia the term of validity of ex-USSR external regular and service passports (series 02) issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia is extended until December 31, 1998. (Embassy's diplomatic note No. 001/98 was sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs of Canada yesterday).
A person who possesses with valid ex-USSR external passport issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and on the first page of passport under the section "Citizenship" has "Armenia" or "Republic of Armenia" is considered an Armenian citizen.
When "Citizenship"-"Armenia" or "Republic of Armenia" is present under the section "Citizenship", he/she is considered an Armenian citizen even if there is no trilingual stamp saying "Property of the Government of Armenia". In this case, as a first step before granting a person consular registration, consulates must always add that stamp ("privatization" of passport).
Presence of a Russian or any CIS country's consular registration stamp does not automatically indicate Armenian citizenship for those who left Armenia before 1991 and who still possess ex-USSR external passports, but does give such people the right to enter Armenia without visas. For this category of people to be automatically considered Armenian citizens they must have the Armenian consular registration stamp (to be re-registered at a local Armenian embassy or consulate).
To lose Armenian citizenship he/she only has to become a citizen of another state (in this case he/she loses Armenian citizenship automatically) or to submit a formal letter of refusal to a local Armenian embassy or consulate and then they commence the formal process of taking away his/her Armenian citizenship.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, Ottawa. 8 January 1998. Letter sent to the Research Directorate by the second secretary.
