Coming to Armenia

People approach me about relocating to Armenia. The reason is likely apparent. I am not Armenian, but I moved to Armenia. Most of those who contact me are Armenian expats considering returning, but I have also talked to people without Armenian heritage. In this article, I sum up generic advice. Still, I am always happy to talk to people who want to relocate or visit Armenia. Please reach out to me.

My first advice is to read Life in Armenia. Matthew Zein created an excellent magazine; all its editions are timeless information resources. This article summarizes most of the things you will read in magazine issues. If you want the extended version — believe me, it is worth it — go to https://lifeinarmenia.com/ and download each issue. You will get tons of valuable impressions about Armenia with stunning images that underline the beauty of this country.

Personal View

I was in Armenia for the first time in 2013. Armenia has no lobby yet that advocates for how great this country is. Imagine you tell someone you live in New York, London, Paris, or Vienna. In your head, you can hear people saying: "Great city. Wonderful people. Amazing place. So much history. Wonderful! Yeah, you have to live there."

My wife and I have evaluated many countries, including the USA, Austria, Germany, and the UK. I know cities with prestige, including Vienna, which has been regarded as the most livable city for years. But after living in Vienna for 17 years, that city stands no chance against my lovely Yerevan. Let us go into some details.

Armenian Life

Many people who come back tell me about their past experiences. When they left Armenia in the 90s, they left a country with many difficulties. What amazes me most about Armenia is how fast this country changes.

When I was in Tsaghkadzor for the first time in 2018, I felt stuck in Soviet times. One cafe was open in winter, and it felt so old that you could imagine Brezhnev having dined there. The canteen in the hotel where I was staying had no menu; people working in the canteen brought different food choices on a tray. If you could make a deal with the lady who brought the food, you could improve your choice. People who know my passion for food will understand that I was very generous. While you were savoring Khachapuri and other Armenian delicacies, suddenly, the room was silent. You start smelling incense, and then a priest begins to pray and bless the food. It was a remarkable experience; even an otherwise hungry person like me stopped his dinner for the ceremony. People who know me also understand that this is not self-explanatory.

Four years later, Tsaghkadzor was utterly changed. I sat outside in the summer, familiarizing myself with the local stray cats who looked well cared for. Everyone who knows me knows that the way people treat pets is, for me, the highest sign of culture imaginable. In the center of Tsaghkadzor, you have to choose between modern and artsy cafes and restaurants. Young people gathered outside. The only thing that reminded you of old Armenia was when a Lada Niva passed by with loud music coming from the loudspeakers, but some things will never change.

I also enjoy the Cafés in Yerevan. They have a unique style—a mix of post-Soviet and French—that you will not find in any other city. The food is fantastic, and people—even the waiters—smile at you, something unusual for someone who grew up in Austria. And when you ask for Hashivar, the bill, all of the cafés not only accept cards but also the digital payment system iDram, underlining that, after all, Yerevan is modern.

For 20 years, I have had the impression that many people in European cities feel like they are being caught in a downward spiral. All the countries—and Austria has a special story to tell in this regard—were once powerful. But this power is waning, and people seem to cling to the past legacies. Things seem to get slightly worse every year, but not worse enough to rebel against the establishment. This is what I perceive when I see and talk to many Central Europeans, whether I see them in the metro, in offices, or on the streets.

Armenia had been an empire, too, once a long time back. But the difference between Armenia and Europe today is that for the last 100 years and longer, there was only one way forward for Armenia, or you faced extinction. This experience you see in every Armenian. People look forward to creating startups and working towards a joint goal to prosper Armenia. People come to Armenia to make something, not to receive welfare. There is a unique spirit that gives you much confidence that this is the place you want to be in the following decades. So, to sum it up, if you ever consider coming to Armenia, do not hesitate. Make this dream become your reality.

Let's also talk about what is needed to move.

Work

I have seen many people who would have made mediocre or, at best, solid careers in their originating countries due to the lack of opportunities and who are thriving after they came to Armenia. One of these people is Konstantin Ghazaryan, who returned from Austria to Armenia. I am very grateful that he is here, as now I finally have someone with whom I can speak in the Upper Austrian dialect.

Armenia gives you many opportunities to start your own company. If you do not speak Armenian, one way to benefit from being in Armenia is to work for international clients from Armenia. If you plan to do this, prepare for this step. Multiple companies have compliance processes. This is especially true for companies in Europe and those with sensitive data. The hiring manager realizes that if you work from Armenia, the required paperwork can be immense, and he might prefer the local candidate, where no huge formalities are required.

If you work for a company in your home country and you want to move to Armenia, it is easier to negotiate a change of work modalities in advance. Companies do not want to lose good employees. They tend rather to agree that someone with whom they share an office will work from a different country in the future than hire a new person from another country.

Another strategy is establishing a business connection with agents in your home country. These agents have completed all the procurement formalities to sell resources to big companies. The client has a contract with the agent; the agent has a contract with you. This means the agent will want a small share, but you will benefit from lower taxes.

Home

Every place you go, there are rules in the real estate market. The best strategy is to find locals to help you. This is true for every country you move to.

In Yerevan, many houses are being built. Some of the buildings are of surprisingly good quality (something someone coming to Armenia partially would not expect). However, this does not apply to every building. I have also seen buildings in quality that would create problems in more regulated countries.

Finding a home does not mean you are restricted to Yerevan, but if you do not speak Armenian and/or have a spouse who speaks the language, some things may be more difficult in the countryside (but not impossible). The other side of the coin is that prices in the countryside are far better. And if you do not like the heat in summer, you want to be in a region like Tavush, which is cooler.

Kids

This may be one of the most significant assets. I remember my school and the first years of my daughter Anahit's schooling in Austria. If I imagine my kids in other countries than Armenia, I believe they would not be where they are now. Besides schools, you also have many opportunities for extracurricular activities, most famously the Tumo camp.

I have to mention one detail, however. My kids are in private schools. If you come from outside, private schools might be the place to go. The fees are cheaper than if you were to send them to a private school in another country.

In the meantime, language is a challenge in every European capital, as children have challenges communicating in one language. Many children have different mother tongues, but it is a different challenge in Armenia. Children usually speak one language, Armenian. However, in many cases, kids arriving in Armenia have challenges adapting to Armenian, as it is, after all, a complex language. Schools are teaching in English or Russian, but you need to find them. The good news is that if your kids want to study in Armenia and do not speak Armenian, things get easier: The American University of Armenia, for instance, teaches in English.

Otherwise, Armenia is the perfect place to raise kids. I want to quote Adam Bittlingmayer, who has lived in Armenia far longer than I have. He once said, " In Armenia, you should have at least six kids." - I would follow his advice if my wife and I were younger.