Armenia overhauls certificate of origin rules from 2027
Armenia’s new procedure for issuing certificates of origin and conducting origin examinations will take effect on January 1, 2027, replacing rules in force since 2010.
The government approved it at its October 29 meeting. The same decision sets requirements for examination bodies and the procedure for qualifying and testing experts.
What happened
A certificate of origin confirms where a product was made. Exporters need it to obtain customs preferences or clear checks in the destination country. According to the government’s official statement, the new rules set uniform, clear and predictable procedures. The key change is that the origin examination and the issuing of the certificate are separated: examination bodies carry out the examination, and the Ministry of Economy issues the certificate. Certificates of origin are currently issued by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Armenia (CCI), which describes itself as the authorised body for issuing certificates of country of origin. From January 1, 2027, this function moves to the ministry.
How the process will work (according to the draft decision):
| Stage | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Registration of the application at the examination body | 1 working day |
| Preliminary review of documents | 2 working days |
| Applicant submits missing documents | 3 working days (the body may extend this to 7) |
| Examination once the full package is received | 2 working days |
| Extension if an on-site inspection of production is needed | up to 3 working days |
| Document check at the Ministry of Economy | 1 working day |
| Issuing the certificate | 1 working day |
By BusinessDaily’s estimate, with a complete set of documents and no on-site inspection, the whole procedure takes about 7 working days.
Other provisions:
- Risk-based approach. At low risk, only the documents are reviewed. At medium risk, additional information may be requested, with an on-site check if needed. At high risk, the production process, cost structure and traceability of raw materials and components are examined.
- The examination fee for Armenian producers is set by contract but may not exceed AMD 20,000 (about $56). A state fee set by law is charged for the certificate itself.
- Certificate forms: CT-1 CIS, CT-1 Georgia, CT-3, Form “A”, EAV and a general form.
- Validity is set by international treaties and the law of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Where they set none, the certificate is valid for 12 months.
- Second examination. If an examination returns a negative result, the applicant can request a second one.
- Digitalisation. Twelve months after the decision takes effect, recording examination results and issuing certificates will be done electronically only.
- Experts will be certified under the GOST ISO/IEC 17024 standard. Experts carrying out examinations on the day the decision takes effect may continue until they obtain a qualification under the new system it establishes, but for no more than 6 months from that day. New examination bodies must be set up within 6 months.
Who benefits
- Exporters get clear deadlines at every stage, transparent rules and a capped examination fee. This matters more as exports fall: according to the Statistical Committee of Armenia, exports in January-September 2026 totalled $5.16 billion, down 8% year on year.
- Small producers: the AMD 20,000 cap and document-only checks for low-risk goods keep costs down.
- The state and trading partners: a separate examination, certified experts and on-site checks for high-risk goods strengthen trust in Armenian certificates abroad.
- Examination bodies: the examination market is being rebuilt, with requirements for bodies and certification of experts.
What it means
More predictability. Every step has a deadline, and applicants have the right to a second examination and to object to the record of an on-site inspection.
Checks will be tougher where the risk is higher. Complex production, goods with imported components and incomplete paperwork will be examined more closely. This reduces the risk of re-exported goods being certified as Armenian.
The pool of experts will be renewed. Six months after the decision takes effect, only experts with the new qualification will be able to work.
Paper is on the way out. From 2028, certificates will be issued entirely electronically.
What to do
- Exporters: until the end of 2026, apply to the CCI for certificates; from 2027, to the Ministry of Economy. Applications filed before January 1, 2027 will be handled under the old rules, and existing examination acts stay valid until they expire. From 2027, prepare a complete document package from the start to meet the short deadlines.
- Producers with complex supply chains: gather data on your cost structure and the origin of raw materials in advance, as it will be requested for high-risk goods.
- Experts and examination bodies: you have 6 months to get certified and meet the new requirements.
- Everyone involved: prepare for fully electronic paperwork in 2028.
Calculations by BusinessDaily with the help of Claude, based on official data.
