Armenia to Introduce a Unified Address Database, Preserving the History of Previous Addresses

Armenia plans to introduce unified rules for maintaining the database of the national Address Register. A draft government decision sets out requirements for collecting, storing and updating address data, as well as providing it to public information systems. Each address will have a unique identifier, while its full change history will be preserved.

The draft was prepared by the Cadastre Committee. It was published on the e-draft.am platform on November 2, 2026, and is open for public consultation until November 20.

What information will the database contain?

The database will include the main structural elements of addresses, such as the marz, community, settlement, streets and other geographical features, building and structure numbers, geographical coordinates, and the legal grounds for assigning or changing an address.

Each address will receive a unique identifier, allowing it to be unambiguously identified and linked to data held in public and other information systems. The database will also indicate whether an address is active or archived.

Previous addresses will not be deleted

One of the key provisions of the draft is the preservation of the complete history of address changes. It establishes procedures for creating new addresses, making changes on legal grounds, correcting technical errors, adjusting geographical locations and archiving addresses.

Archived address records will not be deleted, and their unique identifiers cannot be reassigned to other addresses. The link between previous and current addresses will be retained, making it possible to trace changes over time and identify documents issued under former addresses.

The dates of changes and the identifiers of the relevant addresses will also be recorded.

Who will manage the database, and how will data be exchanged?

The Cadastre Committee will be responsible for managing and operating the database. Communities will submit applications for assigning or changing addresses through the existing information system, while approved data will be entered into the database.

The Committee will oversee data quality, completeness and accuracy, system operation and information security. Each data entry or modification will be logged, including the date and time of the operation and the identity of the responsible user.

Data will be provided to public and other information systems through web services. This will allow users to search for an address by its structural components or unique identifier and retrieve information about its status, location and change history.

The draft also provides for measures to ensure data confidentiality, integrity and availability. These include user authentication, access control, safeguards against unauthorized changes, activity logging, data backups and recovery procedures. Applicable requirements of the ISO/IEC 27001 information security standard will also be taken into account.

What could the changes mean for citizens and businesses?

A unified address database could reduce cases in which the same address is recorded differently across public information systems, as well as inconsistencies between datasets. It could be useful for property registration, banking and tax transactions, utility services, deliveries and other processes.

Preserving the links between former and current addresses is particularly important. It could make it easier to match documents issued under previous addresses and reduce problems related to identifying historical records.

However, the creation of the database does not automatically mean that all address information will be publicly accessible. The scope of access will be determined by legislation and the applicable access-control mechanisms.

The database’s practical effectiveness will also depend on how quickly information is updated, how errors are corrected, and what procedures citizens and organizations can use to report inaccurate address data. Clear rules on these matters will be important for ensuring public trust and effective use of the system.

According to the Cadastre Committee’s explanatory note, adoption of the decision will have no impact on state budget revenues or expenditures. The draft aims to establish unified rules for maintaining, storing and exchanging address data.

Comments and suggestions may be submitted through the e-draft.am platform until November 20, 2026.

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