Operator desks and free Wi-Fi at Zvartnots
Zvartnots International Airport's connectivity page says three mobile operators, Team, VivaCell-MTS and Ucom, have offices in the arrivals hall and at the entrance from the baggage claim area. It says passengers can use their services by presenting a passport to conclude an agreement. It also lists a free Wi-Fi network called Zvartnots Public covering the whole airport and charging points throughout.
Ucom announced in 2017 that its sales and service centre in the arrivals hall would operate around the clock and offer the same services as its 98 points of sale across Armenia, including SIM purchase and tariff selection. That is an old announcement, so treat the hours as a claim to confirm on arrival, especially for a late flight.
A sensible sequence for a short visit is to use the airport Wi-Fi to download maps and the accommodation address, then queue at one desk with the passport in hand.
Reading Ucom's Level Up+ tariffs
Ucom's Level Up+ page lists plans between 2,000 and 5,000 dram. At the time of checking, Level Up+ 2500 gave 20 GB, 1,000 minutes and 500 SMS; Level Up+ 3000 gave 30 GB; Level Up+ 4000 and 5000 gave unlimited data, with 5000 adding 200 MB of roaming. The minutes cover local networks and several foreign destinations including the USA, Canada, Russia (except MTS) and India.
The inclusions run for 30 days with automatic renewal, and there is a one-time activation fee of 100 dram for new SIM cards. Ucom adds that after 200 GB speeds drop to 512 kbps under a fair usage policy. Those are heavy allowances for a one or two week trip, so a lower plan will often be enough, and a short visit should check how to stop automatic renewal before leaving.
eSIM at Ucom and Viva: a passport at the counter
Ucom says that to activate an eSIM you visit one of its sales and service centres with your passport, subscribe to the service to receive a QR code, scan it in the phone's mobile settings while connected to the internet and confirm the download. Its eSIM page lists compatible phones from the iPhone XR upwards, recent Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel models and the Huawei P40, and says eSIM works with all voice tariffs except the Universal Plus postpaid plan.
Viva-MTS gives the same instruction: visit any Viva service centre with a passport. An existing subscriber replacing a working SIM pays AMD 500 including VAT; new subscriptions pay only for the chosen tariff. Activation is by a QR code supplied by email or on paper, and a stable connection is needed to download the profile. Viva warns that the QR code gives access to your number and should not be shared through messengers or social media.
The practical point is that a local eSIM is an in-person product at both operators, so it is not a way to arrive with a connection already working. Install the profile in the arrivals hall, or use airport Wi-Fi for a second step.
Entry rules and closed borders
Armenia's tourism site says visitors from visa-exempt countries can stay up to 180 days per year, and that those needing a visa can apply at the e-visa platform of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It adds that land crossings with Georgia and Iran are open around the clock, while the land borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan remain closed. Entry is through Zvartnots in Yerevan, Shirak in Gyumri or the open land crossings.
The UK Foreign Office says the eastern border between Armenia and Azerbaijan is closed and tensions remain, and it notes poor roads between November and February and a recommendation to avoid driving outside towns in the dark. For a phone, the consequence is simple: download offline maps for any road journey outside Yerevan rather than assuming a signal in every valley.
Emergency numbers
The Armenian tourism site lists police 102, ambulance 103 and fire 101, with 911 as a general emergency number. The UK Foreign Office gives 911 as the contact number for Armenia. Save at least 911 and your host's number offline.
If you rely on a local line, ask the operator to confirm that voice calls are included, because Ucom's plans are described with minutes and a visitor profile may differ.
Running an Armenian eSIM beside your home line
Apple's guidance says an iPhone needs to be unlocked for a local carrier's eSIM and shows that the cellular data line is chosen in Settings, Cellular, Cellular Data, while iMessage and FaceTime remain on the home line. Google says Pixel 7 and later models can run two eSIMs if the carrier supports that, and Samsung describes the SIM manager under Connections. Because both Armenian eSIMs are issued in person, check your handset against the operator's list before you queue. Our Armenia plan page covers the pre-departure alternative.
Networks our Armenia plans use
These are the operators named on our plans for Armenia, taken from the plan data, so the list follows the catalogue.
- Beeline4G
- K-Telecom CJSC5G
- MTS4G
- MTS - Vivacell5G
- Viva Armenia5G
- Vivacell5G