Last updated: 11 November 2026· Facts checked November 2026
Armenia SIM cards come from three networks that are working now: Viva, Team and Ucom. Each sells a prepaid plan from 2,500 AMD (about $7), with data and local minutes.
You need your passport and a phone that is not locked to another network. All three have counters at Zvartnots Airport and shops across Yerevan, and all three issue a local eSIM in a shop. Old signs still say VivaCell-MTS and Beeline. Those names no longer sell a SIM. VivaCell-MTS is Viva, and Beeline is Team. OVIO, which Viva agreed to buy in July 2026, is home internet and television, not a mobile network. The prices below come from the operators’ own sites, checked on 10 November 2026.
Key Facts
- Operators: Viva (formerly VivaCell-MTS), Team (Telecom Armenia, formerly Beeline) and Ucom
- Tourist plan: Viva TOURIST UNLIM, 2,500 AMD (about $7) for 15 days with unlimited data (checked November 2026)
- 30-day prepaid plans: from 2,500 AMD for 20 GB; unlimited data from 3,500 AMD (Team) or 4,000 AMD (Ucom)
- What you need: your passport and a phone not locked to another network
- Where: operator counters in the Zvartnots arrivals hall, or shops in Yerevan and regional towns
- Exchange rate used: 1 USD = 360 AMD (Central Bank of Armenia, 9 November 2026)
In this guide · 6 sections
The Three Armenian Operators
These three are the mobile networks that sell a SIM today. Two of them changed their names, which is why older forum posts name companies you can no longer buy from.
- Viva – the working network at viva.am. It was VivaCell-MTS, then Viva-MTS. The company became Viva Armenia in March 2024 and has used the plain Viva brand since 1 July 2024. Its own site was still publishing news in early November 2026, and its tourist plan is still on sale.
- Team – the brand of Telecom Armenia at telecomarmenia.am. This is the former Beeline Armenia. The Beeline name was dropped on 1 May 2022. Beeline shops are now Team.
- Ucom – the same name as always, at ucom.am. Its prepaid Level Up+ plans were still on the site on 10 November 2026.
Armenia SIM Cards and Prices Compared
The table shows the plans most useful to a visitor. Only Viva still sells a plan made for tourists; the others are ordinary prepaid plans that a visitor can buy with a passport. Operators change plans often, so check the site before you go.
| Operator and plan | Price | Validity | Data | Calls and SMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viva TOURIST UNLIM | 2,500 AMD (about $7) | 15 days, renews automatically | Unlimited | 300 min, 300 SMS |
| Ucom Level Up+ 2500 | 2,500 AMD (about $7) | 30 days, renews automatically | 20 GB plus social apps | 1,000 min, 500 SMS |
| Ucom Level Up+ 4000 | 4,000 AMD (about $11) | 30 days, renews automatically | Unlimited (slower after 200 GB) | 500 min, 500 SMS |
| Team Be Free 2500 | 2,500 AMD (about $7) | 30 days, renews automatically | 20 GB plus unlimited messaging apps | 750 min, 300 SMS |
| Team Be Free 3500 | 3,500 AMD (about $10) | 30 days, renews automatically | Unlimited | 200 min, 300 SMS |
Viva sells TOURIST UNLIM at all its service centres except the one at Zvartnots Airport.
That rule comes from Viva’s own plan page, and few guides mention it. If you want Viva’s tourist plan, buy it at a shop in town, or pick another plan at the airport.
Remember too that every plan in the table renews automatically when there is enough credit. If you top up generously and leave, the next period will be charged.
What the SIM Itself Costs
The operators publish plan prices, not full shop prices. Ucom adds a one-time fee of 100 AMD for a new SIM with a Level Up+ plan. Viva says that for a new eSIM subscription you pay only for the plan. Ask for the full total before you hand over your passport, and carry some drams in case your card is declined.
Fine Print on the “Unlimited” Plans
- Hotspot use – Viva says its tourist SIM is not meant for modems or Wi-Fi devices and may limit speed. Team forbids sharing its service with third parties. Ucom slows unlimited data to 512 kbps after 200 GB in 30 days.
- Roaming – the included data and minutes work only inside Armenia, at all three operators. They will not help you in Georgia.
- After the package ends – pay-as-you-go data is expensive. Viva charges 30 AMD per MB and Team’s basic rate is 50 AMD per MB, so keep the package active.
Where to Buy a SIM Card
At Zvartnots Airport
The airport’s own page still lists offices of Team, VivaCell-MTS and Ucom in the arrivals hall and at the exit from baggage claim. The VivaCell-MTS counter is Viva. You show your passport and sign a service agreement there. (For entry rules, see our Armenia visa guide.) It is convenient, but you may queue behind a full flight. Our Zvartnots Airport guide covers what else is in the arrivals hall.
In Yerevan and Other Towns
Each operator lists its service centres in Yerevan and the regions on its website. Bring your passport, because all three ask for an identity document to issue a SIM or eSIM. Our Yerevan guide helps you find your way around the centre.
Before you leave the counter, ask staff to activate the package and check that data works. Note the codes too: Viva’s balance is *210#, while Team uses *102# for the balance and *113# for what is left of the package.
eSIMs: Local Operator or International App?
Local eSIMs from Viva, Team and Ucom
All three operators issue eSIMs at local prices. You get one in a shop, in person, with your passport.
- Viva – at any Viva service centre. The QR code comes on paper or by email.
- Team – at any Team sales and service centre with an identity document. Existing customers can also switch to eSIM in the My Team app.
- Ucom – at any Ucom shop. The phone must not be locked to another operator, or the eSIM will not activate.
You need Wi-Fi to scan the QR code, and your phone must support eSIM. Keep the code safe. Team says it can be scanned up to five times; without it, you have to go back to a shop.
International eSIM Apps
Many global eSIM sellers offer Armenia plans that you buy and install before you fly. Data then works as soon as you land, with no queue and no passport check. In return, compare the price per gigabyte with the local plans above, which are hard to beat.
Also check whether the plan includes an Armenian phone number. A data-only eSIM cannot receive local calls or SMS codes. iArmenia does not recommend any seller, so compare a few yourself.
| Local SIM or eSIM | International eSIM | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | 2,500–4,000 AMD ($7–11) for 15–30 days | Set by the seller; compare per GB |
| Armenian number | Yes | Only if the plan includes one |
| Passport needed | Yes, in a shop | No |
| Works on landing | After you buy it | Yes, if installed before the flight |
Coverage Outside Yerevan
For mountain drives and hikes, download offline maps before you set off, in case you lose signal in a gorge. Here is what the operators claim for their newest networks:
- Viva launched 5G+ on 15 July 2026 in Yerevan and towns in Shirak, Lori, Tavush, Gegharkunik, Kotayk and Aragatsotn. It says Ookla’s Speedtest data ranked it Armenia’s fastest mobile network in the first half of 2026.
- Ucom says its 5G network reaches 48 cities, more than 600 settlements and 94.6% of the population, including main highways and border crossings.
- Team publishes a coverage map on its website.
These are company claims from different dates. For Syunik (Tatev, Goris, Meghri) or the mountains of Lori, compare each operator’s map for the places on your route.
Topping Up and Wi-Fi
- Online – each operator’s website and app has a payment page. If a foreign card is declined, ask at a service centre.
- Airport Wi-Fi – Zvartnots has a free network, “Zvartnots Public”, across the whole airport, handy for installing an eSIM.
Prices are in drams, so our guide to the Armenian dram helps you read them.
So, pick a plan, bring your passport and go online in minutes. With your SIM sorted, you are ready to explore Yerevan, call a taxi and share the view from Tatev with everyone at home.
Questions Visitors Ask
Which is the best SIM card for tourists in Armenia?
There is no single winner. Viva’s TOURIST UNLIM gives 15 days of unlimited data for 2,500 AMD, but not at the airport. For a month, Team’s Be Free 3500 and Ucom’s Level Up+ 4000 offer unlimited data. Choose by length of stay and the coverage maps for your route.
Do I need a passport to buy a SIM card in Armenia?
Yes. Operators ask for an identity document to sign the service agreement, and for a visitor that means a passport.
Can I buy an Armenian eSIM before I arrive?
From an international eSIM seller, yes. The Armenian operators issue eSIMs in their shops with your passport, so you get theirs after you arrive.
Will my Armenian SIM work in Georgia?
The included data and minutes do not work in roaming. Buy a Georgian SIM, or an eSIM that covers both countries, if you are combining the two.
Sources
- TOURIST UNLIM tariff plan, Viva (read 10 November 2026)
- eSIM, Viva (read 10 November 2026)
- 5G+ launch, 15 July 2026, Viva (via search, 9 November 2026)
- Mobile tariffs, Team Telecom Armenia (read 10 November 2026)
- Be Free 2500, Team Telecom Armenia (read 10 November 2026)
- Be Free 3500, Team Telecom Armenia (read 10 November 2026)
- eSIM, Team Telecom Armenia (read 10 November 2026)
- Prepaid Level Up+ tariff plans, Ucom (read 10 November 2026)
- Tariff plans for smartphones, Ucom (read 10 November 2026)
- eSIM, Ucom (read 10 November 2026)
- The largest 5G coverage in Armenia, Ucom (via search, 9 November 2026)
- Connectivity, Zvartnots International Airport (read 10 November 2026)
- Exchange rates, Central Bank of Armenia (read 9 November 2026)
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