Yerevan SIM Card: Zvartnots Airport Counters, City Shops, and eSIM
You land at Zvartnots in the middle of the night, and your phone has no data. In Yerevan, that is easy to fix. Viva lists two points at the airport open 24 hours, one of them in the baggage hall, so you can get a Yerevan SIM card while you wait for your suitcase. Team lists its airport center as open around the clock too.
A local plan is cheap and strong here. Unlimited data for 15 days costs about $6.50, and two of the three plans include minutes to the USA. An eSIM set up at home costs more, and it makes sense if your phone has no SIM tray or you want data before you reach the counter.
In short:
- Viva, Team, and Ucom each have a 15-day unlimited plan at 2,500 dram (about $6.50).
- Viva's two airport points are open 24/7, in arrivals and in the baggage hall. Bring your passport.
- Team and Ucom plans include minutes to the USA and Canada, which helps if you need to call home.
- The Moosetrip Armenia eSIM starts at $5.50 for 1 GB over 7 days. 5 GB for 30 days is $17.50 on 2026-10-30.
Armenia eSIM from $5.50Install at home, connect when you land.See plans
Armenia has three mobile operators, and this guide covers only Yerevan and its airport. Dollar amounts for dram prices are rough, and the exchange rate moves.
SIM cards at Zvartnots Airport
Armenia's tourism site says you can buy a SIM in the baggage claim area and that you show your passport to buy a plan. The operators' own pages fill in the rest:
- Viva: two points, in the arrival hall and the luggage hall, both 24/7 on 2026-10-30.
- Team: an airport service center open 24/7, as listed on 2026-09-28.
- Ucom: a service center at the airport. Its plan pages do not give hours.
Plans to ask for by name:
| Operator | Plan | Includes | Valid for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viva | TOURIST UNLIM | Unlimited data, 300 minutes, 300 texts | 15 days | 2,500 dram ($6.50) |
| Ucom | uWelcome | Unlimited data, 300 minutes, 300 texts | 15 days | 2,500 dram ($6.50) |
| Team | Be Free 2500 | Unlimited data, 2,000 minutes, 500 texts | 15 days | 2,500 dram ($6.50) |
| Ucom | Level Up+ 5000 | Unlimited data, 3,000 minutes, 500 texts | 30 days | 4,500 dram ($12) on first activation at the airport |
Viva, Ucom uWelcome, and Team were checked on 2026-10-30, and Level Up+ on 2026-09-28.
Three details matter for US travelers:
- Calling home. Ucom's 300 minutes cover local networks, the USA, and Canada. Team's 2,000 minutes do too. Viva's 300 minutes are for other local networks and landlines, so do not count on them for calls home.
- Ucom's end date. Ucom says uWelcome is sold at its Zvartnots center through October 31, 2026. If you land after that, ask what replaced it.
- Airport-only pricing. Ucom's lower Level Up+ price applies only at its Zvartnots center, plus a one-time 100 dram SIM fee. In the city, the plan is 5,000 dram. Team's Be Free 5000 airport plan is also sold only at its Zvartnots center.
"Unlimited" has a limit at Ucom. After 200 GB in the period, speed drops to 512 kbps with no extra charge. That is far more than a tourist will use.
Watch out for auto-renewal
These plans renew if money is sitting on the line.
- Viva: after 15 days, TOURIST UNLIM renews for another 2,500 dram if the balance covers it. If not, the plan ends and data costs 30 dram per MB. To renew by hand, dial *210*4#. The SIM itself is good for 60 days at the start.
- Team: if your balance is at least 5,000 dram when the 15 days end, the plan renews for 30 days.
- Ucom: uWelcome renews and charges the fee again if the balance covers it.
Leaving soon after your plan ends? Do not put extra money on the line. Staying longer? Check your balance a day or two before the plan runs out, because 30 dram per MB adds up quickly.
Where to buy a SIM card in Yerevan
Missed the airport counters? Armenia's tourism site says operator shops are all over the city. Bring your passport here too.
| Address | Operator | Hours | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6/14 Northern Ave. | Viva | Daily 9:00 to 24:00 | 2026-10-30 |
| 25/27 Tigran Mets Ave. | Team | Mon to Fri 9:00 to 20:00, Sat 9:00 to 18:00, Sun 10:00 to 19:00 | 2026-09-28 |
| 33/7 Abovyan St. | Viva | Mon to Fri 9:00 to 19:00, Sat 9:00 to 18:00 | 2026-10-30 |
The Northern Avenue shop is your late option in the center, and it is open every day. On a Sunday, Team on Tigran Mets is open too, while Viva on Abovyan is not listed for that day.
City prices can be higher than airport prices. Level Up+ 5000 is the full 5,000 dram in town, and Team's airport plan is not sold there.
Airport SIM, city shop, or eSIM?
- Phone with a tray, trip of a week or more. Buy a local plan at the airport. It is the best value, with counters open all night.
- iPhone with no tray. Many newer iPhones sold in the US are eSIM only, so a plastic SIM will not fit. Your phone must also be unlocked for any local line. You can check your phone here.
- Short trip, light use. A small eSIM is simple and has no renewal to think about.
- You need your US number for bank codes. An eSIM runs as a second line, so your US SIM stays in the phone. If your phone has one SIM slot, a local SIM means taking your US SIM out.
- You want a local number. Choose a local plan. Our eSIM is data only.
Roaming with your US carrier
Verizon lists TravelPass at $12 per day, per line, outside Mexico and Canada, with 5 GB of high-speed data per 24-hour session. AT&T lists International Day Pass at $12 per day for one line, plus $6 for each extra line used that day, for customers on an unlimited plan. Confirm Armenia and the rate in your carrier app before you fly.
For one line, 7 days of use is $84. A 15-day local plan is about $6.50, and our 5 GB eSIM is $17.50. Those are not exact matches, since a daily pass includes your normal calls and texts. Some US plans include travel data. If yours covers Armenia and gives you enough high-speed data, keep it and skip the rest of this guide.
5G and day trips
Viva announced its 5G+ launch in Yerevan in July 2026. Ucom says its 5G reaches 94% of Armenia's population. For maps, ride apps, and video calls, 4G is plenty, so do not pick a plan just for 5G.
If you are heading out for the day to Garni, Etchmiadzin, or Khor Virap, download an offline map of the area first, while you are on hotel Wi-Fi. A route you load before you leave the city stays on screen if the signal drops. Skip passwords and card details on open networks.
Travel eSIM for Armenia
An eSIM is a digital SIM. You install it at home over Wi-Fi with a QR code, and your regular number stays on as a second line. Days count from your first connection in Armenia, so you can set it up weeks ahead. Your phone must support eSIM and must not be locked to your carrier. Our eSIM is internet only, with no phone number.
Our Armenia plans list the Vivacell network, the older name for Viva. Prices on 2026-10-30:
| Data | Valid for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $5.50 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $11.50 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $17.50 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $30.50 |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $59 |
Local unlimited plans beat these prices for most trips, so buy an eSIM for convenience, not to save money. If you are only stopping for a few days and your phone has no tray, the 3 GB plan is a fair pick.
To size your plan, use a cautious rule: 1 GB is about 5 hours of maps and taxi apps, or about 1.5 hours of video calls. An hour of maps a day for 7 days is about 1.4 GB, so 3 GB leaves room. For a 30-minute video call each day of that week, you need about 3.75 GB in all, so take 5 GB. If you run low, you can add data to the same eSIM.
Going on to Tbilisi?
Our Armenia plan works in Armenia only. For Georgia you need a separate plan, starting at $4.50 for 1 GB over 7 days on 2026-10-30. See our Georgia plans.
Questions
Can I buy a SIM card at Yerevan airport at night?
Yes. Viva lists its two Zvartnots points as open 24/7, and Team lists its airport center the same way. Ucom has a center there, but its plan pages do not give hours.
How much is a SIM card in Yerevan?
On 2026-10-30, the Viva, Ucom, and Team 15-day unlimited plans were 2,500 dram, about $6.50. Ucom's 30-day plan was 4,500 dram at the airport on 2026-09-28, plus a 100 dram SIM fee.
Do I need a passport to buy a SIM in Armenia?
Yes. Armenia's tourism site says you show your passport to buy a plan, so have it ready at the airport and in the city.
What happens when my Viva plan ends?
It renews for another 15 days if the balance has 2,500 dram. If not, the plan ends and data costs 30 dram per MB. To renew by hand, dial *210*4#.
Which Armenian SIM lets me call the US?
Ucom uWelcome includes the USA and Canada in its 300 minutes. Team Be Free 2500 includes them in its 2,000 minutes.
Is there 5G in Yerevan?
Yes. Viva announced 5G+ in Yerevan in July 2026, and Ucom says its 5G reaches 94% of the population.
Will I keep my US number with an eSIM?
Yes. It stays on as a second line. Turn off data roaming on that line so you do not start a daily pass by accident.
Sources
- Armenia Travel, Practical Information: Mobile and Internet, checked 2026-09-30
- Viva, TOURIST UNLIM, checked 2026-10-30
- Viva, service centers, checked 2026-10-30
- Ucom, uWelcome, checked 2026-10-30
- Ucom, Prepaid Level Up+, checked 2026-09-28
- Ucom, 5G network, checked 2026-09-30
- Team, Be Free 2500, checked 2026-10-30
- Team, sales and service centers, checked 2026-09-28
- b24.am, 5G+ launch in Yerevan and six regions, July 15, 2026
- Verizon, TravelPass FAQs, checked 2026-10-30
- AT&T, International Day Pass, checked 2026-10-30