Residence permit in Georgia in 2024
Georgia offers several types of temporary residence permits. The most popular ones are:
Residence permit for work (for those who have an employment contract or business in Georgia)
Short-term residence permit based on real estate ownership
Residence permit for family reunification
Other residence permits (including student)
It should be noted that legal residence does not automatically mean obtaining tax residency in Georgia.
Temporary Georgian residence permits are initially issued for a period of 6 to 12 months. They can then be extended for an additional period of 1 to 11 years at the discretion of the State Services Development Agency (SDA).
Several extensions may be issued, but the total validity of a temporary residence permit in Georgia cannot exceed 12 years. In most cases, after 10 years, you can apply for permanent residence.
For most applications for temporary residence permits, proof of legal stay (passport stamp, previous residence permit, visa, etc.) must be valid for at least 40 days.
Residence permit through employment
A work-based residence permit is granted to individuals coming to Georgia for entrepreneurial or labor activities. This is one of the most popular types of residence permits among Russian IT professionals who have opened an individual entrepreneurship in Georgia. Requirements:
Have an employment contract with a remaining term of at least six months. The same applies if the applicant is a founder of an LLC or an individual entrepreneur. In case of employment, the applicant must also be registered in the unified database of the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia.
Have proof of solvency for the duration of the residence permit (the initial term will be from 6 to 12 months, and future residence permits can be up to 11 years).
The turnover of a sole proprietorship or LLC for the last 12 months must exceed GEL 50,000 per foreigner (director or employee). In the case of working in an educational or medical institution, its total turnover must exceed GEL 35,000 per foreigner (director or employee) in the institution.
The turnover is confirmed by: 1. A copy of the VAT turnover report issued by the Tax Service. In some cases, when the employer is not registered as a VAT payer, a similar document can be issued by the Tax Service. 2. If the previous option does not work, an account statement from a Georgian bank in lari. For individual entrepreneurs, it is possible to use an individual entrepreneur account;
To submit an application, you must provide:
Extract from the Register of Entrepreneurs for LLC or individual entrepreneur.
Copy of ID (usually a passport). A translation is sometimes required for the first application.
A copy of a document confirming the applicant's legal stay in Georgia (with a remaining validity of at least 40 days) of employment or entrepreneurial activity with a net income of at least 5 times the subsistence minimum in Georgia per month (employment contract, bank statement). As of February 2024, this amount is 252 x 5 = 1,260 GEL per month. This amount changes periodically, so always check the current figure before submitting an application.
A document indicating the number of foreigners working for an LLC or individual entrepreneur, signed by the director and/or accountant of the company.
A document showing the total turnover of an LLC or individual entrepreneur,
A 3×4 photo of the applicant (electronic).
Receipt of payment.
All documents must include a Georgian language version. If the original document is not in Georgian, a legalized translation must be included.
A response to your application can be received within a minimum of 10 days and a maximum of 30 days.
It is strongly not recommended, especially for Russian citizens, to apply for a residence permit immediately after opening an individual enterprise, even if the required amount of 50,000 lari has already been transferred. It is recommended to live in Georgia for 2-3 months without leaving before submitting an application.
Short-term residence permit (based on property ownership >100,000 USD)
Issued to a person and his/her family members who own real estate (except agricultural land), the market value of which exceeds 100 thousand US dollars in lari equivalent. This can be a single property or a portfolio with a total value exceeding the threshold. Note: If a residence permit was obtained and the property was subsequently sold, the residence permit will be cancelled.
To obtain a short-term residence permit, the market value of the real estate must be verified by a certified accredited appraiser.
Required documents:
Copy of the passport
A copy of proof of legal stay in the country.
Document proving ownership of the property (e.g. extract from the National Agency of Public Registry, registration certificate).
A certificate of market value of the property issued by a certified appraiser of an accredited body.
Electronic photograph size 3×4.
Receipt of payment.
If the family members of the real estate owner also want to obtain a residence permit, they must provide: a passport, proof of kinship (apostilled/legalized birth certificate, apostilled/legalized marriage certificate, etc.), 3×4 photo (electronic) and proof of legal stay in Georgia.
The application of family members must be submitted after the property owner has received a positive decision on the application for a residence permit.
Residence permit with an investment of USD 300,000
Investments can be made in various ways, not only through real estate. The main advantage is that the main applicant and his/her family members (spouse and minor children) can be issued a temporary residence permit for 5 years at once. The status depends on maintaining an investment of $300,000 and meeting other special requirements (which vary depending on the type of investment).
Initially, the investment residence permit is issued for 5 years. At the end of the 5-year period (and subject to the requirements being met), a permanent residence permit will be issued upon approval. With an investment of $100,000 (short-term), you must wait 10 years before applying for permanent residence, so the $300,000 investment option saves 5 years in this process.
Residence permit for family reunification
Residence permit by reunification is issued to family members of a Georgian citizen or a non-resident who already has a residence permit in Georgia. A family member can be a parent for a minor child and vice versa, or it can be a spouse. A person who already has a residence permit/citizenship will be considered a “sponsor” for those who apply.
To obtain a residence permit through reunification, the applicant must submit:
A copy of your ID card
A copy of the document confirming the legality of stay in Georgia
Proof of relationship (may be an apostilled/legalized marriage or birth certificate).
Proof of solvency. Either the sponsor or the applicant must provide a document (e.g. an employment contract) showing that they have an income of at least GEL 550 per month for the duration of the residence permit. OR the applicant can show that they have an account in Georgian banks with a total amount exceeding GEL 550 multiplied by the number of months of the document's validity (e.g. for a 12-month residence permit, a Georgian bank account in the applicant's name with an amount of at least GEL 6,500).
A 3×4 photo of the applicant (electronic).
Receipt for payment for services.
To obtain a residence permit through reunification, applicants must be in Georgia if applying for the first time. An application for extension of the current residence permit can be submitted online from abroad.
Other types of residence permit:
Special residence permit for victims of human trafficking.
Residence permit for study (educational).
To submit an application you will need:
Copy of ID card.
A document certifying the applicant’s legal stay in Georgia (valid for at least 40 days).
A certificate issued by a university confirming that a foreigner is studying in the country (indicating the expected duration of study).
Proof of sufficient funds (550 GEL per month, supported by a bank statement from the applicant. If the applicant has a relative with income in Georgia, the applicant may use a document showing the relative's income, submitted with a relevant document proving the relationship between them). OR the applicant may show that he/she has a Georgian bank account with a total amount exceeding 550 GEL multiplied by the number of months of validity of the document (e.g. a 12-month Georgian bank account in the name of the applicant with an amount of at least 6,500 GEL).
Electronic photo of the applicant (3×4).
Receipt for payment of services.
A temporary residence permit may be issued to a foreigner who, in accordance with the Law on the Elimination of Domestic Violence, Protection and Support of its Victims, is recognized as a victim of domestic violence.
A residence permit for a former citizen may be issued to a foreigner whose Georgian citizenship was previously terminated.
Is it possible to apply for a Georgian residence permit remotely online?
All new (first) applications must be submitted within Georgia.
You need to submit documents and an application to the House of Justice or SDA.
If an active residence permit is being extended, it can be done online from abroad.
Complete the online application. Upload the required documents electronically depending on the type of residence permit you are applying for. You will need to contact the immigration agent via Skype with the username “sda.gov.ge” and arrange a personal meeting to complete the online application.
The interview may be recorded. Original documents must be delivered to the immigration office within 10 days of application.
Benefits of Residence Permit in Georgia
Since Georgia provides 365-day entry visas for many countries, including Russians, one might wonder why a residence permit is needed. In the grand scheme of things, there is no long-term sense unless you want to commit to the country forever, but there are some “aesthetic” aspects that can be considered an advantage.
There is no need to be forced to cross the border to extend your stay; you can simply renew your resident card.
At some point, the 90-day rule within 180 days may come into effect, which has already happened in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. If a person was planning to become a tax resident of Georgia, unexpected changes in legislation and the need to leave may affect the tax burden, their tax residency may return to their country of residence.
The first step to permanent residence and then citizenship. If we consider Georgia as a country of long-term plans, maintaining 10 years of continuous residence here is important.
Convenience in using public and private services. Having an ID card simplifies your administrative activities here in many ways. Also a great option Proof of residence for foreign banks and sites.
To apply for a Schengen visa and other visas at visa centers in the countries, you must be a resident or citizen of Georgia.
Key changes to application submission rules
Does not apply to citizens of the Russian Federation: persons arriving in Georgia on the basis of a visa or residence permit in an approved country, according to Resolution 256, do not have the right to apply for a residence permit.
It is not possible to apply for a residence permit while on an emergency visa extension. If your passport stamp or visa has expired, it is no longer possible to obtain an emergency extension (to obtain more than 40 days of legal stay) to apply for a residence permit.
The definition of “family member” has changed. Basically, adult children or parents of adult children are no longer considered “family” under the new legal definition. This applies to residence permits for family reunification and investment ($300,000). Temporary residence based on ownership of real estate worth $100,000 has a different clause that does not limit the age of the child who can be sponsored. It is not yet clear whether this is an oversight on the part of the SDA or an intentional action.
The first application is now limited to a maximum validity of 6 to 12 months, except in some very exceptional cases (mainly for residence permits based on real estate).
What changes have been made to the rules for obtaining a permanent residence permit?
Now it takes 10 years before you can apply for permanent residence, previously it was possible to apply after 6 years.
Can I renew my current residence permit even if I do not meet the new rules?
No. Although the current residence permit will not be cancelled, after it expires it can only be extended if you meet the new rules. Therefore, for example, the parents or adult children of a sponsor who are currently residents due to that person’s sponsorship through family reunification will not be eligible for an extension of the document after it expires.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When should you apply for a residence permit in Georgia?
In most cases, the applicant submits a request for a residence permit to the Agency 40 calendar days before the end of his/her legal stay in Georgia. This restriction does not apply to residence permits for real estate, for victims of domestic violence and victims of human trafficking, as well as to extensions from abroad.
In case of extension, an additional restriction applies to all residence permits – an application cannot be submitted earlier than 90 calendar days before the expiration of the residence permit.
What is considered sufficient funds to obtain a residence permit in Georgia through work?
The salary must be at least 5 times the subsistence minimum in Georgia per month. As of February 2024, this amount is 252 x 5 = 1,260 GEL per month. This amount changes periodically, so it is better to check the current figure before applying. It is better to declare at least 1,300 GEL per month to be on the safe side.
You will need to provide a Georgian bank account statement showing funds equal to GEL 1,260 per month for each month of the intended validity of the residence card.
The decision on whether you have sufficient funds may sometimes be left to the discretion of the officer assessing the application, so it is best to have more than the minimum amount possible.
For students and family reunification applicants, the funds requirement is lower than for employment-based residence permits, as stated in the relevant sections above.
How long will the residence permit be valid?
A temporary residence permit is initially issued for a period of no less than 6 months and no more than 12 months. It can be extended for an additional period of up to 11 years, provided that the total period of issue of the temporary residence permit does not exceed 12 years. Until 2021, the maximum period of issue was 5 years, but in practice, SDA has recently started issuing up to 11 years in some cases.
How long does it take to obtain a residence permit?
Residence permits are issued by the SDA within 30 days of the initial application. However, permits can be issued on an expedited basis in 10 days – plus preparation time.
What to do if your residence permit application has been rejected?
An applicant who has been denied a residence permit has the right to re-apply on the same grounds one month after the decision to refuse.
How and when should I get a resident card?
Within 30 days after the application is approved, the foreigner must apply for a residence permit card at any territorial office of the Agency, the House of Justice or a community center. The residence card is a document certifying the identity of the foreigner, his citizenship and place of residence in Georgia.
How and when should a residence permit be extended?
In most cases, a residence permit must be renewed no less than 40 days and no more than 90 days before it expires.
The 40-day limitation does not apply to residence permits based on property ownership, for victims of domestic violence, for victims of human trafficking, and for extensions from abroad.
It is possible to extend the residence permit based on any of the available options listed above. Depending on the case, the residence permit can be issued for a period of 6 months to 11 years.
How to get a residence permit if the stamp in the passport is valid for less than 40 days?
Since the changes came into force on 12 May 2021, it is no longer possible to obtain a residence permit if the applicant is subject to the 40-day limitation and has missed the application deadline.
