Georgia’s Residency by Investment Program: Quick Guide

Georgia is not the most popular immigration destination, but interest in the country has increased in the last few years. The country doesn’t have a residence by investment program or a citizenship by investment program. That said, Georgia does grant business investors temporary residency if they invest more than GEL 300,000. Permanent permits are then offered after 6 years of residency.

Naturalization is also an option after 5 residency years within strict requirements. Also, investors who have significantly contributed to Georgia are eligible for citizenship without residence.

Georgia isn’t part of the EU. However, Georgians can spend 90 out of 180 days in the EU, so it’s still accessible to its citizens.

Georgia Business Investor Program

The Law of Georgia on Promotion and Guarantees of Investments defines the criteria for this program.

First, residency permits are only provided to applicants whose investments exceed GEL 300,000 (around $86,800 USD).

The permit can also be extended to family members of the applicant. They can include underage children, incapable dependents, and spouses.

Do note that the paperwork required from the investor differs slightly from those of their family members.

Documents Required From the Applicant:

• An Established form application
• Copy of the applicant’s travel form
• Copy of document certifying their legal stay within Georgia
• Document showing proof of the investments that exceed GEL 300,000 (auditor opinion required)
• Recommendation from a Georgian government member, or 3 citizens with power of representation in a Georgian enterprise
• Photograph (3×4)
• Receipt showing that the service fees have been paid

Documents Required from a Permit Holder’s Family Members:

• An established form application
• Copy of the applicant’s travel form
• Copy of document certifying their legal stay within Georgia
• Copy of residency permit belonging to the holding family member
• Documents proving kinship of the permit holder with the applying family member
• Photograph (3×4)
• Receipt showing that the service fees have been paid

Permanent Residency Program

Permanent residency can be issued to temporary residency permit holders. However, the requirements to be accepted are quite strict.

Applicants must have lived for 6 years in Georgia before being awarded a permanent residency. The applicant must have spent those 6 years on the basis of holding a temporary residency permit.

The 6 year timespan doesn’t include time spent in Georgia under a visa for education, performance of diplomacy activities, or medical treatment.

Permanent residency can be extended to an immigrant’s family members too. However, family members are only eligible if the permit holder has become a naturalized Georgian citizen.

Temporary Residency Holders Require the Following Documents:

• An established form application
• Copy of applicant’s travel document
• Document proving that the applicant has been in Georgia (legally) for the past 6 years. This will normally be a copy of the temporary residency permit
• Document proving that the applicant is receiving legal income in Georgia. If that is not available, they can provide a document of a permit holding relative’s legal income.

Alternatively, if the applicant is benefiting of a Georgian citizen’s social assistance or social pension (there must be a kinship tie), then a receipt of the income source is enough.

Finally, foreigners may prove their legal income through their bank account value.

• Photograph (3×4)
• Receipt proving that the service fees have been paid

Family Members of a Georgian Citizen (Children, Spouses, and Parents) Require the Following Documents:

• An established form application
• Copy of the applicant’s travel document
• Document proving that the applicant is legally certified to stay in Georgia
• Document to show proof of kinship to citizen
• Document proving that the applicant is receiving legal income in Georgia. If that is not available, they can provide a document of a permit holding relative’s legal income.

Alternatively, if the applicant is benefiting off a Georgian citizen’s social assistance or social pension (there must be a kinship tie), then a receipt of the income source is enough.

• Photograph (3×4)
• Receipt proving that the service fees have been paid

Acquiring Citizenship Status

Citizenship in Georgia can be gained by naturalization.

However, the process is difficult, requiring a decision authorized through Georgia’s president, and via a presidential order.

There are also two procedures to acquiring citizenship, one ordinary, and one for exceptional contributions.

Ordinary Naturalization.

For applicants to receive Georgian citizen status by ordinary means, they must apply to an authorized body.

Citizenship status is granted by presidential order. It comes into effect as soon as Georgia’s competent state authority receives a certification document where the foreigner renounces their foreign citizenship.

Also, applicants must meet the requirements below:

• Must have legally resided in Georgia throughout the past 5 years before submitting their application. Their residence should be uninterrupted. A document is needed to certify their uninterrupted and legal stay, along with their visa, residence card or permit, and a stamp certifying the date the applicant crossed the Georgian border.

• Must know the history of Georgia and the basics of its legislation. Applicant knowledge is tested through a commission

• Must proficiently know the state language to a pre-defined level. Linguistic skills are tested through a commission

• Must own real estate or be employed in Georgia. Alternatively, applicants can be part of business activities within Georgia’s territory, or own shares/interests in a Georgian company.

The 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th paragraphs aren’t required of incapacitated individuals, who are granted citizenship by ordinary procedures.

Also, individuals with a physical disability preventing them from assessing the previous requirements are exempt from the 2^nd and 3^rd paragraphs.

Finally, the 4^th paragraph doesn’t apply to individuals who are classified as refugees.

Also, some special rules apply to minors.

Underage people who did not acquire Georgian citizenship upon birth are granted it using ordinary procedures.

This is done under the condition that one of the citizen’s parents is Georgian, or if the minor is adopted by Georgian guardians.

Also, minors with stateless or refugee status who were born and have resided in Georgia (5 years minimum) are allowed citizenship through ordinary procedures.

Exceptional Naturalization.

As described in Georgia’s constitution, foreigners may be awarded citizenship status if they have contributed greatly to Georgia.

Citizenship status may also be granted to foreigners if it’s in the country’s national interest.

Before providing an applicant with a Georgian citizenship, the applicant may be invited for an interview to assess their contributions. This is all done through the Public Service Development Agency’s Commission on Citizenship.

For more information on Georgia’s immigration programs, be sure to visit the government’s website.