Georgia offers three primary pathways to obtain residency, each with distinct investment thresholds, documentation requirements, and routes toward permanent residence or citizenship.
1. Short‑term residence for property owners
- Eligibility: Ownership of immovable property in Georgia with a market value of USD 100,000 or more. The property may be a single asset or a portfolio whose combined value meets the threshold.
- Valuation: Must be confirmed by a certified audit or appraisal, accompanied by an official extract from the National Agency of Public Registry.
- Required documents:
- Passport copy
- Proof of legal stay in Georgia
- Property ownership extract
- Certified appraisal report confirming market value
- Recent photograph
- Receipt for the application service fee
- Validity: Issued for 6–12 months and renewable. Holders can remain in Georgia indefinitely while the property ownership is maintained.
2. Investment residence (permanent‑residence track)
- Eligibility: Minimum USD 300,000 investment in the Georgian economy. Investment can be made through real estate or other qualifying assets.
- Benefits:
- Immediate five‑year temporary residence for the investor and qualifying family members.
- After the five‑year period, the permit can be converted to permanent residency without the standard 10‑year waiting period required for lower‑value investments.
- Conditions: The USD 300,000 investment must be maintained continuously throughout the residence period, and any additional legal requirements stipulated by the authorities must be met.
- Documentation: Similar to the short‑term route, plus proof of the investment amount and its continuous existence (e.g., bank statements, investment certificates).
Note: A USD 100,000 property investment only grants a short‑term permit; the holder must wait 10 years of continuous residence before qualifying for permanent residency.
3. Work residency (employees and entrepreneurs)
- Eligibility:
- Employees: Must hold an employment contract or certificate with at least six months remaining on its term.
- Entrepreneurs: Must own or be a key participant in a Georgian LLC or IE that demonstrates sufficient economic activity.
- Financial proof: Applicants must show enough personal funds to support themselves for the residence period (e.g., bank statements).
- Business turnover requirement: The sponsoring company must have a minimum turnover of 5,000 GEL per foreign employee over the previous 12 months. Turnover can be verified via:
- Revenue Service turnover statement
- Georgian business bank account statement
- Audit report from a licensed auditor
- Proof of turnover deposited in foreign accounts
- Required documents:
- Completed application form
- Passport copy
- Employment contract or business registration extract from the Commercial Registry
- Proof of turnover (as above)
- List of foreign staff employed by the sponsoring entity, signed by a director or accountant
- Recent photograph
- Receipt for the service fee
- Legal translation of any non‑Georgian documents
General procedural notes
- Application submission: First‑time applications must be filed from within Georgia via the State Department of Migration (SDA) portal (sda.gov.ge).
- Processing time: Residence permits are typically issued within 10–30 days after complete submission.
- Residence card: Recipients must obtain a physical residence card within six months of permit issuance; failure to do so results in termination of the permit.
- Validity of temporary permits: Generally 6–12 months, renewable as long as eligibility criteria remain satisfied.
Path to permanent residency and citizenship
- Standard route: Hold a temporary residence permit for 10 consecutive years. Time spent studying, receiving medical treatment, or working abroad can count toward the 10‑year requirement if legally documented.
- Accelerated route: The USD 300,000 investment pathway grants a five‑year temporary permit that converts directly to permanent residency, bypassing the 10‑year wait.
- Citizenship: Permanent residents may later apply for Georgian citizenship, subject to additional criteria (e.g., language proficiency, background checks).
Practical considerations
- Document language: All submissions must be in Georgian; non‑Georgian originals require a certified legal translation.
- Financial planning: Maintaining the required investment level (USD 300,000) is crucial for the accelerated permanent‑residence track; any reduction may jeopardize the permit.
- Turnover verification: Entrepreneurs should keep detailed, auditable records of company revenue to satisfy the 5,000 GEL per foreign employee threshold.
- Renewal vigilance: Monitor the expiration dates of both the residence permit and the residence card to avoid inadvertent loss of status.
By aligning the chosen residency pathway with personal or business objectives—whether through property acquisition, larger-scale investment, or employment—applicants can secure legal residence in Georgia and position themselves for eventual permanent residency or citizenship.
