Contact us:
help@vardanyanlaw.com | +374.99.00.11.67 | Skype | WhatsApp | Viber | IMO

Georgia offers visas, residence permits and tax residency status to investors, property owners, entrepreneurs, freelancers, workers and their family members, with a path to citizenship. 

Please note that on May 30, 2019, Georgia raised investment requirements for applicants for permanent and short-term residence permits. These changes are effective from July 5, 2019. The text of the amendments is available here (in Georgian).

To qualify for a permanent (investor) residence permit you will need to invest at least US$300,000 in the Georgian economy - real estate or business. The permit is initially issued for a period of 5 years, after which it becomes permanent, provided that you have maintained your investment throughout this period. 

If you invest in a Georgian business the latter will also need to meet minimum annual turnover requirements (US$50,000 to 120,000) to allow you to maintain your permit and remove the condition after 5 years. You will have to submit annual reports showing that the minimum turnover requirements have been met. If you do not meet these requirements your residence permit will be revoked. 

If you invest in real estate your residence permit will be revoked if you sell or otherwise dispose of your property during the 5-year conditional period. However, you are allowed to sell the property and acquire another Georgian property of equivalent or greater value. 

To qualify for a short-term residence permit you will need to become an owner of real estate, such as an apartment, house, development land or any other residential or commercial property (but not agricultural land) worth US$100,000 and more. The value of the investment has to be verified by an independent auditor. A short-term residence permit is valid for one year, and can be extended by one-year increments for another 5 years, after which it can be converted into a permanent residence permit, provided that the investment remains in place.

To qualify for a work residence permit as a business owner (entrepreneur, freelancer) or an employee you will have to produce an employment agreement or a similar document certifying your employment. Please note that the applicant's monthly salary cannot be less than US$347 (five times monthly subsistence minimum for working age male). If this document does not show your monthly income it is recommended to produce a bank account statement from a local bank confirming a balance of around US$4,163 (12 mo. x $347/mo.). 

​

Moreover, the annual turnover of the employer shall not be less than GEL 50,000 (around US$18,300) per each foreign employee that applies for residency. A lower amount of GEL 35,000 (US$12,800) per foreign employee applies to medical and educational institutions.

​

To qualify for a work residence permit as a freelancer you will have to produce documents certifying your professional qualifications, e.g. diplomas, certificates, other documents showing your education, membership in professional associations etc. In addition, you will need to provide a reference from a Georgian citizen or a Georgian resident and a bank account statement from a local bank confirming a balance of around  US$1,700.

A work residence permit is issued for a term of up to one year (typically six months), and can be extended for another 5 years, after which it can be converted into a permanent residence permit, provided that the employment continues throughout this period.

If you hold a Georgian residence permit your family members also can apply for "residence permits for family reunification." The following are considered family members:

• Spouse
• Son or daughter (minor and adult)
• Parent
• Minor, supported or incapable person under guardianship/custody of or fully dependent on the main applicant

A residence permit for family reunification is issued if documents are presented showing the kinship (e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificate) and availability of financial means (income or savings) to support the family members.

A residence permit for family reunification is normally issued for a term of up to one year, and can be extended for another 5 years (6 years in total), after which it can be converted into a permanent residence permit.

Please note that if you hold a property ownership (short-term) residence permit your family members qualify for the same type (i.e. short-term) residence status. If you hold an investor (permanent) residence permit only the following family members qualify for the same type (i.e. permanent) residence status: spouse, minor children (under 18), supported on disabled persons fully dependent on you or legally incapable persons fully dependent on you.

A foreigner may be granted tax residency status in Georgia if he qualifies as "high net worth individual":

• The value of his assets is higher than GEL 3,000,000 (US$1,121,500), or
• His annual income exceeded GEL 200,000 (US$74,800) over the last three years

In addition to the above requirements, the applicant must show that he:

• Has a residence permit of Georgia, or
• His annual income from Georgian sources exceeds GEL 25,000 (US$9,300)

The documents are filed with the Revenue Service, which has seven business days to make a determination on the eligibility of the applicant. If the application is erroneous or incomplete the applicant will be given up to 30 days to fix the errors. Once the eligibility is confirmed the case is forwarded to the Ministry of Finance, which issues to the applicant a certificate of tax residency as well as a 9-digit tax identification number. 

The application can be filed in person or through an authorized representative. The tax residency certificate is issued for one tax year. It contains information on the resident's address, tax ID, and a confirmation that he is a resident of Georgia for tax purposes.

Georgian passport ranks 49th in the world (as of 2019) and allows visa-free travel to 114 countries and territories, including EU/Schengen countries, most of CIS countries, Iran and Turkey.

Citizenship by Exception. The President of Georgia may grant Georgian citizenship by way of exception to a foreigner who has made a contribution of exceptional merit to Georgia or based on state interests. Among other things, the following circumstances may be be considered in deciding on a citizenship petition:

• The foreigner has made or is in the process of making an investment in Georgia that has contributed substantially to the development of the economy; or
• The foreigner is successful in sports, science or arts and is willing to represent Georgia; or 
• The foreigner considers Georgia to be his/her homeland.

Citizenship by Residence. You may apply for a Georgian passport after 10 years of residence in the country. The residence must be continuous, meaning that you cannot spend more than 90 days outside Georgia during a year (except when you leave Georgia for up to two years for education or treatment). In addition to the residency requirement, you will have to show basic knowledge of Georgian language, history and law, and that you have a job or own real estate or a business interest in Georgia.

If you are married to a Georgian citizen you may apply for Georgian citizenship after 5 years of continuous residence in the country. You still have to show basic knowledge of Georgian language, history and law. However, there are no requirements to have a job or own real property or business interests in Georgia. 

Georgia restricts the possibility of dual citizenship. You may retain your current citizenship if you are granted Georgian citizenship by exception. However, if you are granted Georgian citizenship on the basis of residency you will have to renounce your current citizenship. 

Please note that, unless you qualify for visa-free travel to Georgia, you must have a long-term visa and at least 40 days before your lawful status in Georgia expires to be able to apply for a residence permit (except permanent (investor) residence permit).

​Nationals of almost 100 countries (listed below) can travel to Georgia visa-free. They are allowed to enter Georgia without a visa and stay in the country for one full year. As an exception, nationals of Iran are allowed to stay in the country for up to 45 days during one visit.

Moreover, holders of visas or residence permits of around 50 countries (listed below) can also travel to Georgia visa-free. They are allowed to enter Georgia without a visa and stay in the country for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. 

resources