Immigration and documents

Who this section is for

For anyone coming to Georgia for a long time: to work, with family, for business or simply to live.

And for anyone who needs to present a Georgian or foreign document in another country.

Our role

We are not a law firm. Legal advice is given by a licensed lawyer we work with, and decisions are made by the state authority.

We draw up the list of documents, arrange translation and apostilles, go with you to the House of Justice and explain every letter in your language.

Nobody can promise you the outcome - residence, a visa, citizenship - and we do not promise it either.

Where to start

The first question is always the same: how long you are staying in Georgia and why.

A tourist, a freelancer, an employee and a family member each have a different route.

In the first conversation we work out your route and write down which document you need and when.

Before you arrive

The most expensive mistake is a document left at home: a birth or marriage certificate, a diploma, a certificate.

Many of them need an apostille in the country that issued them, and doing that from Georgia is much harder.

So before you arrive we send you a list: what to bring, what to apostille and how many copies.

Visa-free entry

Citizens of many countries can enter Georgia without a visa and stay for a long time.

The length of stay depends on citizenship, and the rules change from time to time.

So we check the current rule in an official source every time, not in an old article.

Visas

Citizens of countries that need a visa can often get an electronic visa.

In some cases the visa is issued at a consulate, especially for long-term purposes.

The type of visa must match the purpose: tourism, work, study, family.

Overstaying

Overstaying the permitted period brings a fine and, if repeated, makes later entry harder.

The period is checked at the border on departure, and that is exactly where the problem appears.

If your period is running out, we plan ahead: a residence application, leaving, or another lawful route.

The residence permit

A residence permit is the official basis for living here long term. With it you receive an ID card and a personal number.

The card makes life easier at the bank, at school, at medical facilities and in many other places.

For some people residence is mandatory, for others simply convenient.

Grounds for residence

Residence is granted on different grounds: work, study, family reunification, business, investment, property.

Each ground has its own conditions and documents, and some have thresholds.

We choose the ground so that it matches your real situation, not just so that it is the fastest.

Property and residence

Owning property above a certain value can be a ground for residence.

The value is often proven by a valuation or the transaction documents, and the property must be registered in your name in the registry.

The threshold and conditions change, so before you buy we check whether the property meets the current requirement.

Business and residence

A business registered in Georgia can be a ground for residence if it genuinely operates.

The authority often checks turnover, reporting and documents that show real activity.

A company that is merely registered and inactive is, as a rule, not enough for this purpose.

Temporary and permanent residence

The first permit is usually temporary, for a set period.

After a certain time of lawful residence you can apply for permanent residence.

The lawyer checks the conditions for permanent residence against your history.

Where and how

A residence application is mainly submitted in person at the House of Justice.

After the application the authority checks the documents and makes a decision within the period set by law.

In some cases an expedited review is possible, for an additional fee.

The residence card

After a positive decision the residence card is issued at the House of Justice.

The card shows its expiry date, and it proves your status at the bank, at school and at the border.

If the card is lost, a duplicate is issued, and we arrange it before your next planned trip.

Documents

The main document is a valid passport, with a notarised translation into Georgian.

Depending on the ground, a contract, a certificate, a registry extract, a photo and more are added.

One missing document stops the whole process, so we check the list in advance.

Apostille and legalisation

For a foreign document to be valid in Georgia, it often needs an apostille or consular legalisation.

Which one depends on the country that issued the document.

The apostille is done in the issuing country, so we plan it before you arrive.

Translation

In Georgia a foreign document is submitted with a notarised translation into Georgian.

The transliteration of your name must be the same in every document, and this is often the most common mistake.

We prepare the translation so that the same form of the name serves every later document.

Criminal record certificate

Some procedures need a criminal record certificate: from your country, from Georgia or both.

A foreign certificate needs an apostille and a translation, and it often has a limited validity.

We obtain the Georgian certificate and, where needed, prepare it for use in another country.

Family members

A spouse and children can often get residence on the ground of family reunification.

This requires marriage and birth certificates, with apostille and translation.

We prepare the family's documents together from the start, so that you do not need separate processes.

Children

To enrol a child in school or kindergarten you often need a birth certificate, a vaccination record and documents from the previous school.

A child's residence is often linked to a parent's residence.

When a child crosses the border, consent from the other parent may be needed.

Health insurance

Some immigration procedures require health insurance, and in other cases it is simply sensible.

The insurance must be valid in Georgia and cover the whole period of your stay.

Choosing a policy is explained in the insurance section.

Registering a child

A child born in Georgia is registered at the House of Justice, and a birth certificate is issued.

The child then also needs to be registered at your country's consulate, for a passport.

The Georgian certificate often needs an apostille and translation, and we do this soon after the birth.

Marriage and divorce

Marriage between foreigners in Georgia is possible and simple. The details are in the wedding section.

A divorce by mutual consent, with no dispute, can be completed at the House of Justice. Otherwise it goes to court.

If the marriage took place in another country, we first check which country's procedure is better.

Citizenship

Georgian citizenship is, as a rule, obtained after a long period of lawful residence.

The conditions often include a test of the language, history and the basics of the law.

The decision is made by the state, and the process is longer than for residence.

Dual citizenship

Georgia, as a rule, allows dual citizenship only in exceptional cases.

This means that obtaining Georgian citizenship may require giving up another citizenship.

Before such a decision we check the rules of both countries together with a lawyer.

Driving licence

Driving in Georgia on a foreign licence is, as a rule, possible, but under certain conditions and for a certain period.

After obtaining residence it is often better, or required, to exchange it for a Georgian licence.

The exchange rule depends on the country that issued your licence.

The personal number

Together with the residence card you receive a personal number that many systems require.

Banks, medical facilities, utility companies and state portals all use it.

Before residence some services also work with a passport, but less easily.

Working in Georgia

Employing a foreigner in Georgia has its own rules, and the employer takes on some obligations.

Work can be a ground for residence if the contract and the employer meet the conditions.

Working remotely for a foreign employer is a different situation, which we explain separately.

Remote workers

Many digital nomads live in Georgia under visa-free entry and work for foreign clients.

This is often lawful, but with a long stay come questions: tax, the bank, residence.

The digital nomad route - individual entrepreneur, residence, tax status - is explained in the relocation section.

Study

Enrolment at a Georgian university can be a ground for study residence.

This requires an enrolment document and, often, recognition of your education documents.

When studies end, the ground for residence changes, and we plan the next step in advance.

Recognition of diplomas

A foreign diploma needs recognition in Georgia to continue studying or for some professions.

Recognition is carried out by a specialised authority, which asks for the diploma with an apostille and a translation.

The process takes weeks, so we start it before studies or work begin.

Residence and tax

A residence permit and tax residency are different things.

You may hold residence and not be a tax resident, or the other way round.

The accountant explains the tax side, as set out in the business section.

Timing

The review of a residence application has a period set by law, but the preparation is often longer.

Apostilles on foreign documents and obtaining certificates can take weeks.

So we build the plan so that the longest steps start first.

Refusal and appeal

If an application is refused, the authority gives the reason in writing.

Often the reason is a gap in the documents, and a new application brings a better result.

If an appeal is better, the lawyer assesses it, and the deadlines here are strict.

Renewal

A temporary residence permit expires, and the renewal application must be submitted on time.

For renewal the ground must still exist: work, family, business.

We remind you well before the expiry date, so that the documents are ready in time.

Reporting changes

A change of address, passport or family status sometimes needs to be reported.

With a new passport the details on the residence card may also need updating.

We handle such changes promptly, so that the next renewal is not complicated.

The border

At the border the officer checks the passport, the permitted period and sometimes the purpose.

The residence card is useful at the border too, especially if you travel often.

If there has been a disputed situation, it is best to carry all documents with you, in original.

Changing rules

Immigration rules in Georgia change from time to time: periods, thresholds, documents.

Old information online often misleads people.

For every case we check the current rule in an official source, and a lawyer confirms it.

Agents and promises

Online you will find offers of "guaranteed residence" or "fast citizenship".

Nobody can guarantee a state decision, and such a promise is a warning sign.

A fake or "simplified" document then damages every future application.

Language

The state system works in Georgian: the application, the decision, the notice.

An interpreter or someone going with you to the House of Justice saves a lot of time.

We translate every official letter into your language and explain what needs to be done.

Common mistakes

Thinking about it on the last day of the permitted period. Different transliterations of the name in different documents.

Bringing a document without an apostille. An expired certificate.

Choosing a residence ground only by how fast it is.

What we need from you

Your citizenship, your current status in Georgia and your date of entry.

Your purpose: work, business, family, study, property or simply living here.

Who is coming with you and which documents you already have.

Price

State fees are official and we do not change them.

Translation, apostille, the notary and the lawyer are separate lines.

Our coordination is agreed in advance, and we add nothing to our partners' prices.