obtaining residence permits for foreign students and spouses of the country's citizens.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia announced on Monday, June 8, that it has prepared a draft amendment to the country's migration legislation. If adopted, the rules for obtaining residence permits for foreign students and spouses of the country's citizens will be significantly tightened.
Thus, when enrolling in Georgian universities, foreigners will be required to provide proof of language proficiency. Educational institutions are planned to have quotas for the admission of foreign students. Student residence permits will only be issued to adults and only upon enrollment in an accredited educational institution. Such residence permits may be revoked for academic failure, violation of work conditions, or actual absence from Georgia for a specified period.
It is also proposed to introduce a separate type of residence permit for foreign spouses of Georgian citizens. Before its issuance, the authenticity of the marriage will be verified by a commission. A fictitious marriage for the purpose of obtaining citizenship or a residence permit is planned to be made a criminal offense: this may result in deportation and a ban on entry into Georgia for a period of two to ten years, or a fine, house arrest for up to two years, or imprisonment for up to two years.
Additionally, the amendments stipulate granting the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs the right to conduct operational investigative activities. The timeframes for reviewing and appealing migration cases in court are proposed to be shortened, and in some cases, to be considered without a hearing.
New migration rules in Georgia and relocants from the Russian Federation
Starting in October 2025, Georgia began tightening its migration policy, which had previously been extremely liberal. As of March 1, the rules for the employment of migrants in the country changed. Now, a work visa (D1) or residence permit is required to conclude an employment contract. Foreigners registered in Georgia as individual entrepreneurs are required to obtain a work permit, even if they provide services remotely. This category includes, for example, IT specialists, many of whom are among the relocants from Russia.
According to statistics, in 2024, 250,000 foreigners lived in Georgia on a permanent basis, accounting for 6.6% of its population. This is ten times more than ten years ago. A significant portion of the increase was "provided" by Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, after which tens of thousands of Russian relocants and Ukrainian refugees arrived in Georgia.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated that the issue of migration "particularly concerns Georgian society" against the backdrop of "ongoing processes in Europe." "You see how the share of migrants is growing in the populations of certain EU countries. Naturally, every Georgian patriot wishes for Georgia to firmly protect and preserve its national and religious identity," the head of government stated on February 13.
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