Foreign nationals who have legally resided in Georgia for several years may qualify for Georgian citizenship, provided they fulfill the official requirements. In addition, individuals of Georgian origin and certain persons born in the country can also obtain citizenship. Georgian law provides several pathways to nationality, including: citizenship by birth, by naturalization and by marriage. Our team of specialized immigration lawyers in Georgia can explain each route in detail and provide support throughout the application process.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Minimum time in the country before applying for Georgian citizenship | 10 years |
|
Citizenship for investors |
Yes, under the residence permit for indefinite stay following investment. A separate citizenship application is required. |
|
Citizenship for children |
After 5 years, if refugee or stateless and born in Georgia |
| Citizenship by descent | Yes, our team in Georgia can give you details. |
| Citizenship by adoption |
Yes, if adopted by a Georgian citizen. |
| Residence requirements for Georgian citizenship applications |
Lawfully resident for 10 years before application |
| Minimum age for citizenship applications when you immigrate to Georgia |
18 years |
| Citizenship for dependents who join the permit holder |
Yes |
| Citizenship for foreign nationals married to a Georgian citizen |
Under the simplified procedure, after residing uninterruptedly for 5 years |
| Regaining citizenship |
– when terminated unlawfully, – due to renunciation, – when it was based on the parent’s decision |
| Language knowledge for naturalization |
Yes |
| History/law knowledge for naturalization |
Yes, our immigration service team in Georgia can give you details. |
| Naturalization decision duration |
Approximately 3 months |
| Loss of Georgian citizenship |
– when citizenship was acquired by presenting false documents, – when joining the military/police/secret services of another country without permission from the Georgian authorities – other situations may also lead to the loss of citizenship |
| Dual citizenship allowed when you immigrate to Georgia | Not usually, iy can be granted by the President in special cases |
| Main documents for citizenship applications under the ordinary procedure |
– application form; – passport/other proof of identity; – birth certificate; – confirmation document for continuous, lawful residence; – confirmation document for employment/property ownership/entrepreneurial activity; – photograph; – service fee payment receipt. |
|
Requirements for the submitted documents |
Duly legalized translated documents |
|
Conditions for citizenship by restoration |
Georgian language knowledge |
| Georgian citizenship by way of exception | Granted by the President |
| Conditions for citizenship by way of exception |
For foreign citizens who have made exceptional contributions to the country or based on state interests |
| Citizenship for refugee minors born in Georgia |
Underage persons with a refugee or stateless status, who are born in Georgia, are granted citizenship under the ordinary procedure. |
| Special exemptions for incapacitated persons |
The main citizenship by naturalization requirements do not apply to individuals whose physical disability makes it impossible to meet or assess these requirements. |
| Citizenship for minor children with unknown parents |
The minor child acquires Georgian citizenship unless proven otherwise. |
| Online applications |
Distance services are available in some cases. |
| The authority that receives the application | The territorial office of the Public Service Development Agency, or a branch of the Public Service Hall |
| Citizenship applications if you are not in Georgia at the time of the submission |
The application is submitted to a Georgian consular office or diplomatic mission abroad. |
| Can someone else apply on your behalf? |
In some cases, the application can be submitted by an authorized representative. |
| Next steps in case of citizenship application refusal |
The individual can apply again after one year. |
| How we can assist you |
– Evaluate your application for compliance; – Assist you in preparing the documents for submission. |
| When to reach out to our team | Approximately one month before the date on which you complete the minimum prescribed time spent in the country. |
The application is submitted in person and our team of immigration specialists in Georgia can help with complete information in this matter. This way, individuals who are interested in making this submission can present a complete file and increase their chances for obtaining the application approval. In this article, we highlight some of the main ways in which Georgian citizenship is determined. For personalized answers, please reach out to our agents. Besides the citizenship support, our team can also provide general information on the residence permit in Georgia.
If you qualify for citizenship by naturalization or other citizenship type mentioned below, our team will assist you during the application process. Seeking specialized solutions is advisable because the application will involve the submission of several documents. When working with a local specialist, you make sure that your submitted file will be complete.
Table of Contents
What are the conditions for Georgian citizenship by birth?
Citizenship by birth in Georgia can be achieved if one or more eligibility criteria below are met for the specific individual:
- one of the parents was a Georgian citizen at the time of the applicant’s birth;
- was born in Georgia through surrogacy if the country of citizenship of the parents does not recognize the individual as a citizen;
- was born in Georgia to parents who had the status of a stateless person in Georgia at the time of the applicant’s birth;
- was born in Georgia to a parent who, at the time of birth, has the status of a stateless person in Georgia and the status of the other parent was unknown.
According to the rules set forth by the State Commission on Migration Issues, the following categories of citizens are also Georgian citizens:
- individuals born before March 31, 1975 and who have resided in the country for at least five years and were in the country by March 21, 1993; moreover, they did not acquire citizenship in another country;
- those born after March 31, 1975 and who lived in the country by March 31, 1993 and have not acquired citizenship in another country;
- individuals born in the country, who left Georgia after December 21, 1991, provided that they are not citizens of another country.
What are the conditions for acquiring citizenship through naturalization?
This is a common manner to become a Georgian citizen for many foreign nationals from other countries who have lived in Georgia for some time. The initial type of visa they may have applied for could have been for employment or investment purposes and it was renewed accordingly.
The following requirements are in place for obtaining Georgian citizenship through naturalization:
- minimum residence: the individual must have permanent residence, meaning that he/ she resided in the country for at least 10 consecutive years; if you need details on renewing the residence permit, our team can assist;
- language skills: he or she has adequate Georgian language skills, within certain limits;
- basic knowledge: additional Georgian history and basic law principles are required when applying for citizenship;
- means of living: the individual must show that he or she is employed, has opened a business, owns real estate, or holds interest or shares in a Georgian company.
Acquiring citizenship by naturalization is directly linked to the individual’s ability to maintain a valid residence permit in Georgia. Proof of having lawfully resided in the country for the minimum number of years is brought through such a valid document. If you have just moved to Georgia and have collected your first residence permit, our team will give you details about its renewal. In order to apply for citizenship through naturalization in 2025, one would need to have been living in the country consecutively since at least 2014, in order to comply with the requirements.
Our team specializing in Georgian citizenship can give you more details about each of these situations. We also invite you to watch a short video about citizenship applications:
How to get citizenship by marriage in Georgia
Foreign nationals can obtain Georgian citizenship through marriage to a Georgian citizen. The process requires that the foreign national be in a relationship with a Georgian citizen and go through a proper marriage ceremony. It is important to have a marriage certificate in order to prove the legality of the marriage.
If the foreign national has been in a continuous relationship with the Georgian citizen for five years, he/she may be eligible for Georgian citizenship by marriage. Additionally, if the couple has children, the application for citizenship will be given stronger consideration.
How is Georgian citizenship granted by way of exception?
This is available to foreign citizens who have made an exceptional contribution to the country. The President may also grant citizenship by exception to a foreign national based on state interests (under certain conditions). The aforementioned conditions for having Georgian language, basic law, and history skills also apply for citizenship by way of exception.
Dual citizenship in Georgia
To apply for dual citizenship in Georgia, a person must submit an application form addressed to the Georgian President, a copy of his/her birth certificate, a copy of the Georgian passport (if applicable), a copy of the foreign passport, and two passport-sized photos.
If the applicant has changed his/her name or surname, he/she must also provide additional documents, such as a copy of the marriage certificate or a document showing proof of the name or surname change. The applicant must also provide two recommendation letters from Georgian citizens and a Georgian oath of citizenship. If the applicant is a minor, parental consent is mandatory.
All documents must be submitted in Georgian or accompanied by a certified Georgian translation, and foreign documents must be apostilled unless otherwise requested by a Georgian international treaty or agreement.
Our team can give you more details on how citizenship can be acquired as well as how it may be restored to an individual. For example, Georgian citizenship may be restored to an individual whose citizenship was terminated unlawfully or when this took place based on the decision of his or her parents.
Applicants who are interested should note that the ordinary time for processing citizenship applications through naturalization is three months. Should the first application be rejected, a subsequent one can be made after one year.
The Georgian passport
With the Georgian citizenship comes the availability of the Georgian passport, a travel document that is becoming more and more valued. Georgian passport as visa free or visa on arrival offers access to 122 countries, including most European countries, a few Asian countries, also some of the American countries. This makes it easier to do business with, visit, travel and reside in Georgia as a country’s citizens. The Georgian passport also grants the right to live and work in Georgia, own property in Georgia, access healthcare and education and participate in public life. The document is also used to indicate Georgian citizenship, an essential element to participate in legal, economic, and social relations in Georgia and foreign countries. For expats and business owners, holding a Georgian passport can open doors and opportunities which other passports simply cannot. One of the major benefits of owning this kind of passport is because you’re allowed to dual citizenship in Georgia. Moreover, with thiss passport you can work and invest in that’s geopolitically stable and economically growing.
Recent amendments to citizenship laws
The Organic Law of Georgia on Georgian Citizenship, which governs the acquisition, transmission, and loss of Georgian citizenship, has undergone several amendments. The most recent update was on January 19, 2025. While the core principles remain unchanged, these amendments may affect specific procedures and requirements. Consider the following additional considerations for applicants:
- Language proficiency: applicants for naturalization are required to demonstrate adequate knowledge of the Georgian language. This requirement ensures that new citizens can effectively integrate into Georgian society;
- Economic integration: applicants must show evidence of economic activity, such as: employment, business ownership, or property ownership, to demonstrate their integration into the Georgian economy.
Pathways through Georgian immigration programs
Foreigners looking for immigration to Georgia can benefit from several programs of residence suitable for various requirements. Georgian residency permits can be accessed via work, study or investing in a business in the country, and all routes provide a promising path to Georgian citizenship. Persons who have been granted a residence permit in Georgia for long-term stay and have lived in the country for at least 10 years, can obtain the right to apply for Georgian citizenship, provided they meet the requirements in terms of a knowledge of Georgian language, history and the legislation by the time of submitting an application. How does the Georgian immigration program work? The Georgian visa policy is designed to attract foreign entrepreneurs, professionals, and investors into the domestic economy, which is why the residence permit for Georgia is a flexible and appealing program for long-term residency seekers.
Georgia’s population
Recent data gathered by our team from a report issued by the European Migration Network Georgia highlights the number of citizenship applications through the naturalization procedure in recent years:
- In 2022, a total of 3,995 persons received Georgian citizenship following the naturalization route (through the ordinary and the simplified process);
- 56% of the new nationals were men and 44% were women;
- Most of those who received citizenship in 2022 were citizens of: Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, Israel, or Greece; these countries are also top destinations for Georgian immigrants, suggesting that citizenship applications are submitted by individuals who have ties to Georgia.
According to Georgia’s National Statistics Office, the country’s total population as of January 1, 2023, was 3,736,400, compared to 3,688,600 on January 1, 2022.
Contact us for more information on obtaining Georgian citizenship in 2025. Our team will assist you if you have questions about your situation, how you can apply, and when you should submit your application.
