New Zealand citizens can travel and stay visa-free in Georgia for up to one year. However, if you plan to immigrate to Georgia from New Zealand and live there for a longer period, you need to apply for a residence permit. There are multiple reasons to move to Georgia, such as: family reunification, employment, investment, or studying. Our specialists in Georgian immigration matters can help New Zealanders with the relocation process. We also assist those looking to obtain permanent residency or Georgian citizenship.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Visa-free travel | New Zealand citizens can enter Georgia visa-free and stay for up to 1 year. |
|
Types of available visas in Georgia |
– short-term visa, – long-tem visa, – immigration (D category) visas |
|
Categories for immigration visa |
– work, – study, – family reunification, – investment, – business |
| Duration for short-term visas | Up to 90 days within a 180-day period |
|
Duration for long-term visas |
6 months to 1 year, depending on the purpose |
| Time frame for obtaining visa |
Usually processed within 10 business days. |
| Passport validity |
Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond entry date. |
| Residence permit in Georgia |
Required for stays beyond 1 year; allows legal residence and rights. |
| Categories of residence permits in Georgia |
For: – work, – study, – family reunification, – investment, – permanent residence |
| Investment residence permit criteria | Investment of at least USD 300,000 in Georgia |
| Permanent residency |
Granted after holding temporary residence for 5 years and meeting conditions. |
| Dual citizenship in Georgia |
Allowed under special presidential decree or through heritage. |
| New Zealand embassy in Georgia (YES/NO) |
No, New Zealand is represented by embassies in nearby countries. |
| Why immigrate to Georgia from New Zealand |
– low cost of living, – favorable tax system, – business opportunities, – ease of immigration |
| Assistance from our Georgian immigration specialists | Our team provides complete support with visa applications, residency, and legal procedures. |
Table of Contents
Obtain residence permit in Georgia
New Zealand citizens can live and work in Georgia without a special permit during their 365-day visa-free stay. If you intend to stay longer, you need to obtain a residence permit in Georgia. Our team will briefly detail the most important residence permit types:
- Work residence permit – Requires proof of employment (contract must be fixed-term) in a business with a minimum annual turnover of GEL 50,000 for most businesses. Employers must register foreign workers with the Ministry of Labor in Georgia within 30 days from signing the employment contract. Your income must also be at least 5 times higher than the minimum wage in Georgia;
- Study residence permit – If you immigrated from New Zealand to Georgia to study, you must obtain this permit and prove you were admitted to an authorized Georgian educational institution;
- Investment residence permit – This permit is for those investing at least USD 300,000 in Georgian companies or real estate (agricultural land excluded);
- Short-term residence permit – The permit granted for investors owning real estate worth minimum USD 100,000;
- Residence permit for family reunification – If you are moving to Georgia from New Zealand to reunite with family members, you must prove your family relationship.
Our immigration lawyers in Georgia can help you apply for the appropriate type of residence permit.
Permanent residency and citizenship in Georgia
If you want to relocate to Georgia from New Zealand and obtain permanent residency in the country, there are several aspects to consider. Permanent residency is granted to those holding a temporary residence permit and living in Georgia for at least 6 years. However, it can be issued to those holding the investment residence permit for at least 5 years.
As mentioned above, the investment residence permit is awarded to individuals investing at least USD 300,000 in Georgian companies or real estate. This type of investment must be approved by the Georgian government. Additionally, the business you invest in must meet the annual turnover requirements:
- Minimum 50,000 GEL in the first year;
- At least 100,000 GEL in the second year;
- Minimum 120,000 GEL in the third and fourth year.
If these requirements are met and you obtain the investment residence permit, you can apply after 5 years of living in the country for the permanent residency in Georgia. The permanent residency permit is indefinite.
If you wish to move to Georgia from New Zealand and obtain Georgian citizenship, you must legally live in the country for at least 10 years. After meeting the residency requirements, you can apply for citizenship by naturalization.
Reduced residency conditions apply to those married to Georgian citizens. In this case, you can obtain Georgian citizenship through a simplified procedure that only requires having lawfully resided in Georgia for at least 5 years.
Our Georgian immigration specialists can detail more about the procedures for obtaining permanent residency and citizenship in the country.
Documents needed for moving to Georgia
When you plan to relocate to Georgia for a long time from New Zealand, it is important to prepare all the necessary documents before applying for a residence permit. It is not a difficult procedure, but attention to details and conformity with the legal aspects are essential for a successful application. Our immigration lawyers in Georgia can offer professional support in this matter. Below is an overview of the standard documents requested by the authorities:
- passport, which must remain valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay in Georgia;
- application form, completed and signed in accordance with the official format imposed by the authorities;
- recent passport-size photos;
- proof of legal stay in Georgia, representing an entry stamp or documentation proving you entered legally and still have at least 40 days of legal stay remaining at the time of application;
- proof of employment or business activity, such as: a signed labour contract, an employer’s certificate or company registration documents, if doing business is the main activity;
- proof of income or financial means: recent bank statement with account transactions, pay slips, or other evidence that you will be able to support yourself while living in Georgia for an extended period;
- property ownership or investment documents, for real estate or investment-based residence permits;
- ffamily documents (marriage certificate, birth certificate), in the event of applying for a family reunification residence permit.
When you apply for immigration to Georgia from New Zealand, our Georgian immigration attorneys can guide you through the process and ensure that all necessary paperwork is done and submitted according to official requirements.
Georgia – New Zealand relations
Georgia and New Zealand maintain friendly and close diplomatic ties, based on shared democratic values and mutual respect. While they may not have a dedicated bilateral immigration agreement or embassies in each other’s capitals, both countries work via organizations like the United Nations and World Trade Organization. As a part of Georgia’s visa-free regime, New Zealand citizens may enter the country without needing a visa for up to one year, something which has been responsible for boosting international trade and exchanges of culture between these two countries in all areas of their civic life.
This way, relocating to Georgia from New Zealand implies an easy procedure as long as the legal aspects are respected. Our specialized team of immigration lawyers in Georgia can offer more information and support in the process of moving to Georgia.
Statistics about Georgian immigration
Immigrating to Georgia is becoming increasingly popular, as demonstrated by these statistics from 2023-2024:
- Immigration increased by 14.5% in 2023 compared to 2022, totaling 205,857 people;
- 75.9% of immigrants were of working age (15-64 years);
- 135,811 immigrants were registered in Georgia in 2024;
- The net migration rate in 2024 was 3.9 per 1,000 persons.
Contact our team if you want to relocate to Georgia from New Zealand and need further assistance.
