Depending on their country of origin, individuals from selected countries may enter Georgia and stay in the country for up to one year, unless otherwise specified. Those who are not nationals of the visa-free countries are required to apply for one of the types of Georgian visas, according to their purpose of stay. Our Georgian immigration lawyers can provide detailed information about each of these types of visas.
In this article, we briefly describe the main requirements according to the applicant’s purpose of stay, however, individuals who are interested in personalized information about each situation can reach out to our agents.
We are also able to provide complete assistance for those who have been living in the country and are interested in obtaining Georgian citizenship.
Table of Contents
Visa categories in Georgia
The type of visa required in Georgia is determined according to the reason for the arrival in the country. The five categories are the following:
- Diplomatic (A): for foreign legislative and executive authorities, members of delegations and accompanying family members, etc.;
- Special (B): for the administrative or technical personnel of foreign diplomatic missions or for individuals arriving under treaties (military or peacekeeping forces);
- Ordinary (C): for tourists, family visits, freelancers, individuals who participate in research workshops or conferences, for medical tourism purposes, and in other situations;
- Immigration (D): for work purposes, for entrepreneurs, for study or research purposes, for family reunification purposes, for investments in real estate (under certain conditions) – obtaining Georgian permanent residence is also possible after some time;
- Transit (T): issued to foreign nationals who transit Georgia en route to a third country – the maximum validity of the visa is 10 days.
According to duration, visas in Georgia can be categorized in the following manner:
- Short-term visa: this can grant the right of a single entry or it can allow for multiple ones; it can also indicate a certain amount of days, however, in no case can it be for more than 30 calendar days;
- Long-term visa: this type of visa is by definition a multiple-entry one.
Short-stay visas in Georgia
The short-term multiple-entry visa can be issued for a maximum period of five years. Foreign nationals may apply for this type of visa when they have visited the country at least one time during the year prior to the application date and they have grounds for requesting such a document that will allow them to enter the country numerous times.
In any case, a foreign national is allowed to stay in Georgia for no more than 90 days in any 180-day period. One of our agents who specialize in the Georgian work visa and all of the other types of visas can provide more details on how foreign nationals may stay in the country on a long-term basis.
Citizens from several countries are permitted to enter Georgia and stay for a maximum period of one year. These countries include the following: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belgium, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France and its territories, Germany, Greece, Vatican, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and others.
Please keep in mind that this list does not include all of the countries for which foreign nationals are allowed a full one-year visa-free stay in Georgia. Other countries are also subject to visa-free travel; however, the maximum period of stay is under one year.
One of our Georgian immigration lawyers can provide you with a full list of counties that are subject to the visa-free regime. We can also guide those interested in obtaining a residence permit in Georgia.
Long-stay visas in Georgia
Foreign nationals who wish to remain on long term in the country should apply for a residence permit in Georgia. In fact, an individual who wants to come to the country for employment purposes, and has already secured a job with a Georgian employer, will apply directly for a work residence permit. The holder of the permit will need to renew his document as needed, as well as register with the authorities upon arrival.
Regardless of the visa type, the basic requirements for obtaining a long-stay visa in Georgia are generally the same. Here is an outline of the typical documents and criteria needed:
- Application form: complete a visa application form. This can usually be found at the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
- Valid passport: your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the date of your planned stay in Georgia;
- Passport-sized photos: two recent passport-sized color photos;
- Proof of sufficient funds: you will need to prove that you have sufficient financial means to support yourself during your stay. This can include bank statements for the last 3-6 months or pay slips for proof of income.
- Travel insurance: proof of travel or medical insurance that covers your stay in Georgia;
- Proof of accommodation: evidence of where you will be staying while in Georgia, such as: hotel reservations, lease agreement (if renting an apartment) or invitation letter from a host;
- Visa fee: payment of the visa application fee, which can vary depending on the visa type and processing time.
For more information and assistance during the application for long stay visa in Georgia, you can rely on our immigration lawyers.
How to apply for a Georgian visa
The visa application procedure depends on the particular type of document selected by the applicant. This means that the papers will be different according to the purpose of stay.
Foreign nationals can submit their visa applications with the Georgian diplomatic missions in their country of origin or via an online portal. We recommend contacting our team of Georgian immigration agents, once you decide on the required visa type, in order to obtain complete information about the required documents and the general procedure. Please keep in mind that the Georgian authorities have a number of days to make a decision concerning a visa application. For short-term visas, this is 10 days and for long-term ones, the time limit for issuing a decision is 30 days.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Georgia handles matters related to visas.
Georgian residence permits
A Georgian residence permit grants a foreign national the legal right to enter and remain in Georgia for the duration of the permit’s validity. To acquire a residence permit in Georgia, an individual must submit an application to the Ministry of Justice of Georgia. Once the application is approved, the applicant is issued a residence card, which serves as official proof of residency.
Residence permits in Georgia can be either temporary or permanent, with the key distinction being the duration and renewal requirements:
- Temporary residence permit is the type of permit that is typically issued for a period of 1 year, and it must be renewed annually. Temporary permits are often granted for purposes such as: employment, education, business, or family reunification;
- Permanent residence permit is granted to those who meet specific criteria, such as long-term residents in Georgia or individuals with significant investments in this country. Permanent residence permits are typically issued for 5 years and can be renewed, with no requirement for annual renewals.
In addition, a residence permit can be extended to the immediate family members of the primary residence holder. Family members, such as spouses and children, may apply for a family-based residence permit, allowing them to live and work in Georgia under the same conditions as the principal applicant. More than that, to be eligible for citizenship in Georgia through naturalization, you must have lived in Georgia for a significant period while holding a permanent residence permit. The standard residency requirement is 5 years of continuous residence in Georgia with a permanent residence permit.
Georgia’s immigration data
Data from the National Statistics Office of Georgia highlight a dynamic evolution of immigration in the country and reveals the fact that most of the foreign nationals who choose to stay in the country on a long-term basis are from neighboring countries. We present below a set of data relevant to the number of immigrants according to their country of origin:
- there were 10,552 immigrants from Russia in 2015 (for those interested, our team can help with the application for the residence permit in Georgia);
- the second-largest wave of immigrants in 2015 was from Turkey – 5,810 people;
- in 2016, the number of Russian immigrants in Georgia grew to 11,185 people;
- Turkish and Armenian immigrants were the second and third most numerous gropus in 2016, with 6,294 and respectively 6,241 individuals.
Understanding the available types of visas is important for all applicants. However, our team also provides adequate services to those who are already living in the country, have acquired the status of permanent residents, and are ready to apply for Georgian citizenship. This step is an important one and it is based on a minimum uninterrupted number of years spent in the country.
Contact our agents for more information about the Georgian work visa and the other types of visas. We can also provide details about staying in the country for long periods of time and obtaining Georgian citizenship.
