GeorgiaPermanent residence

Georgian permanent residence in Georgia

Permanent residence is a permit for permanent stay in Georgia. It is available to close relatives of citizens of Georgia and to foreign nationals with many years of living in the country on temporary residence permits. The decision is taken by the Public Service Development Agency under the Ministry of Justice, which also issues the residence card. A refusal is challenged in court.

Visa term

There is no term: the status is indefinite and does not have to be renewed.

Processing time

20 days — GEL 500, 30 days — GEL 350.

Source: sda.gov.ge — Public Service Development Agency, “Migration/Residence Permits” section

Who is granted permanent residence in Georgia

The grounds are listed in article 15(g) of the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons: family ties with a citizen of Georgia, or long residence on temporary residence permits.

Spouse of a citizen of Georgia

A foreign national married to a citizen of Georgia.
You prove lawful income. If the Georgian relative is retired, a state pension or social payments will do.
The marriage certificate, the passport of the spouse who is a citizen, and a bank statement.

Child or parent of a citizen of Georgia

A minor child of a citizen of Georgia, or the parent of a minor citizen of Georgia.
The financial condition is the same: a lawful source of income, a pension or a social payment.
The birth certificate and the passport of the family member who holds Georgian citizenship.

Record on a temporary residence permit

A foreign national who has lived in Georgia for the last 10 years on a temporary residence permit. Years of study, medical treatment and work in diplomatic and equivalent missions are deducted from that period.
You show a lawful source of income.
The previous temporary residence permits and residence cards, proof of lawful stay, and certificates of income.

When permanent residence will not suit you

A permit for permanent stay does not answer every need.

You have come to work under a contract and have no relatives with Georgian citizenship.

The work residence permit, and for information technology specialists a separate residence permit for that field.

You are studying at a Georgian university and expect the years of study to bring permanent status closer.

The study residence permit. You cannot build up the record for permanent residence through study: the law deducts those years from the period.

You have put money into the Georgian economy or bought property and want an indefinite status without family ties to citizens.

The investment residence permit, and on the strength of it the residence permit for indefinite stay.

Who it suits

Documents

The application form, a copy of the travel document, proof of lawful stay, a document on the family tie with a citizen of Georgia, proof of income, a pension or social payments, a photograph and the payment receipt.

What it costs

The agency publishes the fee together with the processing time: faster means dearer. The residence card is paid for separately, and without it the permit does not work.

Fee for examining the permanent residence applicationThe ordinary processing time.	350 GEL
Accelerated examination of the permanent residence applicationThe same fee, but for the shortened processing time.	500 GEL
Residence cardProduction within 10 working days. Everyone issued a permit must obtain the card, whatever their age.	60 GEL
Residence card on the day of applicationThe same document, but on the day of application. The agency's intermediate rates are GEL 80, 100 and 120.	150 GEL
Photograph taken at the agency's officePayable if you do not bring a ready photograph.	+5 GEL
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Photograph taken at the agency's office” adds 5 GEL; the “Accelerated examination of the permanent residence application” branch replaces the “Fee for examining the permanent residence application” line — 560 GEL; the “Residence card on the day of application” branch replaces the “Residence card” line — 500 GEL. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	410–415 GEL

Paid separately

Legalisation or apostille of documents issued abroad — Handled by the authorities of the issuing country; the Georgian agencies do not publish a rate.
Certified translation of documents into Georgian — The price is set by the translator; the agency has no such rate.

The agency publishes the application fees and the residence card rates on different pages.

How the process runs

The procedure is described in the government decree on the examination of applications for a Georgian residence permit.

1
Checking the ground
You compare your situation with the grounds in the law: family ties with a citizen of Georgia or a record on temporary residence permits.
2
Collecting the documents
You prepare the set and pay the fee. The receipt is attached to the application.
3
Filing the application
You apply to the Public Service Development Agency. The decree requires the application to be filed 40 calendar days before lawful stay in Georgia ends.
4
Examination
20 or 30 calendar days
The agency checks the documents and takes a decision. You choose the period yourself along with the amount of the fee.
5
Receiving the residence card
After a positive decision you apply for the card to the agency or to a Public Service Hall. The card confirms identity, citizenship and place of residence in Georgia.

Timelines and rights

Work

A holder of permanent residence works and runs a business without a separate right to work. The requirement in force from 1 March 2026 concerns foreign nationals without permanent residence.

Who you can bring with you

A holder of permanent residence acts as the host party: their close relatives apply for a residence permit for family reunification.

A spouse

Applies for a residence permit for family reunification. The first time such a permit is issued for between 6 months and 1 year.

Minor children

The same residence permit for family reunification; the application for a child is filed by the parents.

Fully dependent family members

The law treats as such a fully dependent minor, a recipient of support and a person with a disability, as well as persons under guardianship and custody.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

10 years of continuous residence on a temporary residence permit (periods of study, medical treatment and diplomatic service are not counted)

Permanent residence has no renewal. Under article 16 the permit is issued with the right of permanent stay, and no term is stated in it. What you have to watch is the residence card: the law requires you to apply for it within a month of receiving the permit. The margin is six months: if you have not applied to the agency within that time, lawful stay is terminated.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Georgian permanent residence	Refugee status	Humanitarian status
Visa term	There is no term: the status is indefinite and does not have to be renewed	Refugee status is open-ended and does not require annual renewal	Granted for 1 year, renewed annually
Grounds	Family ties with a citizen of Georgia, or 10 years of residence on temporary residence permits	Race/religion/nationality/social group	War / violations of rights
Money	The fee is GEL 350 for 30 days or GEL 500 for 20 days	No financial requirements; allowances are possible	No financial requirements; allowances are possible
Work	A holder of permanent residence works and runs a business without a separate right to work	The right to work on the same footing as other foreign nationals	The right to work is the same as for refugees

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

This is the final status. It is granted to the spouses and minor children of citizens of Georgia, to the parents of minor citizens, and also after 10 consecutive years on a temporary residence permit. Study, medical treatment and diplomatic work are deducted from that period.

Route to citizenship

After 10 years of residence you apply for naturalisation; the spouse of a citizen of Georgia after 5 years. An examination in the language, history and law is compulsory, and the fee is between GEL 65 and GEL 390.

Frequently asked questions about Georgian permanent residence

Does a holder of permanent residence need a separate right to work?

No. The Law on Labour Migration governs work in Georgia by foreign nationals without a permit for permanent residence — it is they who obtain the right to work at the Employment Promotion Agency. A holder of permanent residence is not covered by that requirement.

Will permanent residence be revoked if you leave Georgia for a long time?

Article 21 of the law contains no such ground for permanent residence. The absence threshold of 183 days in any 12 calendar months is written for the residence permit of information technology workers and, from 1 September 2026, for the study residence permit as well.

Can the documents be filed through a representative?

Yes, the application is filed in person or through a representative. Documents issued in another state are accepted legalised or with an apostille, and those drawn up in a foreign language with a certified translation into Georgian.

Does permanent residence give a right to Georgian citizenship?

Not automatically. The period for naturalisation is counted from lawful residence in the country, not from the date the permanent residence permit was issued. The spouse of a citizen of Georgia applies under the simplified procedure after five years of lawful residence. Everyone sits the examination in the state language, history and the basics of law, and the fee is between GEL 65 and GEL 390 depending on the processing time.

What is the residence card for and what do you bring for it?

The card confirms a foreign national's identity, their citizenship and their place of residence in Georgia. The permanent card is issued to those to whom the agency has granted a permit for permanent stay. For a first card of this kind you bring the agency's decision and photographs.

Other ways to move to Georgia

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Georgia.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.