Refugee status in Georgia
Refugee status in Georgia is granted to a foreign national or a stateless person who is outside their country of origin and has a well-founded fear of persecution on grounds of race, religion, nationality, membership of a social group or political opinion. The application is received and decided by the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. While the application is being examined, the person lives in the country as an asylum seeker holding a certificate from the ministry. Once status has been granted, the Public Service Development Agency issues a temporary residence card and a refugee travel document.
Source: matsne.gov.ge — Law of Georgia “On International Protection” (version of 26.06.2025)
How the application is examined
The Law on International Protection separates applications into procedures. The procedure determines the time within which the ministry must reply.
Regular procedure
- The application has been found admissible and is examined on the merits
- A decision within 6 months of the date the application is registered
- A complex case is extended by 9 months and, if necessary, by a further 3
Accelerated procedure
- The application is manifestly unfounded or the applicant is being removed from the country
- A decision within 1 month of the date the application is registered
- An accelerated decision does not take away the right to appeal a refusal in court
When refugee status will not suit
Protection is not a way of arranging residence. Here are the cases where a different route is needed.
You are relocating for work, business or remote income, and you face no persecution
A work residence permit or visa-free stay
The danger comes not from persecution directed at you personally but from war or mass violations of rights
Humanitarian status, otherwise known as subsidiary protection
You need to travel out and back freely while the case is being examined: the ministry takes the applicant's travel document into safe keeping
A residence permit for work, study or family reunification
Who it suits
Documents
A passport or travel document (if held), identity documents, the travel route, evidence of persecution
What it costs
The authorities publish no fee for the protection application itself. Costs begin at the stage of the documents issued after the decision.
| Temporary residence card, tenth working dayThe Public Service Development Agency's basic rate for issuing the card. | 60 GEL |
|---|---|
| Photograph for the cardThe price of one photograph at an agency branch or at a House of Justice. Two photographs are attached to the application. | 5 GEL |
| The same card on the fifth working dayAn expedited rate instead of the basic one. | 80 GEL |
| The same card on the day of applicationThe fastest rate instead of the basic one. | 150 GEL |
| Refugee travel documentThe agency issues it free of charge to a person who has been granted status. | +0 GEL |
| Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Refugee travel document” adds 0 GEL; the “The same card on the fifth working day” branch replaces the “Temporary residence card, tenth working day” line — 85 GEL; the “The same card on the day of application” branch replaces the “Temporary residence card, tenth working day” line — 155 GEL. | 65 GEL |
The agency gives discounts on the card to socially vulnerable families, veterans and people with disabilities. There is no separate discount or exemption for refugees on the agency's page.
How the process runs
The procedure is set out in the Georgian Law on International Protection, which has been in force since 1 October 2025.
- 1
Applying for protection
A written application is filed with the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. The law names the department as the only address for such an application.
- 2
Registration of the application
The application is registered and a certificate of filing is issued straight away. It is valid until the ministry decides the question of admissibility.
- 3
Taking the travel document
Once the asylum seeker's certificate has been issued, the ministry takes the applicant's travel document, if there is one.
- 4
Admissibility check
The ministry decides whether to examine the application on the merits. After that the applicant receives an asylum seeker's certificate and, on the strength of it, a temporary identity document.
- 5
Interview
An interview is held with the applicant: they explain what they fear and submit evidence.
- 6
The ministry's decision
The ministry grants refugee status, grants subsidiary protection or refuses.
- 7
Receiving the residence card
With the decision on status the person applies to the Public Service Development Agency and receives a temporary residence card — the document that confirms the right to live in Georgia.
Who you can bring with you
The law protects family unity: a refugee's family members may enter Georgia and stay there. Each person's application is nevertheless examined separately.
A spouse or a partner in an unregistered marriage
Minor children, including adopted children
A parent of an unmarried minor
Trips, renewal and the grace period
You must be present in Georgia; returning home leads to a review of the status
Status is confirmed by a temporary residence card. A refugee is issued one for 3 years, a holder of humanitarian status for a term of up to a year. Every refugee must obtain the card, whatever their age. Refugees and holders of humanitarian status do not go through registration at a place of residence.
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.
| Refugee status | Humanitarian status | Visa-free entry to Georgia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa term | Refugee status is open-ended and does not require annual renewal | Granted for 1 year, renewed annually | Nationals of the listed countries may enter and stay in Georgia without a visa for one full year |
| Grounds | Race/religion/nationality/social group | War / violations of rights | Nationality of one of the countries on the Georgian government's list |
| Money | No financial requirements; allowances are possible | No financial requirements; allowances are possible | You pay no visa fee: entry is visa-free |
| Work | The right to work on the same footing as other foreign nationals | The right to work is the same as for refugees | From 1 March 2026 it is not possible to work without a permit |
| Residence | You must be present in Georgia; returning home leads to a review of the status | Live in Georgia and renew annually | No separate registration at a place of residence is required for the stay itself |
What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship
Route to permanent residence
Permanent residence under the general rules after many years of residence
Route to citizenship
Naturalisation on the general grounds (usually from 10 years)
Frequently asked questions about Refugee status
Where is an application for protection filed in Georgia?
Does a refugee need a work permit?
How does a refugee travel abroad?
Is it compulsory to obtain a residence card?
How long is allowed for an appeal?
Other ways to move to Georgia
- Humanitarian statusHumanitarian protection
- Visa-free entry and stay of up to 1 yearVisa-free regime
- Residence permit for indefinite stayPermanent residence
- Permanent residence permitPermanent residence
- Georgian citizenshipCitizenship
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.