RESIDENCE PERMIT AND CITIZENSHIP OF GEORGIA

Whether you are seeking to obtain Residence Permit and/or Citizenship of Georgia, it is vitally important that you have a skilled immigration lawyer on your side. Our firm handles many different issues related to immigration and because of this you can rest assured that we will not deny your case based on its difficulty.

We are helping our clients in all legal proceedings related to immigration services.

 

TEMPORARY RESIDENCE PERMIT OF GEORGIA

  • Work residence permit – is issued to a foreigner who is the shareholders or director of Georgian company as well as foreigner who is working in Georgian company;
  • Study residence permit– is issued to a foreigner who is studying at authorized educational institutions;
  • Residence permit for family reunification – is issued to family members of a foreigner holding a residence permit. Family members include: a spouse, child and a parent;
  • Short-term residence permit is issued to the person – and his/her family members – who, according to the rule established by Georgian legislation have the right to immovable property (except for agricultural land), with the market price above USD 35 000 equivalent in Gel.

PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMIT OF GEORGIA

  • Investment (permanent) residence permit– is issued to a foreigner who invested at least 300,000 GEL (appr. 125,000 USD) in Georgia. in such cases, residence permits are also issued to the investor’s family members, which include a spouse and underage children.
  • Permanent residence permit – is issued to a spouse, parent and child of citizen of Georgia;
  • Permanent residence permit – is issued to a foreign citizen who, holding a temporary residence permit, has resided in Georgia during the preceding six years.

Work, Study, and Family Reunification residence permits are issued for up to 6 years. Mostly on the first submission, these types of residence permits are issued for the term ranging from six months to one year, and may be extended thereafter for the term of up to 5 years.

Short-term residence permits are issued for the period of 1 year and it can be extended annually in case the foreigner maintains the ownership right on the real estate.

Permanent residence permit (including Investment residence permits) are issued for an indefinite term.

A residence permit is issued within 30 days after submitting a complete set of required documents. However, the permits can be issued in accelerated manner by baying extra government fees;

The Public Service development agency issues residence card to a foreigner who holds a residence permit in Georgia. the residence card is an identity document certifying an identity of a foreigner living in Georgia, his/her citizenship and a place of his/her residence in Georgia.

OBTAINING CITIZENSHIP OF GEORGIA

Citizenship of Georgia through naturalization is acquired in the manner of granting citizenship of Georgia by the President.

Types of naturalization are the following:

  • Granting citizenship of Georgia following an ordinary procedure;
  • Granting citizenship of Georgia following a simplified procedure;
  • Granting citizenship of Georgia by way of exception;

1) Granting citizenship of Georgia following an ordinary procedure:

Following an ordinary procedure, Georgian citizenship may be granted to a person complying with the following conditions (in total):

  • Legally and continuously resides on the territory of Georgia for the past 5 years prior to submission an application on granting citizenship;
  • Knows the state language of Georgia within the limits established by law;
  • Knows the history and the basic principles of law of Georgia within the limits established by law;
  • Has a job and/or owns any real estate in Georgia, or exercises the entrepreneurial activity on the territory of Georgia, or holds shares in a Georgian enterprise.

Note: The interested person shall be deemed as continuously residing in Georgia, if s/he has not left the territory of Georgia for more than 90 days in a year. This term does not include leaving the Georgian territory for the term of 2 years for the purposes of education and leaving the Georgian territory for the purposes of medical treatment.

2) Granting citizenship of Georgia following a simplified procedure:

The following persons shall acquire citizenship of Georgia following a simplified procedure:

  • A person legally and continuously residing on the territory of Georgia for the past 2 years who is married to a citizen of Georgia;

Note: An interested person shall be deemed as continuously residing in Georgia, if s/he has not left the territory of Georgia for more than 90 days in a year. This term does not include leaving the Georgian territory for the term of 2 years for the purposes of education and leaving the Georgian territory for the purposes of medical treatment.

3) Granting citizenship of Georgia by way of exception (Second Passport of Georgia):

According to a resolution of the President of Georgia, citizenship of Georgia might be granted by way of exception to a citizens of foreign country for having special merits to Georgia or if granting of citizenship of Georgia is in the State interests of Georgia.

Most of our clients (Investors) are using this last proposed option –  (Granting citizenship of Georgia by way of exception). Sure there is no guarantee that the citizenship application is approved by the President of Georgia, but we are helping our clients to increase chances by making reasonable investments in Georgia and try their chance. Of course chances are increased if a foreigner has Business in Georgia, holds Temporary or Permanent residence permit of Georgia and owns real estate here. There are no strict requirements by law or any minimum amount of money which should be invested.

For more information, please contact us any time.