How to Get a Residence Permit in Georgia in 2026

A residence permit in Georgia, known locally as binadroba, gives a foreigner the legal right to stay in the country longer than the visa-free period allows. It is not citizenship and not a permanent status: a residence permit is granted on a specific ground and renewed for as long as that ground still applies. Here is who can get one in 2026, what the options are, and what you will need.

Who needs a residence permit and how it differs from a visa

Citizens of most countries can enter Georgia without a visa and stay for up to a year. That is enough for a tourist or someone still weighing a move. But if the plans are more serious: a permanent job, a business, buying property, sending kids to a local school, a visa-free year will not be enough. That is when a residence permit is needed.

The difference from citizenship is simple: a residence permit does not give you a Georgian passport or voting rights, but it is issued faster and does not require giving up your original citizenship. The difference from permanent residency is in duration and how tightly it is tied to its ground: a residence permit is temporary and renewed annually, while permanent residency only becomes available after several years of continuous legal residence on a permit.

Six grounds for getting a residence permit

The law does not grant a residence permit simply because someone wants to live in Georgia. A specific ground is required, and it determines both the paperwork and what happens to the permit if circumstances change.

Employment. Fits if you have an employment contract with a Georgian company. The employer is usually involved in the process: a contract, proof that the company operates legally, and sometimes a salary statement are needed.

Business and investment. A residence permit is available if you invest at least 300,000 GEL in the Georgian economy or formally employ at least three Georgian citizens at your company. This ground is meant for people running an actual business, not registering a company on paper. Most who go this route start by registering as an individual entrepreneur or an LLC in Georgia.

Real estate. The most popular ground for those moving to Georgia without a business or a job. As of March 1, 2026, the property value threshold rose from $100,000 to $150,000. One important detail: what counts is the market value from an official appraisal, not the cadastral value in the paperwork, which is often lower. There is a separate path for those investing $300,000 or more in property: that permit is issued for 5 years at once instead of annual renewal.

Study. For those admitted to an accredited Georgian university or a long-term educational program. Valid for as long as the studies last.

Family reunification. If a spouse, parent, or child already holds a residence permit or Georgian citizenship, the rest of the family can get status on that ground.

Special grounds. A separate category for cases such as refugee status, participation in state programs, or other circumstances the law singles out. The paperwork and procedure here are handled individually, worth checking directly at the House of Justice for your specific situation.

What documents are needed

The basic package is nearly the same for most grounds:

• a passport with sufficient remaining validity
• a completed application form
• two photos
• documents confirming the chosen ground (employment contract, property documents, university confirmation, and so on)
• proof of paying the state fee

If a document was issued outside Georgia, a notarized translation into Georgian is usually required. This applies to marriage certificates, diplomas, background checks, and other official papers.

How and where to submit documents

Applications for a residence permit go to the Public Service Development Agency or the House of Justice. In Tbilisi that is the building with eleven white "petals" on the Kura riverbank (2 Zviad Gamsakhurdia Street), a recognizable piece of architecture designed by Fuksas Studio. There are two ways to submit: come in person with the full document package, or apply online first and bring the paper copy within 10 days.

An application for a new permit, not the first one but a renewal or a change of ground, should be filed roughly 40 days before the current legal stay expires, to avoid ending up in the country without legal status during the transition.

Timeframes and cost

The standard fee is 300 GEL for a 30-day review. Faster options are available: 450 GEL for 20 days and 600 GEL for 10 days. Special grounds are not charged at all. Payment can be made by card online when filing, or in cash at any bank in Georgia. Current rates are on the Public Service Development Agency page.

Renewing a residence permit

The first permit is usually issued for a year. The next renewal can be done remotely, without a personal visit to Georgia, as long as the ground has not changed. That is convenient for people who travel out of the country regularly for work or personal reasons.

From a residence permit to permanent residency and citizenship

After five years of continuous legal residence in Georgia on a residence permit, you become eligible to apply for permanent residency. Permanent residency removes the need for annual renewal and depends less on the original ground. Georgian citizenship, a full passport and everything that comes with it, is a separate process. The standard route (naturalization after several years of residence, an exam on the language and history) requires giving up your original citizenship: Georgia does not recognize dual citizenship by default. The exception is citizenship "for exceptional merit" or in the state's interest (Article 17 of the citizenship law): it is granted directly by presidential decree, with no residency requirement and no exams, and in that case the original citizenship can be kept. This is often the route large investors take, for whom standard naturalization would take too long.

Why residence permit applications get rejected

The most common reasons for refusal: an incomplete document package, errors or inconsistencies in translations, insufficient proof of the ground (for example, a nominal employment contract with no real work behind it), or problems with the legality of the property itself when applying on that ground. If you are planning to apply through investment or business, it is worth checking in advance whether the property or company structure meets the current requirements rather than last year's: thresholds and rules in Georgia change often, as happened with real estate in 2026.