What types of residence permits are there in Georgia?
Thirteen permit types and who each is for.
Short answer
Georgian law provides for 13 types of residence permit, and you pick one by purpose of stay: work, study, family, investment, property, IT activity or permanent residence. Each type has its own conditions, terms and fees. The full list and requirements are published by the Public Service Development Agency.
Why
- The permit types are listed in Article 15 of the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons.
- Validity periods depend on the type and are set in Article 16 of the same law.
- Conditions, documents and fees for each type are published by the Public Service Development Agency.
Details
Article 15 of the law names these types: work, study, family reunification, former citizen of Georgia, stateless person, special, permanent, spouse of a citizen, investment, temporary for victims of domestic violence, short-term property-based, unlimited and temporary for IT professionals. Work, study and family permits are first issued for 6 months to one year, IT permits for 3 years, an investment permit may be issued for 5 years, and permanent and unlimited permits carry the right of permanent residence (Article 16).
How to get a permit, including as a Russian citizen, is covered in How do you get a residence permit in Georgia, and what a permit gives in practice in What does a Georgian residence permit give you. Separate answers on work, property, marriage, family and permanent permits are published in the same section of the site.
Tip
Decide your purpose first (work, family, property), then open that type's section on the Agency website and check income, documents and filing deadline.
What may differ
The list, terms and fees change with amendments to the law, and some conditions depend on your situation (a spouse's citizenship, age, place of filing). Check the current text on matsne.gov.ge and sda.gov.ge.
Common misconception
The only way to get a Georgian residence permit is to buy property.
What actually happens
Article 15 of the law lists 13 permit types, including work, study, family, investment and IT permits, so property is only one of the grounds.
People also ask
- What are the types of residence permits in Georgia?
- Which residence permit should I choose in Georgia?
Sources
This answer is for reference only and is not legal advice. Fees and rules change, so check official websites.
Residence permit in Georgia: types, documents and deadlinesRelated questions
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Does Georgia have a visa or programme for digital nomads?
Since May 2026 Georgia has had the C5 visa, valid up to 5 years with a 1-year stay, for tourists who work remotely for a non-resident employer.
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How do you register your residential address in Georgia?
Address registration in Georgia is free, and you submit one of three documents proving your right to live at the address to an office of the Public Service Development Agency.
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What exam do you need to pass for Georgian citizenship?
Georgian citizenship requires an electronic test in the Georgian language, history and basic law: the first attempt is free and later attempts cost GEL 40.
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Does a child born in Georgia get Georgian citizenship?
Birth in Georgia alone does not grant citizenship: a child is a citizen at birth if a parent is a Georgian citizen or in a few cases the law names.