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Can a foreigner withdraw pension savings when leaving Georgia?

Article 34-1 of the Law on Funded Pensions.

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Short answer

The law allows a participant who no longer holds Georgian citizenship or a permanent residence permit to claim savings as a lump sum once the pension fund confirms the loss. Foreigners with a permanent residence permit are covered by the scheme, and the payment is taxed under Georgian law. The norm does not name departure from the country on its own.

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Why

  1. Article 34-1(1) of the Law on Funded Pensions: a participant who loses Georgian citizenship and/or a permanent residence permit may claim a lump-sum payment once the fund confirms it.
  2. Article 1(4): foreigners are covered by the system only if they hold a permanent residence permit.
  3. Article 34-1(3): the payment is subject to taxation under Georgian law.

Details

If the person later regains citizenship or a permanent residence permit, mandatory contributions resume and the person must notify all employers (Article 34-1(2)). While the participant stays in the system, the savings remain in the individual account, and the general payout rules from retirement age are in Article 32. For residence permit types see the questions on getting a residence permit in Georgia and on what a residence permit gives.

Tip

Before leaving, ask the Pension Agency what your status in the system is and what document confirms the loss of status, and keep a statement from your individual account.

What may differ

The answer depends on your status: temporary residence permit, permanent residence permit or citizenship. The law has been amended, so check the current version and the Pension Agency before acting.

Common misconception

Any foreigner who works in Georgia builds up a pension and can take it when leaving.

What actually happens

Under Article 1(4) of the law, foreigners are covered only with a permanent residence permit, and the payment under Article 34-1 is tied to losing citizenship or such a permit.

People also ask

  • Can I get my pension money back if I leave Georgia?
  • Do foreigners pay into the pension fund in Georgia?

Sources

This answer is for reference only and is not legal advice. Rules change, so check official websites.

Pension in Georgia for foreigners
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