Married to a Georgian Citizen? The New Spouse Residence Permit Rules
Since September 1, 2026, spouses of Georgian citizens get a 1-year permit first and wait 5 years for permanent residence. What changed and how the marriage check works.
Overview
- Before September 1, 2026, a foreigner married to a Georgian citizen could apply for permanent residence straight away. That route is gone.
- Now you get a spouse residence permit for 1 year, then up to 2 more at a time, for up to 5 years in all.
- After 5 years, if you're still married and have lived in Georgia, you can apply for permanent residence.
- A government commission can interview you and your spouse, ask for proof of your life together and visit your home. If you don't cooperate, the application fails.
Marriage to a Georgian used to be the fastest way to permanent residence in Georgia. Too many people used it that way. The government says applications based on marriage nearly tripled in the first three months of 2026, and Parliament changed the law. If you're married to a Georgian, or about to be, here's what the process looks like now.
Rules current as of October 28, 2026.
What changed on September 1, 2026
The old rule gave spouses of Georgian citizens a direct path to permanent residence. The new rule puts a probation period in front of it.
| Before September 1, 2026 | From September 1, 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| First permit | Permanent residence | Spouse permit, 1 year |
| Renewals | None needed | Up to 2 years at a time |
| Permanent residence | At once | After 5 years of marriage and residence in Georgia |
| Marriage check | Paperwork | Paperwork, plus a possible commission review |
How the spouse permit works
You apply for the Georgian citizen's spouse residence permit at the Public Service Hall. The first permit lasts 1 year. You renew it for up to 2 years at a time, and the total can't pass 5 years.
You'll need to show the marriage is registered and that you can support yourself. In practice, the income test for family permits is at least twice Georgia's monthly subsistence minimum, with savings to cover a year recommended. If your marriage took place abroad, the certificate needs an apostille and a certified Georgian translation.
After 5 years, if the marriage still stands and you've lived in Georgia, you apply for permanent residence through the normal procedure.
The marriage check
This is the part that's new, and the part to take seriously.
An interagency commission reviews spouse applications. It includes people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the State Security Service and the immigration agency. It can:
- interview you and your spouse, separately and together.
- ask for any evidence that you live as a married couple.
- visit your home.
If the commission finds reasonable grounds to suspect the marriage is fake, it sends the case to investigators. Your application then waits until that ends.
Cooperation isn't optional. If you refuse a home visit, miss an interview or don't hand over what's asked, the application is rejected.
How to prepare
A real marriage has a paper trail. Make sure yours is easy to see:
- Live at the same address, and have it on paper: a lease, a property extract or utility bills in either name at that address.
- Keep records of your life together, such as a joint bank account, shared bills, travel together and photos over time.
- Bring a translator you trust if one of you doesn't speak Georgian well.
If you married recently or spend long periods apart for work, expect closer questions. That doesn't mean you'll fail. It means you should prepare.
If you already hold a permit or applied before September 1
The published summaries of the new law don't spell out what happens to people who applied under the old rules or already hold permits based on marriage. The implementing rules were still pending at the time of writing. If you're in this group, have your case reviewed before your next renewal or application date.
What if the marriage ends?
The spouse permit depends on the marriage. If you divorce before you reach permanent residence, the basis for the permit ends with it. You'd need another route, such as a work, IT or property permit. Our guide to Georgian residence permits compares them.
Working on a spouse permit
A spouse permit doesn't exempt you from the new work permit rules. Only permanent residents and investment permit holders are exempt. If you'll work for a Georgian employer or run a Georgian business while on the spouse permit, you need a work permit too. See our guide to the January 1, 2027 work permit deadline.
How we can help
We prepare your file, translate and certify foreign documents, file the application and get you ready for the commission interview. We handle renewals and the move to permanent residence too. You get the price in writing first. Tell us about your case or see what we do.