Permanent Residence in Georgia: Who Qualifies and How to Apply
Permanent residence in Georgia means no renewals and no work permit. The 10-year route, the 5-year shortcuts through investment or marriage, and how to apply.
Overview
- The standard route to permanent residence in Georgia is 10 years in a row on residence permits. Study, medical and diplomatic permits don't count.
- Two routes take 5 years: the $300,000 investment permit, and marriage to a Georgian citizen under the rules in force since September 1, 2026.
- Permanent residents don't renew, and since March 2026 they're one of the few groups that don't need a work permit.
- You keep your own passport. Permanent residence isn't citizenship, and Georgian citizenship usually means giving yours up.
Permanent residence is the end of the paperwork for most foreigners in Georgia. No yearly trips to the Public Service Hall, no renewals, no work permit. For people who plan to stay for good but want to keep a US, UK, Canadian or Australian passport, it's usually the right final step.
Rules current as of October 28, 2026.
The three main routes
| Route | Time before you can apply | Main condition |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 10 years in a row on residence permits | Permits must be work, IT, property, family or similar. Study, medical and diplomatic permits don't count. |
| Investment | 5 years | Keep the $300,000 investment for 5 years. On the business route, meet the turnover target each year. |
| Spouse of a Georgian citizen | 5 years | Stay married and live in Georgia through the spouse permit period. |
Parents of a Georgian child also have a direct route to a permit with no end date.
The 10-year route
Most people get here the long way. You hold a property, work, IT or family permit, renew it on time, and after 10 years in a row you apply.
"In a row" is the hard part. A gap between permits can reset the count. The usual cause is a renewal filed late. For most permits, you must renew at least 40 days before the old one ends. Miss that and you may have to start a new permit from scratch. If you plan to apply for permanent residence one day, treat every renewal date as fixed.
The 5-year routes
Investment. Hold a $300,000 investment permit for its full 5 years and you can move to permanent residence. On the property route, you need to have owned the property for the whole period. On the business route, you need the turnover each year, ending with at least $120,000 in year 5. See our guide to the investment permit.
Marriage. Since September 1, 2026, a foreigner married to a Georgian citizen first holds a spouse permit. After 5 years, if the marriage still stands and you've lived in Georgia, you can apply. See our spouse permit guide.
What you need to apply
You apply at the Public Service Hall. Expect to provide:
- your passport and current residence card.
- proof of your residence history. The agency checks its own records, but bring your old cards and decisions if you have them.
- proof of income. In practice, at least twice Georgia's monthly subsistence minimum, with savings to cover a year recommended. The law doesn't set the figure, so expect the agency to judge it.
- for the spouse route, your marriage certificate and your spouse's ID.
- a photo and the application form.
File at least 40 days before your current permit ends, so you're never without status while the application is open.
What permanent residence gives you
- No end date. No more renewals.
- No work permit. Since March 1, 2026, most foreigners need a work permit to work or run a business here. Permanent residents are exempt.
- Your family's stability. Family members can base their own permits on yours.
- A step toward citizenship, if you want it.
What it doesn't give you
Citizenship or a Georgian passport. You stay a citizen of your own country.
Tax residency. That still depends on where you spend your time. In Georgia, 183 days in a 12-month period is the usual test.
The right to vote in national elections. That's for citizens.
Permanent residence or citizenship?
For most Westerners, permanent residence is the better end point. Georgia generally doesn't allow dual citizenship. If you naturalize the normal way, your citizenship decree takes effect only after you prove you've given up your other citizenship. Few Americans, Brits, Canadians or Australians want that. Our guide to Georgian citizenship explains the rules and the exceptions.
How we can help
We check your residence history for gaps, tell you which route you qualify for and when, and file the application. If there's a gap in your record, we look at whether it can be explained before you apply. Ask about long-term status or compare all routes in our guide to Georgian residence permits.