Currently, a foreign spouse of a Georgian citizen can obtain a permanent residence permit almost immediately after the marriage is registered. If the law goes into effect, the procedure will be phased in: first, a one-year residence permit will be issued; then it can be extended for another two years; and the right to permanent residence will be granted only after five years of marriage.
Another new requirement is a mandatory interview before a residence permit is issued. If immigration authorities have reason to doubt that the marriage was not entered into solely for the purpose of obtaining immigration status, the case will be referred to law enforcement agencies. The bill also provides for criminal liability for sham marriages. However, participants in such schemes will be able to avoid punishment if they voluntarily report the violation during the specified transition period.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs cites the sharp increase in the number of such applications as the reason for the reform. According to Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Alexandre Darakhvelidze, in the first quarter of 2026 alone, the number of applications for residence permits based on marriage nearly tripled. Currently, about 30,000 foreigners in Georgia hold permanent residence permits obtained on the basis of marriage to a Georgian citizen.
The amendments also expand the powers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Migration Department. The agency will be able to use additional control mechanisms when verifying the grounds for foreigners’ residence in the country. At the same time, the changes will affect the rules for issuing student residence permits: the authorities intend to strengthen oversight of foreign students and educational institutions.
