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One of the key changes will be the crackdown on sham marriages entered into for the purpose of obtaining a residence permit or citizenship, Meduza reports, citing the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs. The ministry proposes making such actions a criminal offense. Violators could face fines and imprisonment for up to two years. Foreigners caught in such schemes are to be deported and barred from entering Georgia for up to ten years. To investigate such marriages, the authorities plan to establish a special commission.
The new restrictions will also affect foreign students. Only students enrolled in accredited educational institutions will be able to obtain a student residence permit. The permit may be revoked for failure to meet academic requirements, violation of employment conditions, or prolonged absence from the country.
Additional requirements are also being introduced for applicants to Georgian universities and colleges. Applicants will have to confirm their language proficiency with an international certificate or take an exam in a foreign or state language. At the same time, the authorities intend to establish quotas for the admission of foreign students. Educational institutions that violate the new rules will face fines, quota reductions, or even the revocation of their licenses.
The amendments also expand the powers of the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The department will be granted the right to conduct operational and investigative activities to combat illegal migration. According to government estimates, there are more than 20,000 foreigners in the country without legal grounds for residence.
The tightening of migration policy has been ongoing for several years. In March 2026, Georgia introduced additional restrictions on the employment of foreigners. A work visa or residence permit is now required for salaried employment, and foreign sole proprietors registered in the country are required to obtain a work permit. Fines for overstaying visas have also been significantly increased.
According to official data, in 2024, approximately 250,000 foreigners were permanently residing in Georgia, accounting for 6.6% of the country’s population. Over the past eight years, this figure has increased nearly tenfold. A significant portion of the migration increase was accounted for by citizens of Russia and Ukraine who moved to the country after the war began. According to various estimates, after the announcement of partial mobilization in Russia, about 70,000 Russians moved to Georgia, many of whom remain there to this day.
