Permanent residence in Georgia: the 10-year rule and other routes

The four routes in Article 15(g)

On the 10-year route, time spent in Georgia for study, medical treatment or work at a diplomatic mission does not count. Work, IT and family reunification permits are temporary residence permits, so years on them count.

Until 1 September 2026, spouses of Georgian citizens also got permanent residence directly. Law 1803 of 25 June 2026 changed that. See family and spouse permits.

Why you still see "6 years" online

The general route required 6 years until Law No 428 of 30 March 2021 raised it to 10 years. Many guides were written before that change, or copied from ones that were.

The investment route: the unlimited permit

The investment residence permit leads to a separate status, the unlimited residence permit (Art. 15(k)). It carries the right of permanent residence. You can apply after 5 years if your business met the turnover thresholds, with fifth-year turnover of at least USD 120,000, or if you kept property worth more than USD 300,000 for 5 years. Apply before the investment permit expires. It stays valid while the application is pending.

For a foreigner without family ties to a Georgian citizen, this is the shortest route to permanent status in the law. PSDA does not publish the fee for the unlimited permit.

How to apply

You apply to the Public Service Development Agency (PSDA, the Ministry of Justice agency that issues permits) or at a Public Service Hall (the state service centres where you file). PSDA's website has an online application for the permanent permit. Ordinance No 416 of 26 August 2026 sets the main documents:

• proof of the family tie, or proof of 10 years' residence;
• proof of legal income. A bank balance not lower than the state pension amount is accepted.

Foreign documents need an apostille or legalisation and a certified Georgian translation. See documents for a Georgian residence permit.

There is no 10-day option for the permanent permit. After the decision you have 1 month to apply for your residence card.

What permanent residence changes

Work

Permanent residents are outside the Law on Labour Migration altogether (Art. 1(2)). You do not need the right to work, the permit that most foreigners have needed since 1 March 2026 to work or run a business. You can change job or start a business without asking SESA (the State Employment Support Agency). See the Georgian work permit for what temporary residents face.

Social security and pension

Permanently residing foreigners have the same social security rights as Georgian citizens (Aliens Law Art. 31(1)). The Law on Funded Pension also starts to apply. It covers foreign citizens with a permanent residence permit, and not foreigners on temporary permits (Art. 1(4)). As an employee, 2% of your taxable salary goes into the pension fund, your employer adds 2%, and the state adds 2% on the first GEL 24,000 of annual salary and 1% from GEL 24,000 to GEL 60,000. If you are self-employed, joining is voluntary, and members pay 4% of self-employed income.

Healthcare

The state Universal Healthcare Programme is aimed at citizens. According to the Public Defender, permanent residents have the strongest claim among foreigners to access it. Most foreigners still rely on private insurance. See healthcare in Georgia.

What does not change

• You do not become a tax resident by holding the permit. Tax residency still depends on 183 days in Georgia in any continuous 12-month period. See Georgian tax residency.
• The permit can still be ended on the grounds in Art. 21 of the Aliens Law, which include any criminal offence and false information.
• You must still tell PSDA at once if your address or phone number changes.

Permanent residence and citizenship

Ordinary naturalisation needs 10 years of continuous lawful residence, tests in Georgian language, history and law, and a work, property or business link to Georgia. A spouse of a Georgian citizen can apply after 5 years. Georgia generally requires new citizens to give up their other citizenship. See Georgian citizenship.