Permanent residence permit in Georgia: the open-ended status and who can get it

Permanent residence permit: Georgia's open-ended permit, earned by family ties or a decade of residence

A permanent residence permit is the Georgian residence permit issued with no term, "with the right of permanent living", to a minor child of a Georgian citizen, a parent of a minor citizen, a citizen's spouse after 5 years on a spouse's permit, or a foreigner who has lived in Georgia for the last 10 years on temporary residence permits.

Its statutory name is მუდმივი ცხოვრების ნებართვა, "permit of permanent living". The basis is Article 15(ზ) of Georgia's Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons, 15(g) in the English translation, whose letters differ from the Georgian; we use the Georgian letters below. Article 16(1)(ზ) issues it with the right of permanent living, so it has no extension cycle. We read the Georgian consolidated text on Matsne, as amended by Law No 1803 of 25 June 2026, in force for residence matters since 1 September 2026.

In some countries permanent residence can be bought, or lapses after long absences. In Georgia no purchase leads to Article 15(ზ), and we found no absence rule for it. Investors get a different open-ended document, the indefinite-stay permit of Article 15(ლ). The permit never expires, but its card does.

From six years to ten, and a new waiting period for spouses

The closed list of routes in Article 15(ზ) has moved over time. The table compares the original 2014 text, the text in force until 31 August 2026 (Matsne publication 22) and the current text.

We could not trace when 6 years became 10. Study, medical treatment and work at diplomatic or equivalent missions do not count towards the 10.

Since 1 September 2026 a citizen's husband or wife first holds the new 15(ზ1) permit: 1 year, then 2 more at a time, up to 5 (Art. 16(1)(დ1)). If the marriage continues after 5 years, the permanent permit follows. Under Art. 16-1 a joint commission may question the spouses and inspect where they live. We found no transitional rule for spouses whose permanent applications were pending on 1 September 2026.

Whether years on the property owner's short-term permit count towards the 10 is open: Article 16(3) calls the permits of Article 16(1), the short-term one included, temporary residence permits, while Resolution No 520 Art. 3(4) lists "temporary" and "short-term" permits separately. See permanent residence and the property years question.

The file: documents per route, proof of income, the 40-day rule and the fee

Resolution No 520, Article 10, rewritten by Resolution No 416 of 26 August 2026, gives each route its own list. All applicants file the form, a travel document copy, an electronic 3x4 colour photo and the fee receipt, plus:

• Minor child or parent of a minor citizen: proof of lawful stay, kinship and legal income in Georgia, or a pension or social-assistance certificate where the citizen receives one.
• Spouse of a citizen: a copy of the spouse's permit covering the last 5 years, kinship and income.
• Ten years of residence: copies of the temporary cards or permits for the whole period, income and kinship.

Funds in the applicant's own bank account may count if "not less than the amount of the state pension": in 2026, GEL 370 a month under 70 and GEL 495 from 70 (1TV). We could not confirm which figure, or what period, the Agency applies.

Resolution No 520 Art. 3(4) requires filing at least 40 calendar days before lawful stay ends and exempts several permits; the permanent permit is not among them, the indefinite-stay permit is. The decision comes within 30 days of a complete file (Art. 13(3)); the fee is GEL 500 for the 30th day or GEL 650 for the 20th, with no 10-day option. When one parent files for a minor, Art. 3(5) requires the other parent's consent too. In-person filing is covered under Public Service Hall.

Pensions, work, votes and loss: what the status carries

Article 31(1) of the Aliens Law gives an alien "permanently residing" in Georgia the same right to assistance, pensions and other social security as a citizen; for temporarily staying aliens, Article 31(2) defers to legislation and treaties. We could not confirm that "permanently residing" means exactly the 15(ზ) and 15(ლ) holders. Since 1 January 2018 persons permanently residing in Georgia have been beneficiaries of the Maternal and Child State Health Program (Public Defender, 13 April 2018).

Since 1 March 2026 foreigners need a formal right to work (Andersen, 1TV), but the Labour Migration Law covers only aliens without a permanent residence permit (Art. 1(2)), and Art. 1(4)(ვ) exempts valid investment-permit holders. Whether the indefinite-stay permit counts as permanent here we could not confirm. See work permit.

Article 42 still bars aliens from voting or standing in national or municipal elections and referendums. Under Article 39 an alien living in Georgia is taxed like a citizen unless a law says otherwise; the 183-day test is under tax resident.

Becoming a Georgian citizen ends the permit (Art. 21(6)(ბ)). The Article 21(1) grounds still apply, such as forged documents, a criminal offence and, since 1 September 2026, right-to-work breaches. A refusal goes to court within 10 calendar days of service (Art. 21-2(1)).

On paper: the decision, the card and the date printed on it

• The decision. An individual administrative act of the Agency (Res. 520 Art. 13(7)) granting a მუდმივი ცხოვრების ნებართვა; an investor's grants an უვადო ბინადრობის ნებართვა. We found no published sample of the layout.
• The card. "მუდმივი ბინადრობის მოწმობა". The Registration Law knows permanent and temporary cards (Art. 11); the card certifies citizenship, identity and place of residence in Georgia (Art. 12), and its fields include the personal number, citizenship, address and a validity date (Art. 15(1)).
• The Registry certificate. Investor's route only: a Public Registry ცნობა confirming 5 years of ownership (Law Art. 16(5)).

Article 15(2) of the Registration Law reads: "მუდმივი ბინადრობის მოწმობა 18 წლამდე პირზე გაიცემა 4 წლის ვადით, ხოლო 18 წელს მიღწეულ პირზე - 5 წლის ვადით" (a permanent residence card is issued for 4 years under 18 and for 5 years from 18). Renewal takes the old card, two photos and a fee from GEL 60 (10th working day) to GEL 150 (same day). A holder who no longer lives in Georgia must hand the card in (Art. 19). See the residence card in daily life.

"ПМЖ", "permanent residency" or "residence for life" beside a listing price is marketing. The nearest true claim: property worth more than $300,000 can lead, after 5 years on the investment permit, to indefinite stay.

Worked example: three clocks running towards open-ended residence

Three foreign flat owners; the dates are illustrative, the periods come from the law.

The spouse's date: 9 days from 23 to 31 August, 30 in September and 1 in October make 40. But if the permit ends exactly as the fifth year closes, the 40-day deadline falls before the 5 years are complete; the long resident meets the same problem at year 10. We could not confirm how the Agency treats this; ask early.

The investor files the Registry certificate, and the investment permit stays valid until the decision (Art. 16(6)). The former student's 4 study years do not count, so eligibility comes after 14 years in Georgia. Keeping the status then costs only cards: 20 years means 4 adult cards, 4 x GEL 60 = GEL 240.

Permanent, indefinite, citizen or tax resident?

The Agency's English calls 15(ლ) the "residence permit for indefinite stay" and, in the 40-day text, the "lifelong residence permit"; see investment residence permit and Georgian citizenship requirements.

Permanent and indefinite residence in five languages

The Aliens Law and Resolution No 520 use the statutory მუდმივი ცხოვრების ნებართვა, while the card itself is titled მუდმივი ბინადრობის მოწმობა.

Mistakes and warning signs

• Reading the card's expiry as the end of the status. Only the card needs renewing.
• Believing a brochure. No purchase buys Article 15(ზ).
• Using pre-September 2026 advice for spouses. The direct spouse route is gone.
• Counting study years. They are excluded from the 10.
• Filing late. The 40-day rule applies here.
• Losing old cards. Copies of every temporary card prove the decade.

How to work out your route to permanent residence

1. Name your route

   Child, parent, spouse, ten years, or the investor's permit.

2. Count the qualifying years

   Leave out study, treatment and mission work.

3. Gather every permit copy

   Each decision and card for the whole period.

4. Prove legal income

   Income in Georgia, a pension, or bank funds.

5. Diary the 40-day date

   Count back from the end of your lawful stay.

6. Renew the card

   Every 5 years for adults, 4 for minors.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get permanent residence by buying property?

No. Only the investment permit (more than $300,000) leads, after 5 years, to indefinite stay.

Does the permit expire?

No. The card expires after 5 years for adults, 4 under 18.

How long does a citizen's spouse wait?

Since 1 September 2026, 5 years on the 15(ზ1) permit.

What is the state fee?

GEL 500 (30th day) or GEL 650 (20th day).

Does the 40-day rule apply?

Yes; Res. 520 Art. 3(4) does not exempt this permit.

Can a permanent resident vote?

No, Article 42 excludes aliens.

Do I lose it by living abroad?

We found no absence rule, but the card must be handed in once you no longer live in Georgia.

Is it the same as citizenship?

No. Citizenship is a separate procedure, and you keep your passport.

Sources

1. Aliens Law, Georgian consolidated text, Matsne (accessed 2 November 2026)
2. Aliens Law, text in force until 31 August 2026, Matsne
3. Law No 1803 of 25 June 2026, Matsne
4. Government Resolution No 520, consolidated to Resolution No 416 of 26 August 2026, Matsne
5. Law on Registration of Citizens and Aliens, Arts. 11 to 19, Matsne
6. Residence permits, Public Service Development Agency (accessed 2 November 2026)
7. Residence card, Public Service Development Agency (accessed 2 November 2026)
8. Pensions to reach GEL 495 for over-70s, GEL 370 for others in 2026, First Channel (accessed 2 November 2026)
9. Discrimination on grounds of nationality in a state health programme, Public Defender of Georgia, 13 April 2018
10. Georgia work permits, Andersen, and new procedure for work rights, First Channel (accessed 2 November 2026)
11. Law on Labour Migration, Art. 1(2) and 1(4), Matsne (accessed 2 November 2026)
12. Organic Law on Georgian Citizenship, Arts. 12 and 14, Matsne
13. Georgia: individual residence, PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries

Change log

• 2 November 2026 - Glossary entry published from the Aliens Law and Law No 1803 (Matsne), Government Resolution No 520, the Registration Law, the Public Service Development Agency, First Channel, the Public Defender, Andersen, the Labour Migration Law, the Organic Law on Georgian Citizenship and PwC.