Georgian nationality law is the law governing the acquisition, transmission and loss of Georgian citizenship.
Naturalization as a Georgian
Anyone who has stayed in Georgia for a total period of ten years may apply for Georgian nationality. The applicant will be asked to undergo a language proficiency test which will also test the applicant's general knowledge of the history and the heritage of Georgia. Foreign citizens may obtain Georgian citizenship after marrying a Georgian citizen for five years. While applying for citizenship, the non-Georgian spouse should have a marriage anniversary certificate. Having a child with the Georgian spouse would strengthen their case for naturalization.
Anyone who enters the Georgian state with a valid passport and visa may ask for a temporary residence permit which may be extended up to a period of 6 years. The decision of giving the residence permit is totally up to the municipal government of the area in which the applicant resides. Generally people who come for medical treatment or business are warmly welcomed.
Anyone who has stayed a period of 6 years in Georgia with a temporary residence permit may apply for a permanent residence permit.
Visas and Residence permit
Foreign staff of diplomatic missions and consular posts, as well as similar representations accredited to Georgia need visas for their first entry to the territory of Georgia. During their accreditation period they stay in the country and cross the border on the basis of an accreditation card issued according to the determined rule of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, if other is not provided by international obligation. In cases determined by the Georgian legislation a visa/entry permit for up 90 days or for 360 days can be issued by the Patrol Police of Georgia at border crossing points situated at the Georgian State Border. The basis for the stay of an alien in Georgia is a visa or residence permit if other is not provided by this law and international treaties of Georgia.
Visa requirements for entering the Georgian territory
An application for naturalization may be presented to the president of Georgia. The President has the right to grant Georgian nationality to anyone, including making a person a dual national, if they find that person important to the national interest of the state of Georgia. Those who receive Georgian citizenship in this manner, by decree of the president of Georgia, may keep their foreign nationality and become dual nationals of their other country and of Georgia. This way of granting Georgian nationality also became a way for the President to enable ethnic Georgians who left Georgia during the Soviet era, and their descendants who had been born out of Georgia, to reunite with their ancestral homeland. This is considered a national goal and in the state interest. Keeping in consideration that granting the nationality to a particular person is beneficial for Georgia, such special nationality is granted without the need of fulfilling the 'residence and language' requirements.
Travel freedom
As of October 01, 2019, Georgian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 114 countries and territories, ranking the Georgian passport 50th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.
