Full training of economic indicators for investment|geoholding.ge

Nestled between Europe and Asia, Georgia is a hidden gem that more and more expats are calling home. Drawn in by stunning landscapes, a fascinating culture, and low cost of living, foreigners are staying in Georgia for the long haul. But transitioning from expat to citizen requires navigating the country’s residency and naturalization laws. For those wondering how to become a citizen of Georgia country, the road to naturalization is long but achievable. In this blog post, we’ll break down the requirements for how to become a citizen of Georgia country. Whether you’re still contemplating a move to Georgia or ready to put down roots, read on to learn what it takes to call this Eurasian gem your permanent home.

What are the Ordinary vs. Exceptional Citizenship in Georgia Country?

There are two main procedures to acquire citizenship through naturalization in Georgia:

Ordinary procedure:

This is the standard process for how to become a citizen of Georgia country that we will cover. you’ll first need to understand the different residence permits available. There are three main options: a standard residence permit, a temporary residence permit and a permanent resident permit. The standard permit grants indefinite residency rights but requires having lived in Georgia for 6 years and renewing the permit every 5 years.

The temporary permit only necessitates 1 year of residency but is valid for a shorter 6-year period and does not provide the same long-term guarantees. Also, the temporary permit can be obtained faster, the standard permit is better aligned with the residency duration needed for citizenship. As we’ll explain further, you need to live in Georgia for 6 years before qualifying for permanent residency, which sets you on the path towards naturalization and citizenship.

Once you have held a standard residence permit for 5 years in Georgia, you can then apply for permanent residency. This grants benefits like working without needing a specific work permit. After 3 more years with permanent resident status, you become eligible to apply for full Georgian citizenship through naturalization. At this stage, you’ll need to pass Georgian language, history, and civics tests.

The overall timeline for how to become a citizen of Georgia country, takes a minimum of 11 years total from the time you first gained residency. In fact, obtaining permanent resident status itself requires 6 years of living in Georgia country on a standard permit. Then you must wait 3 additional years as a permanent resident before applying for naturalization. The route to citizenship is lengthy but attainable, if you meet the residency requirements and involvement in Georgian society. It is the most common path for how to become a citizen of Georgia country.

Exceptional procedure:

In special circumstances, some people may qualify for an expedited exceptional naturalization process without meeting normal timeline requirements. This includes:

Those married to Georgian citizens for 3+ years.
Individuals who have a Georgian heritage or ancestry.
Highly skilled professionals like doctors, engineers, scientists.
Minors born in Georgia or adopted by citizens.
Refugees or displaced people granted asylum.

The exceptional procedure allows waiving or reducing some residency requirements for citizenship, but an application must still be approved by the government.

Thus, for most people pursuing how to become a citizen of Georgia country, the ordinary naturalization process will apply. But some may qualify for faster exceptional citizenship based on merit, marriage, or ancestry.

What are the Other Residence Options for Get a Residency of Georgia Country

Aside from the standard process, Georgia offers some specialized residence permits that can accelerate your timeline for how to become a citizen of Georgia country:

Investor visa: By investing at least 300,000 GEL into a Georgian business or government bonds, you can obtain this renewable 6-year visa. The long validity period counts double towards citizenship residency requirements, allowing you to apply for permanent residency and citizenship faster.

Retiree permit: If you are over 65 years old and can demonstrate sufficient pension/savings, you can get this residence permit. Retirees can apply for permanent residency after only 3 years instead of the normal 6 years. This shaves several years off the citizenship process.

Work permit: Getting hired by a Georgian company and obtaining a work permit allows you to reside in Georgia for 1-year terms. Each year counts towards accrued residency for a future citizenship application. So, securing longer-term work contracts accelerates the timeline.

Study permit: International students who complete studies in Georgia can count those years towards citizenship residency requirements after graduating. Therefore, having longer degree programs speed up the path of your naturalization.

How to Calculate Your Georgia Residency?

When applying for residence permits as part of how to become a citizen of Georgia country, Georgia determines your legal residency based on the concept of a “center of vital interests”. Indeed, Georgia examines your economic, social, professional, and family ties to Georgia to determine if it has become your primary place of habitual residence and long-term home.

Also, the authorities will assess the total time you have physically resided in Georgia each year. This includes both consecutive days and non-consecutive periods spent in the country. For a temporary permit, you must have been present in Georgia for 365 days total over the prior 6 years. The standard permit has a higher threshold, you need to have lived in Georgia for at least 2,190 days across the last 6 years, averaging out to 365 days per year.

Short trips abroad do not reset your residency clock. But in most cases, you must show that you’ve been continually present and establishing permanent ties in Georgia for at least 183 days (about 6 months) out of a 12-month period. The 183-day rule does not have to be consecutive. For example, you could spend 90 days in Georgia, leave for a while, and then return for another 93 days during the same year. This would normally qualify you to apply for residency.

Other Factors that Georgia considers to Calculate:

Some of the factors Georgia considers include:

Where you maintain your primary dwelling place
Where your partner and, if any, children reside
Where you are employed or own a business
Where you maintain bank accounts and memberships
Any property you own in Georgia
Other social and economic connections to Georgia

Documents Required to Back Up your Residency Duration in Georgia

The authorities will look closely to ensure your center of vital interests is truly in Georgia. They want to see evidence that you are making Georgia your permanent home and primary base, not just briefly passing through as a tourist or visitor. To back up your residency duration in Georgia, you will need to provide certain documents when applying for a residence permit:

Entry and exit stamps in your passport confirming dates you were in the country
Visa and residence permit copies if you had one previously
Property ownership or long-term rental documents
Utility bills in your name at a Georgian address
Georgian bank account statements showing transactions
Proof of business ownership or employment in Georgia
School/university certificates for studies completed in Georgia
Getting a Georgia driver’s license and registering your vehicles in Georgia
Having Georgian health insurance
Getting involved with local religious, social, or business organizations

The more types of documents you can submit as evidence, the better for your citizenship application.

How to Apply for Residency After Meeting the Requirements?

Once you can demonstrate that you have lived in Georgia for the minimum time required, applying for legal residency is a multi-step process:

Gather all required documents as evidence of your residency, which may include rental agreements, work permits, insurance paperwork, and proof of finances. Anything showing your center of vital interests is in Georgia.
Have documents translated into Georgian if needed.
Submit a long-stay visa application to the National Agency of Public Registry, either in Georgia or at a consular office abroad.
Pass background checks and other screening requirements. Submit biometrics (fingerprints and photo).
Schedule an in-person interview with immigration officials.
Pay applicable fees for processing and issuance of your residence permit.
Receive your Georgian residence permit. This is normally a small ID card containing your details, residency type, expiration date, and other information.

Your permit will need to be renewed periodically and its validity period depends on the residency type. Obtaining residency can take 2-6 months depending on processing times. You must continue meeting the residency requirements while living in Georgia. Hiring an immigration attorney to assist is highly recommended, especially your first time applying.

What are the Benefits of Having a Residency in Georgia country?

Obtaining a temporary or permanent residence permit in Georgia comes with many advantages compared to staying there on just a tourist or business visa. Some of the key benefits include:

Permission to Work

With a residency permit, you can apply for a work permit to be employed locally in Georgia without needing a company sponsor. This allows you to generate income, which is useful for establishing financial ties as part of the process for how to become a citizen of Georgia country.

Access to Healthcare

Residence permit holders can participate in Georgia’s universal healthcare system and access medical services and hospitals. This ensures you have coverage while establishing long-term residency on the pathway to citizenship. Healthcare access is an important benefit when undergoing the long process for how to become a citizen of Georgia country.

Ability to Own Property

You can purchase and own real estate in Georgia once you have residency status. Owning property can further bolster your permanent ties to Georgia and meets requirements for demonstrating attachments to the country when applying for citizenship.

Education

Residency provides access to Georgia’s high-quality education system for dependent children. They can attend public schools and universities domestically while you live there long-term. Getting locally educated helps integrate your family, an important factor for how to become a citizen of Georgia country.

Banking

Residents can open local bank accounts with Georgian banks, take out loans, and manage finances domestically. Having a financial footprint makes it easier to show permanent economic ties, which assists with meeting residency requirements for citizenship.

Travel Freedom

A Georgian residence permit grants you a lot more travel flexibility versus needing regular tourist visas. This allows you to easily maintain global ties while establishing residency on the path to naturalization. Travel benefits help facilitate spending enough time in the country for how to become a citizen of Georgia country.

How to Apply for Citizenship in Georgia Country?

Once you have lived in Georgia for 6 consecutive years as a permanent resident, you become eligible to apply for full Georgian citizenship through naturalization. This grants you the most extensive rights and privileges under Georgian law. It also allows you to obtain a Georgian passport for ease of international travel and visas. The process for applying for naturalized citizenship in Georgia involves:

Submitting an application form to the Civil Registry Agency in Georgia with required documents. This includes your long-term residency permit, proof of address, birth certificate, marriage or divorce papers, and so on. All documents must be officially translated into Georgian.
Passing mandatory exams on basic Georgian language skills, history, culture, law, and constitution. Tests are oral and written.
Providing fingerprints, biometrics, and undergoing a security screening.
Attending an in-person interview with immigration officials to assess your integration, language abilities, and knowledge of Georgia.
Taking an oath of loyalty to Georgia at a citizenship ceremony. Then you are granted a Georgian passport and full citizenship rights.

The entire process can take 6-12 months for how to become a citizen of Georgia country. There are also various fees for the paperwork, exams, and application processing.

What are the Benefits of Citizenship in Georgia country?

After going through the long process and meeting all the requirements for naturalization, obtaining full Georgian citizenship provides some key benefits:

Georgian Passport

Citizens get a Georgian passport, which allows for easier visa-free travel to many destinations compared to some other nationalities. Having the passport makes travel much smoother once you become a citizen through the process for how to become a citizen of Georgia country.

Voting Rights

Only Georgian citizens can vote in national and local elections. You have a political voice once naturalized, So, being able to participate politically is an important right gained through completing the steps for how to become a citizen of Georgia country.

Access to Jobs

Some jobs and professions are only open to Georgian citizens, especially government positions. Naturalization provides full access to all employment opportunities in the country after fulfilling the citizenship requirements.

Ownership Rights

In certain cases, only citizens can own agricultural land or other assets in Georgia. Naturalization provides the ability to own any lawful property or business, which is a benefit of completing the citizenship process for how to become a citizen of Georgia country.

Permanent Status

Citizenship means you can remain in Georgia indefinitely and can’t be deported or refused entry. Naturalization brings a sense of security and stability after going through the steps and waiting periods for how to become a citizen of Georgia country.

Dual Citizenship

In some cases, naturalized Georgians can retain or reclaim their original citizenship. Dual nationality may be possible depending on your home country’s laws after completing the naturalization process for how to become a citizen of Georgia country.

Last Words

Becoming a legal resident of Georgia takes careful planning and effort. While the famous 183-day rule of thumb provides a baseline, Georgia ultimately wants to see proof that you have established significant life ties there.

Spending the required 183 days out of 12 months in Georgia and establishing local economic, social, and familial attachments are keys to meeting the residency time requirements. With its majestic peaks, Black Sea resorts, and dynamic capital, Georgia is an alluring choice for making a new home in 2023 and beyond.