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Pathway

Georgia Residence Through Close Family

Georgia Residency
Pathway overview

At a glance

Georgia has family residence routes for defined family members of a Georgian citizen or a foreign national who holds a Georgian residence permit. The permit type depends on both the sponsor's status and the relationship.

Sponsor
A Georgian citizen or a foreign national with a Georgian residence permit
Requirements
An eligible relationship, your relative's status, legal stay, and financial records
Application timing
Most residence applications should be filed 40 calendar days before lawful stay expires

Summary

A qualifying relative of a foreign residence-permit holder in Georgia can seek family-reunification residence. Since September 1, 2026, a Georgian citizen’s foreign spouse starts with a temporary spouse permit; permanent residence may follow after five years on that permit if the marriage continues. A Georgian citizen’s minor child, or a parent of a minor Georgian citizen, can apply directly for permanent residence. Marriage and financial-evidence checks apply.

D4 is the related family-reunification visa, used when a visa is needed to enter Georgia. The residence permit is a separate application.

Check who you are joining in Georgia
  1. Check their citizenship or permit A foreign resident needs an eligible residence permit. A visa or visa-free visit is not enough.
  2. Check which relatives qualify Spouses, children, and parents of citizens have different rules from relatives of foreign residents.
  3. Apply for the relevant permit Prove the relationship, meet the financial requirements, and check that you can apply from your current status.

D4 is an entry visa. The residence permit that follows depends on the relationship and the person you are joining.

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Eligibility

Family of a foreign residence-permit holder

The family-reunification permit is available to a “family member” of a foreign national who holds a Georgian residence permit. The current legal definition includes:

The applicant needs proof of the sponsor's current residence permit and proof of the legal family relationship. A visa, a visa-free stay, a pending permit application, or property ownership without an issued residence permit does not make someone a residence-permit sponsor.

The Public Service Development Agency (PSDA) also requires the applicant's travel document, proof of legal stay in Georgia, a photograph, the application, and payment evidence. The applicant must show lawful income earned in Georgia by the applicant, a Georgian citizen, or a relative with residence rights in Georgia. Personal bank funds can also be considered. If bank funds are used, the PSDA says the monthly amount over the requested permit term should be at least twice Georgia's current average-consumer subsistence minimum.

Family-reunification permits fall within the temporary categories initially issued for six months to one year. Extensions require the qualifying basis to continue.

Minor children and parents of minor Georgian citizens

Permanent residence is available to a foreign minor child of a Georgian citizen or a foreign parent of a minor Georgian citizen.

The PSDA requires proof of the relationship and the citizen's status. It also requires evidence of lawful income earned in Georgia by the applicant, the Georgian citizen, or a relative with Georgian residence rights. A Georgian citizen's pension or social benefit may be used where applicable, and the applicant's personal bank funds may also count. The PSDA's permanent-residence instructions do not state the same fixed two-times-subsistence multiple that appears under family reunification.

Spouse of a Georgian citizen

Since September 1, 2026, the foreign spouse begins with a temporary spouse permit rather than immediate permanent residence. It lasts one year initially and can be renewed for two years at a time, up to five years in total. Permanent residence may then be available if the marriage continues. The law permits an interagency commission to interview the spouses separately or together, request evidence of the marital relationship and family formation, inspect the stated residence where required, and interview relevant people.

Refusing to cooperate with a lawful commission request is a ground for refusal. If the commission suspects a sham marriage, the law provides for referral to investigative and prosecution authorities and for suspension of the residence case while the specified investigation decision is pending.

The spouse permit also requires financial evidence. The PSDA accepts qualifying Georgian income, relevant pension or social-benefit evidence, or personal bank funds. If using bank funds, budget at least twice the average-consumer subsistence minimum for each month of the permit.

If you applied before September 1, 2026, ask the PSDA which rules apply to your pending case.

Relationship limits

The family route is based on the legal definition, not simply emotional or financial closeness. An unmarried partner, independent adult child, sibling, grandparent, or other relative does not qualify under this pathway merely because the relationship is genuine. A dependent or guardianship case must fit the legal category and be supported by records.

Foreign birth, marriage, and other family records need duly certified Georgian translations. Ask the PSDA or Georgian consulate whether the issuing country and document also require legalization (official checks confirming a document's origin for use abroad) or an apostille (a certificate verifying an official signature or seal for use abroad).

What This Route Allows

Family reunification allows a qualifying family member of a foreign permit holder to reside in Georgia for the permit's validity. The spouse-of-citizen permit allows the foreign spouse to reside while completing the five-year family-residence period, provided the marriage and permit conditions continue.

A permanent residence permit gives the right of permanent living. It is still an immigration status rather than citizenship, and the holder must maintain valid identity and residence documents as required.

A spouse of a Georgian citizen may separately qualify for simplified naturalization after five continuous lawful years in Georgia, but must meet the citizenship test and other citizenship rules. Residence approval does not itself grant citizenship.

What This Route Is Not

This is not a route for any person who wants to live near a friend or relative. The sponsor status and relationship must fit the law exactly.

It is not automatic residence after marriage. The applicant must file, prove legal stay and the legal relationship, satisfy the financial-document rules, and pass the authority's review. From 1 September 2026, spouses of Georgian citizens also face the new marriage-verification procedure.

It is not one permit called “D4.” D4 is an immigration visa used for family reunification where a visa is needed. The residence categories are family reunification, permanent residence, and the spouse-of-citizen permit.

Next Steps

  1. Check your family member's status precisely: Georgian citizen or foreign national holding a current Georgian residence permit.
  2. Match the applicant's relationship to the legal list. For a dependency, disability, guardianship, or custody case, collect the official decision and support evidence.
  3. If you are joining a Georgian citizen spouse, use the current spouse-permit form and checklist. Ask the PSDA how the change affects any application filed before September 1, 2026.
  4. Obtain the sponsor's citizen ID or residence-permit copy and the applicant's proof of legal stay.
  5. Gather complete birth, marriage, and other family records and arrange duly certified Georgian translations. Confirm any apostille or legalization requirement before filing.
  6. Prepare the lawful-income or personal-bank-funds evidence for the exact permit category. If applying for family reunification, calculate bank funds using the current subsistence figure and requested duration.
  7. For a spouse case under the new rules, prepare ordinary evidence of a genuine marriage and family life and be ready to cooperate with an interview or verification request.
  8. Apply early enough to protect lawful status. The PSDA's general guidance tells most residence applicants to file 40 calendar days before legal stay expires.

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Other routes in Georgia.

Sources