The Ministry of Internal Affairs has drafted a new legislative package introducing significant changes to Georgia’s migration and residence permit regulations.
The initiative was registered at today’s Bureau session on June 8 and is set to be considered in an expedited manner during the sessional week of June 23.
The proposed amendments cover rules for foreign students studying in Georgia, study residence permits, and residence permits issued based on marriage between a Georgian citizen and a foreign national.
One of the key changes introduces additional requirements for the admission of foreign students to higher and vocational education institutions, including the submission of an international language certificate or passing a language exam administered by the National Assessment and Examinations Center (NAEC).
The Ministry of Internal Affairs says the aim is to prevent enrollment in foreign-language programs without sufficient language proficiency.
The package also proposes that the Government of Georgia set a maximum quota for foreign student admissions at educational institutions.
Under the new rules, educational institutions will be required to enter detailed student data into a unified information system, including enrollment, suspension, termination, restoration of status, mobility, and completion of studies. Relevant state agencies will have access to the system.
Institutions that fail to comply with registration rules for foreign students may face administrative liability, including fines, restrictions on admitting foreign students, or revocation of authorization.
Changes are also planned for study residence permits, which would be issued only to adults enrolled in authorized higher or vocational institutions.
The draft law further defines grounds for terminating a foreign student’s right to stay in Georgia, including failure to meet academic requirements, violations of employment conditions, or extended absence from the country beyond legally permitted periods.
Separate provisions regulate residence permits based on marriage. A new category, a residence permit for the spouse of a Georgian citizen, is introduced and would be issued prior to eligibility for permanent residency. Authorities will verify the validity of marriages before issuing such permits, with a special commission to be established for this purpose.
The amendments also introduce criminal liability for fictitious marriages concluded for the purpose of obtaining citizenship, residence permits, or other legal grounds for stay. Penalties may include fines, house arrest, imprisonment for up to two years, or deportation with entry bans ranging from two to ten years.
The package further allows for the replacement of the unserved portion of a sentence for convicted foreign nationals with deportation and an entry ban, under conditions defined by Georgian law.
In addition, the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs would be granted authority to conduct operational and investigative activities aimed at preventing and combating illegal migration.
The draft law also proposes procedural changes in judicial review processes, including shorter decision-making timelines, stricter deadlines for case review, and the possibility in some cases to review cases without oral hearings, the Ministry of Internal Affairs says.
