Georgia

Last Updated: 2026-04-01

Official Portal: Public Service Development Agency (PSDA)

Embassy Finder: Georgian Diplomatic Missions

Quick Facts

Category	Details
Residency for naturalization	10 years of lawful residence (reduced pathways exist)
Language requirement	Knowledge of the Georgian language
Civics test	Knowledge of Georgian history and fundamentals of law
Processing time	3—6 months for standard naturalization; 1—3 months for exceptional cases
Naturalization fee	GEL 250 (approximately USD 90)
Dual citizenship	Conditional — permitted only by presidential decree in exceptional cases
Citizenship by birth in Georgia	Conditional — child of stateless parents or parents whose state does not confer citizenship
Citizenship by descent	Automatic if at least one parent is a Georgian citizen
Governing law	Organic Law of Georgia on Georgian Citizenship (2014, as amended)

Dual Citizenship

Georgia does not generally permit dual citizenship, but the Constitution (Article 32) allows the President to grant Georgian citizenship to foreign nationals in exceptional cases, effectively creating a conditional dual citizenship pathway.

Key provisions:

A Georgian citizen who voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality loses Georgian citizenship, unless they have been granted an exception by presidential decree.
The President may grant Georgian citizenship to persons who have made an outstanding contribution to Georgia or whose citizenship serves the interests of the state. In such cases, the recipient is not required to renounce their existing nationality.
Foreign nationals of Georgian descent, particularly from the diaspora, have been granted citizenship through this presidential exception.
Georgia’s 2018 constitutional amendments explicitly preserved the presidential exception power.
In practice, enforcement of the prohibition is inconsistent; many Georgian nationals living abroad hold dual nationality without formal presidential authorization.

Note on visa regime: Georgia offers one of the world’s most liberal visa policies. Citizens of 98 countries can enter visa-free for one year, making Georgia an attractive base for digital nomads and entrepreneurs even without citizenship.

Acquisition of Nationality

By Birth (Jus Soli)

Georgia applies a limited jus soli rule. Birth on Georgian territory alone does not confer citizenship. However, a child born in Georgia acquires Georgian citizenship if:

Both parents are stateless persons permanently residing in Georgia, OR
One parent is stateless and the other is unknown, OR
The child would otherwise be stateless.

By Descent (Jus Sanguinis)

Georgian citizenship transmits automatically by descent:

A child born to at least one parent who is a Georgian citizen acquires citizenship automatically, regardless of place of birth.
If only one parent is Georgian and the child is born outside Georgia, both parents must consent to the child acquiring Georgian citizenship. If they disagree, the matter may be decided by court.
There is no generational limit, though registration with a Georgian consulate is required for births abroad.

By Adoption

A foreign child under 18 adopted by a Georgian citizen acquires Georgian citizenship from the date the adoption is legally finalized. If only one adoptive parent is Georgian, the consent of both parents is required.

By Marriage

Marriage to a Georgian citizen does not automatically confer citizenship. However, a foreign spouse may apply for naturalization with a reduced residency requirement:

5 years of lawful residence (instead of the standard 10 years)
Must be married for at least 2 years at the time of application
All other naturalization conditions apply (language, civics, income)

By Naturalization

Requirement	Details
Residence	10 years of lawful permanent residence (5 years for spouses of citizens)
Language	Knowledge of the Georgian language (verified by examination)
Civics	Knowledge of Georgian history and fundamentals of the legal system
Character	No serious criminal convictions
Financial	Lawful source of income or employment in Georgia
Renunciation	Must renounce all prior citizenships (unless granted presidential exception)
Age	At least 18 years old
Fee	GEL 250

Exceptional naturalization: The President may naturalize any person regardless of the standard requirements if the individual has made a special contribution to Georgia in the fields of science, culture, sports, economics, or other areas, or if granting citizenship serves the state interest. This pathway has been used for ethnic Georgians from diaspora communities and for individuals with significant investment in the country.

Loss and Renunciation

Voluntary renunciation: A Georgian citizen may renounce citizenship by application to the PSDA. Renunciation is granted if:

The applicant has acquired or been assured another nationality.
The applicant has no unfulfilled obligations to the state.
The applicant is not a defendant in criminal proceedings.

Involuntary loss:

Ground	Details
Acquisition of foreign nationality	Automatic loss upon voluntary acquisition of another citizenship (unless presidential exception granted)
Fraud	Citizenship obtained through false information or fraudulent documents may be revoked
State security	Citizenship may be revoked if the person is deemed to be acting against the sovereignty or security of Georgia

Restoration of Nationality

Former Georgian citizens who lost citizenship may apply for restoration through the PSDA:

Must demonstrate prior Georgian citizenship
Must renounce any foreign citizenship acquired in the interim (unless a presidential exception is granted)
No mandatory residency period for restoration, though residence in Georgia is considered favorably
The application follows a similar procedure to standard naturalization
Processing typically takes 3—6 months

Stateless Persons and Foundlings

Georgia is a party to the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

A child found on Georgian territory whose parents are unknown is presumed to be a Georgian citizen (foundling provision).
Children born in Georgia to stateless parents or parents whose country does not confer citizenship on the child acquire Georgian citizenship at birth.
Stateless persons lawfully residing in Georgia may naturalize under the standard conditions without additional barriers.
Georgia has a dedicated statelessness determination procedure, one of the more developed frameworks in the region.

Document Checklist

Completed application form (from PSDA or Georgian consular office)

Valid foreign passport with certified Georgian translation

Birth certificate with apostille and Georgian translation

Proof of 10 years of lawful residence (registration records, residence permits)

Marriage certificate (for spousal pathway; must show 2+ years of marriage)

Evidence of Georgian language proficiency (examination certificate)

Georgian history and law knowledge examination result

Criminal record clearance from country of residence and Georgia

Proof of lawful income or employment in Georgia

Evidence of renunciation of prior nationality (or presidential exception documentation)

Two passport-sized photographs (3x4 cm)

Receipt of GEL 250 application fee

Sources

Organic Law of Georgia on Georgian Citizenship (2014, as amended) — Full text: https://matsne.gov.ge/en
Constitution of Georgia (2018 revision) — Article 32 on citizenship: https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Georgia_2018
Public Service Development Agency (PSDA) — Citizenship application procedures: https://www.sda.gov.ge/?lang=en
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia — Consular services and embassy finder: https://mfa.gov.ge/en
UNHCR Refworld — Georgia — Background on nationality law and statelessness: https://www.refworld.org/country/GEO

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