Georgia’s New Immigration Rules 2026: Marriage Checks, Student Controls and the October 1 Amnesty Deadline
Since September 1, 2026, Georgia has applied new rules that change how spouses of Georgian citizens and international students obtain residence permits. A sham marriage is now a criminal offense, and applications for a marriage-based residence permit are reviewed by a special commission. For people who want to put their situation right, an amnesty runs until October 1, 2026. As of September 21, ten days remain.
In brief
Rules for residence permits based on marriage and on study have been tightened, and a sham marriage is now a criminal offense.
An interagency commission now reviews marriage-based applications: interviews, home visits and a review period of up to 90 calendar days.
People who admit to a sham marriage can avoid criminal liability if they do so before October 1, 2026.
Tourists are not directly affected. The rules apply to those who live in Georgia on a residence permit or plan to apply for one.
Key dates
June 25, 2026 — Parliament approved the package of amendments in the third and final reading.
August 26, 2026 — The government adopted Decree No. 417 on the commission that checks marriages.
September 1, 2026 — The decree and the new rules entered into force.
October 1, 2026 — Last day of the exemption from criminal liability for voluntarily admitting a sham marriage.
What is already in force
The amendments to Georgia’s migration legislation were initiated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Parliament passed the package in June, and the marriage-verification mechanism followed later: Government Decree No. 417 explains how applications for marriage-based residence permits will actually be decided. Its text is published on matsne.gov.ge, Georgia’s official legislative portal.
Marriage-based residence permits: how it works now
Marriage to a Georgian citizen used to open a quick route to permanent status. That is no longer the case. According to press reports, a marriage-based residence permit is first issued for one year, then extended for another two years, and an application for permanent residence can be filed only after five years of continuous residence on that permit.
Applications are decided by an interagency commission. The decree provides that:
the commission has six members: two each from the Public Service Development Agency, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Security Service;
it may summon spouses for interviews, together or separately, and repeatedly;
it may visit and inspect the couple’s home, which requires at least two members from at least two different bodies, and the results may be recorded on photo and video; according to press reports, neighbors may also be questioned;
an application is reviewed within up to 90 calendar days, but the clock stops if the file is sent to investigators.
Two details that are easy to miss:
A summons to an interview is deemed served from the moment the protocol is published on the Public Service Development Agency’s website. You may not receive a letter or a call, so you need to check the site yourself.
The commission’s protocols cannot be appealed on their own. Only the final decision on the residence permit can be challenged.
The commission draws up one of three protocols: the genuineness of the marriage is established; it is not established (for example, the spouses did not appear or otherwise refused to cooperate); or the file is sent to investigators where there are sufficient grounds to suspect a sham marriage. In the last case the file goes to the investigative body at the Georgian citizen’s actual place of residence, with a copy to the Prosecutor’s Office. Press reports say that refusing to cooperate with the commission is in effect treated as an admission that the marriage is not genuine.
Liability and the amnesty
A sham marriage entered into to obtain a residence permit or citizenship carries a fine, house arrest, or imprisonment of up to two years. After serving the sentence, the foreigner may be deported and banned from entering the country for two to ten years.
There is also a window to act. Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze has said that a foreign national who voluntarily admits to a sham marriage before October 1, 2026 will be exempt from criminal liability. The conditions and procedure for such an admission should be confirmed with a Georgian lawyer: this is a decision with serious consequences and should not be made on the basis of an online article.
Students
According to press reports, the changes for international students are as follows:
a student residence permit is issued only to adults;
applicants must prove proficiency in the language of instruction, either with an international certificate or by passing a state exam;
universities must report enrollment, transfers, grades and absences of foreign students to the authorities, or face fines and, ultimately, loss of the right to admit foreigners;
a permit can be revoked for academic failure, excessively long absence from the country and illegal work.
Parents of schoolchildren should note that a residence permit already issued to a child does not automatically turn into a D6 visa just because the law has changed. Ask the Public Service Development Agency which rules will apply when your permit is renewed.
A tougher approach overall
Deadlines for appealing migration decisions have been shortened, courts may hear such cases on an accelerated basis and even without oral hearings, and the Migration Department has been given operational investigative powers. For scale: in 2025 Georgia deported more than 1,300 foreigners, a record in recent years.
What to do
You hold a marriage-based residence permit. Gather evidence of a genuine shared life: a lease or ownership documents, joint accounts, photos, correspondence and statements from acquaintances. Check the Agency’s website regularly for interview summonses.
You have doubts about your own marriage. Do not wait until the last days of September. Get advice from a lawyer first.
You are a student or the parent of one. Check your institution’s accreditation and your academic record, and avoid long absences from the country.
You work without a permit. Regularize your employment: the risk of deportation is real.
What remains unclear
Some blogs cite exact thresholds for students (for example, a set number of days of absence) and details of the new D6 visa. I could not find confirmation of these figures in official sources, so they are not included here. Watch matsne.gov.ge and the Public Service Development Agency’s website for updates.
Frequently asked questions
Do the new rules affect tourists?
No, unless you are applying for a residence permit.
Will an existing residence permit be taken away?
Not automatically. The new rules apply on renewal and to new applications. Ask the Agency how they apply in your specific case.
Can the commission’s decision be appealed?
The commission’s protocol cannot be appealed separately. The final decision on the residence permit application can be challenged.
How long does a marriage-based application take?
Up to 90 calendar days. If the file is sent to investigators, the clock is suspended.
This article is for information only and is not legal advice.
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