Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs aims to crack down on pathways through which foreigners use sham studies or marriages of convenience to obtain legal residency. To this end, the ministry has prepared a package of amendments to migration legislation that will allow authorities to exercise even tighter control over foreign students and individuals who enter into sham marriages for the sake of obtaining a Georgian residence permit.
Once the amendments are adopted, foreigners will only be able to enroll in Georgian universities and colleges after proving their proficiency in the Georgian language—either by presenting an international certificate or passing an exam.
Additionally, admission quotas for international students will be introduced at Georgian universities. Higher education institutions will be required to report the enrollment, expulsion, transfer, and status of foreign students to the state. If they fail to comply with this obligation, universities will face fines. They will also face quota restrictions and could potentially lose their authorization.
Rules for issuing student residence permits are also being tightened: they will only be granted to adult foreigners studying at accredited educational institutions in Georgia. This document will be revoked if a student violates requirements, fails to attend lectures, or remains outside Georgia for an extended period.
As for marriages between Georgian citizens and foreigners, a new type of residence permit will be introduced, but before it is issued, the authorities will verify whether the marriage is genuine and not a sham.
A special commission will be established for this purpose.
It is proposed to make sham marriages a criminal offense. If proven, offenders will face fines, house arrest, or imprisonment for up to two years, while foreigners will face deportation and a ban on entering Georgia for up to 10 years.
If the amendments are passed, the Migration Department of the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs will be authorized to conduct operational-search activities to combat illegal migration.
The deadlines for appealing decisions on migration issues will be shortened.