Georgia’s Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Aleksandre Darakhvelidze, spoke in parliament about new measures to tighten migration policy and amend the rules governing the stay of foreigners in Georgia.
The official explained that a new type of residence permit is being introduced for foreign citizens married to Georgian citizens: specifically, the document will no longer be issued permanently immediately after marriage. Initially, a foreign spouse will be able to obtain a residence permit for one year, then renew it for two years. Only after five years of marriage will it be possible to obtain permanent status.
Before receiving the residency permit, spouses will undergo an interview with a special commission. If a sham marriage is suspected, the case files will be forwarded to investigative authorities. If the commission’s suspicions are confirmed, the marriage will be declared void, and those involved could face criminal prosecution.
Darakhvelidze reported that in the first quarter of 2026, the number of such applications tripled, which, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, may indicate abuse of the law.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs also proposes to expand the powers of the Migration Department, granting it the right to conduct operational-search activities.
Another change concerns foreigners in Georgian prisons. After they serve the legally prescribed portion of their sentence, a special council will be required to consider replacing the remainder of their punishment with a more lenient measure: deportation and a ban on re-entry into Georgia. This applies after an individual has served one-third of their sentence for less serious crimes, half for serious crimes, and two-thirds for especially serious crimes.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs believes this will help reduce the burden on the penitentiary system and expedite the deportation of foreign citizens convicted of crimes.
Aleksandre Darakhvelidze emphasized that these amendments will apply to all individuals who meet the criteria established by law and are not being tailored to any specific person.