Georgia's patrol police have received expanded authority in the field of migration control. Now officers of the agency will be able to check foreign citizens for the presence of work permits and residence permit documents (residence permit) on par with their standard competence. This change is aimed at strengthening control over compliance with migration legislation and increasing the responsibility of foreigners for the legality of their stay and work activities in the country.
Transfer of Authority from the Migration Service
Until recently, the right to check work permits and residence permits belonged exclusively to Georgia's specialized migration service. Now patrol police officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have received similar authority and will be able to conduct inspections independently of the migration service. This expansion of competence will strengthen monitoring of the migration situation in the country due to the larger number of police personnel.
Requirements for Foreign Workers
In accordance with current Georgian legislation, foreign citizens carrying out work activities on the territory of the country or working with clients located in Georgia are required to have a work permit and appropriate residence permit. These documents confirm the legality of a foreigner's stay and work activities in the country. Violation of this requirement entails legal consequences for both the foreigner and the employer.
Fines and Increased Penalties
For the absence of necessary work and residence permit documents, a fine of 2,000 lari is provided, which is equivalent to approximately $770. However, the penalty is becoming stricter: starting in September 2026, deportation of a foreign citizen from Georgia may be added to the fine measures. This increase in responsibility is designed to significantly increase the level of compliance with migration legislation.
In parallel with the expansion of police authority, Georgia is preparing to implement new systems for registering foreigners. Starting September 1, 2026, the country will establish a unified Register of Foreigners and a database of citizens of other countries. These tools will ensure more effective control and monitoring of foreigners' stay on Georgian territory, integrating data on the migration status of each foreigner into a unified system.
The complex of measures – expansion of patrol police authority, increased penalties, and creation of centralized registers – indicates the Georgian authorities' intention to conduct a systemic migration control reform. This approach will allow authorities to more quickly identify violators of migration legislation and promptly prevent illegal work activities of foreigners on Georgian territory.