From September 1, 2026, new rules for checking marriages with foreigners come into force in Georgia. The Government Decree of Georgia is aimed at preventing sham marriages concluded solely for obtaining a residence permit. The document regulates the procedure for verifying the sincerity of spouses' feelings and the reality of their joint life.
A special commission has been established to review applications for residence permits based on marriage, which has been granted broad authority. According to the decree, the commission will be able to invite spouses for interviews, including repeated ones. The interview protocol will be considered as a delivered summons from the moment of its publication on the website of the State Services Development Agency.
Verification Methods and Review Periods
The commission has been granted the right to conduct joint and separate interviews with spouses, visit their place of residence, and inspect the apartment. During the verification process, specialists will be able to interview neighbors and record the results in the protocol using photographs and video materials. The maximum period for reviewing a residence permit application is set at 90 calendar days.
Refusal to cooperate with the commission — non-appearance at the interview, evasion of answers, or refusal to provide access to the apartment for inspection — will be considered as grounds for recognizing the marriage as sham. In such cases, the commission draws up a protocol and through the Migration Department sends materials to the investigative bodies and the prosecutor's office at the place of residence of the Georgian citizen.
Conditions for Obtaining a Permanent Residence Permit
The decree has also established conditions for obtaining a permanent residence permit. Spouses of Georgian citizens will be able to obtain it after five years of continuous residence in the country based on a temporary residence permit issued on the basis of marriage. In addition, a permanent residence permit is granted to foreigners who have lived in Georgia for 10 years based on a temporary residence permit (excluding periods of study, treatment, or work in diplomatic missions). Preferential conditions apply to minor children of Georgian citizens and their parents, as well as to investors who have invested at least 300 thousand dollars in the country's economy.
Criminal Liability and Transitional Provisions
The new decree is a practical implementation of a comprehensive package of amendments to migration legislation adopted by parliament in June 2026. One of the key changes was the introduction of criminal liability for a sham marriage concluded for the purpose of obtaining a residence permit. Depending on the circumstances, the punishment may be a fine, house arrest, or imprisonment for up to two years. After punishment, the violator may be deported from Georgia and prohibited from entering the country for a period of two to 10 years.
However, until October 1, 2026, a transitional provision is in effect that allows foreigners who have concluded a sham marriage to voluntarily admit this and receive immunity from criminal liability. This provision gives citizens a one-month period to resolve accumulated problems before the new rules come into full force.