LumenCan I apply for a Georgian residence permit from outside Georgia?
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No, not a first permit. Georgian law issues a residence permit to a foreigner who stays in Georgia on a legitimate ground, and the Public Service Development Agency says only a foreigner staying in Georgia can apply online. An extension can be filed online from Georgia or abroad. Most permits can't be issued on an ordinary C visa.
Key facts
| What | The law says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Basic condition | A permit is issued to a foreigner who stays in Georgia on a legitimate ground and meets the conditions of the law | Law on the Legal Status of Aliens, art. 14(1) |
| First application | PSDA guidance: only a foreigner staying in Georgia may apply online | PSDA questions and answers, “Who can apply online” |
| Extension | PSDA guidance: can be filed online by a person in Georgia or abroad | PSDA questions and answers, “Who can apply online” |
| Ordinary C visa | Most permits can’t be issued on it; exceptions are the investment, special, domestic-violence-victim and IT permits | Law on the Legal Status of Aliens, art. 14(1³) |
| Entry on another country’s visa or residence permit | Same exclusion for people staying under art. 10(3¹), with the same exceptions | Law on the Legal Status of Aliens, art. 14(1⁴) |
| Visa-free stay | 90 days in any 180; one full year for citizens of countries on a government list | Law on the Legal Status of Aliens, art. 10(2)–(3) |
| How to apply | In person or through an authorised representative; electronic filing allowed | Law on the Legal Status of Aliens, art. 17(1), 17(3) |
| Documents | PSDA guidance: paper documents within 10 days of the e-application; foreign documents translated into Georgian, notarised, legalised or apostilled | PSDA questions and answers, online application note |
Why you apply from inside Georgia
The law issues a residence permit to a foreigner “who stays in Georgia on a legitimate ground” (art. 14(1)). The agency’s guidance says only a foreigner staying in Georgia is entitled to apply online, while an extension can be filed online by someone in Georgia or abroad.
Which entry route matters
How you are staying in Georgia when you apply matters. The law says most residence permits can’t be issued on the basis of an ordinary C category visa, nor to someone staying under art. 10(3¹), which lets holders of certain other countries’ visas or residence permits enter visa-free. The exceptions are the investment residence permit, the special residence permit, the permit for victims of domestic violence and the IT permit (art. 14(1³)–(1⁴)).
Foreigners who don’t need a short-term visa can stay up to 90 calendar days in any 180-day period; citizens of countries on a government list can stay one full year (art. 10(2)–(3)).
Submitting the application
You apply to the Public Service Development Agency in person or through an authorised representative, and the law allows electronic filing (art. 17(1), (3)). Applications and documents go in Georgian; a passport with personal data in Latin letters needs no translation (art. 17(6)). The agency’s guidance says you must also hand in the paper documents within 10 days of registering the online application, and documents issued abroad must be translated into Georgian and notarised, and legalised or apostilled where that applies.
Related questions
- Online applications need a webcam, earphones and a microphone; the application counts as accepted only after a recorded video call (PSDA questions and answers).
Sources
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This is general information, not legal advice, and Lumen is not a law firm. Rules change and offices differ: check the official sources above before you act. Found something wrong or out of date? Write to support@lumen.observer.