How long does a Georgian residence permit take, and how much does it cost?

Checked on 2026-10-25

The Public Service Development Agency's guidance says work, study, family, investment and short-term residence permits are decided in 30 calendar days for GEL 300, or faster for GEL 450 (20 days) or GEL 600 (10 days). Permanent and lifelong permits cost GEL 500; a spouse-of-a-citizen permit takes 90 days and costs GEL 500.

Key facts

What	The law says	Source
Who decides	The Public Service Development Agency (PSDA) issues Georgian residence permits	Law on the Legal Status of Aliens, art. 14(1)
Who sets the deadline	The review period is set by an ordinance of the Government of Georgia	Law on the Legal Status of Aliens, art. 17(7)
Work, study, family reunification, former citizen, investment, short-term permits	PSDA guidance: 30 calendar days: GEL 300. 20 calendar days: GEL 450. 10 calendar days: GEL 600	PSDA questions and answers, fee and term answer for each permit type
Permanent residence permit	PSDA guidance: 30 calendar days: GEL 500. 20 calendar days: GEL 650	PSDA questions and answers, “permanent permission to stay”
Lifelong (unlimited) residence permit	PSDA guidance: 30 calendar days: GEL 500. Within 20 calendar days: GEL 650	PSDA questions and answers, “lifelong residence permit”
Residence permit of a spouse of a Georgian citizen	PSDA guidance: Reviewed on the 90th calendar day; GEL 500	PSDA questions and answers, “spouse of a citizen of Georgia”
Special residence permit	PSDA guidance: Free of charge, 10 calendar days	PSDA questions and answers, “special residence permit”
How you hear the result	The Agency notifies you electronically	Law on the Legal Status of Aliens, art. 17(8)
After approval	Get your residence card within one month	Law on the Legal Status of Aliens, art. 20(2)

Standard and expedited processing

The law leaves the review period to a government ordinance. The PSDA’s own guidance gives the periods and fees per permit type. For the common temporary permits (work, study, family reunification, former Georgian citizen, investment and short-term), the agency says the standard review takes 30 calendar days and costs GEL 300. You can pay more for a faster decision: GEL 450 for a decision on the 20th calendar day, or GEL 600 for a decision within 10 calendar days.

Permanent residence and the lifelong (unlimited) permit cost GEL 500 for 30 calendar days and GEL 650 for 20 calendar days; the agency lists no 10-day option for them. The permit for the spouse of a Georgian citizen is reviewed on the 90th calendar day and costs GEL 500. The agency lists the fees in GEL without a year; they are the amounts on its page when read on 25 October 2026.

Paying and getting the result

The agency’s guidance says you can pay online by card after registering an online application, or in cash at any bank in Georgia. The law says the Agency must notify you of the outcome electronically. The agency says you can read its opinion on your application on its website with your application number and code.

After the permit is granted

The law requires you to get a residence card within one month of obtaining the permit (art. 20(2)). If you don’t apply for the card within six months, that is a ground for ending your stay in Georgia (art. 21(1)(k)).

Applying online: the agency says you need a webcam, earphones and a microphone, and the application counts as accepted only after a recorded video call with a remote service employee (PSDA questions and answers).
Paper documents: documents must also be submitted physically within 10 days of registering the electronic application (PSDA questions and answers).

Sources

Change history

2026-10-25: Page created

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.