Georgia permanent and indefinite residence in 2026

Georgia uses more than one long-term residence concept. The general permanent residence permit and the investor residence permit for indefinite stay have different eligibility rules.

General permanent residence: 10 years

Current law and SDA guidance state that an alien can qualify for general permanent residence after living in Georgia for the last 10 years on the basis of a temporary residence permit.

Older online guides that refer to a six-year general period are stale for the current 2026 framework.

Time that does not count

The law excludes certain periods from the general ten-year calculation, including time spent in Georgia:

  • for study;
  • for medical treatment; and
  • working at diplomatic or equivalent missions.

This matters particularly for students planning a long-term settlement strategy.

Family members of Georgian citizens

SDA also publishes permanent-residence categories for specified close relatives of Georgian citizens.

The exact statutory rules distinguish family categories and should be checked against the version in force at the application date.

Investor route to indefinite stay

A holder of the investment residence permit has a separate route to a residence permit for indefinite stay after the five-year investment-residence period if the statutory compliance evidence is met.

For an investment-based holder, that includes the required turnover record. For a property-based investor, it includes maintaining the qualifying property basis for the required period.

This is not the same as waiting ten years under the ordinary temporary-residence rule.

Short-term property residence is different

The USD 150,000 property residence route is a short-term permit renewed on the continuing property basis. It should not be described as the same route as the USD 300,000 investment permit.

Temporary residence maximums do not equal automatic permanent residence

Some Georgian temporary permits can be extended for long aggregate periods. That does not mean reaching an extension maximum automatically converts the holder to permanent residence.

The applicant must still satisfy the legal basis for permanent or indefinite residence.

Related resources

Editorial note: Settlement rules can change over long residence periods. Re-check the law in force when the applicant becomes eligible rather than relying only on today's projection.

Official and supporting sources

Related routes in Georgia