The Georgian residence permit through property
Since 1 March 2026 the threshold is $150,000, on a certified valuation and registered ownership. What counts, what does not, and the grandfather clause.
What changed on 1 March 2026
This is the most common legalisation route for foreigners in Georgia, which is precisely why it was raised.
The three conditions people get wrong
2 · Appraised value, not contract price. The assessment uses a market valuation by an assessor accredited through Georgia's Unified National Accreditation Body. Your contract could say $155,000 and the file can still fail if the appraisal comes in at $148,000. Get the valuation before you sign, not after.
3 · The threshold can be met by combining properties. Two apartments at $80,000 each satisfy $150,000. They must all be registered in the same applicant's name.
The grandfather clause
One caution that the published rules do not resolve cleanly: it is not clearly settled what happens if such a permit is allowed to lapse after March 2026 and the holder then reapplies. If you are in that position, do not let the permit expire while you find out. Renew on time and ask a Georgian immigration lawyer before you make any assumption.
Family, duration and cost
Duration. The permit is normally issued for one year and is renewable. Renewal means repeating the procedure, paying the fee again, and still owning the property.
Government fees and timing, at the time of writing:
- 30 calendar days — 300 GEL (about $110–120)
- 20 days — 450 GEL (about $160–180)
- 10 days — 600 GEL (about $210–230)
- Residence card itself — roughly $20–50
An honest word about whether you need this at all
So be clear with yourself about what the permit buys you that the visa-free year does not. For many people the honest answer is: a residence card, easier banking, a formal address, and a basis for the years of residence that eventually matter for permanent residency. Those are real. But if someone is selling you a $150,000 apartment purely so that you can legally be in a country you can already legally be in for a year at a time, that is a reason to slow down, not to hurry.
Common questions
Does off-plan property count toward the $150,000?
No. The requirement is registered ownership in the Public Registry. An off-plan contract counts for nothing until the completed building is registered in your name.
Is the permit permanent?
No. It is normally issued for one year and must be renewed, and renewal requires that you still own the qualifying property. There is no automatic conversion to permanent residency or citizenship.
Can I use two smaller apartments to reach the threshold?
Yes. Multiple properties can be combined, provided all of them are registered in the applicant's name and the combined appraised value reaches $150,000.
What if my apartment appraises below $150,000?
The application fails on that property alone. This is why the valuation belongs before the purchase, not after it — and why buying a unit priced at exactly $150,000 leaves you no margin at all.
Figures checked September 2026 against Colliers Georgia, Galt & Taggart, TBC Capital and Georgian government sources. Rules change; confirm anything you are about to act on.