How to Get Georgia CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 10 years
- Language
- Required, no test
- Dual citizenship
- Not accepted
- Civic test
- Required, no test specified
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- Income or economic resources must be shown
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Not acceptedNew citizens must give up their previous citizenship.Authorities can withdraw citizenship from citizens who naturalise abroad, with exceptions.
- Available routes
- Region
- Asia
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
For foreign nationals living in Georgia, this is the ordinary route based on residence. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
- Residence
- 10 years
Person has been lawfully resident for 10 years.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship
Renunciation of citizenship of another country required.
- Language
- Required, no test or certificate specified
Knowledge of the language. If person is a beneficiary of support ex Art. 12 Civil Code (i.e. has a serious psychosocial, mental or intellectual disorder), he/she is exempted from language requirement, civic knowledge requirement and income requirement.
- Civic knowledge
- Required, no test specified
Knowledge of the history and the basic principles of the law. If person is a beneficiary of support ex Art. 12 Civil Code (i.e. has a serious psychosocial, mental or intellectual disorder), he/she is exempted from language requirement, civic knowledge requirement and income requirement.
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Positive security check (i.e. person may not have committed certain crimes or be suspected by law enforcement agencies of having committed such crimes or pose a threat to state/public security).
- Income or economic resources
- Income or economic resources must be shown
Person must have a job and/or real estate in Georgia, or carry on business on the territory of Georgia or hold an interest or shares in a Georgian enterprise. If person is a beneficiary of support ex Art. 12 Civil Code (i.e. has a serious psychosocial, mental or intellectual disorder), he/she is exempted from language requirement, civic knowledge requirement and income requirement.
Marriage or civil partnership
For spouses of citizens of Georgia, the rules below set out what this route requires. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person is married to a citizen and has been lawfully resident for 5 years. Other conditions: knowledge of the language as well as the history and the basic principles of the law, renunciation of other citizenship, and positive security check.
Descent (citizen parent)
This route covers children of a citizen of Georgia, subject to the conditions below. Citizenship arises directly under the law of Georgia, without any authority making a decision.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Georgia to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to two citizens. Or to a citizen and a non-citizen, one of whom has permanent residence in Georgia. Or to a citizen and a non-citizen both of whom permanently reside abroad, if the parents agree on the child's acquiring citizenship of Georgia.
Birth in the country
Birth in Georgia is the starting point of this route, together with the conditions below. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person was born in the country. Other conditions: knowledge of the language as well as of history and the basic principles of the law, renunciation of other citizenship, and positive security check.
Former citizens (reacquisition)
Earlier citizenship of Georgia is the basis of this route. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person is a former citizen whose citizenship has been terminated a) unlawfully, b) by renunciation, or c) as a result of his/her parent's/parents' choice. Other conditions: knowledge of the language, and positive security check.
Person is a former citizen who lost citizenship by acquiring a foreign citizenship and applies for reacquisition of citizenship before 31 December 2020. Person must fulfil language requirement and pass a security check. .
Ethnic or cultural affinity
An ethnic or cultural connection to Georgia is the basis of this route. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person considers Georgia to be his/her homeland his/her ancestor a) is residing in an occupied territory of Georgia or is displaced from the territory or b) emigrated in the past for political reasons or due to economic/social hardship. Person must fulfil language requirement and civic knowledge requirement.
Refugees
Refugee status in Georgia is the basis of this route. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person has been lawfully resident for 5 years. Other conditions: knowledge of the language as well as the history and the basic principles of the law, renunciation of other citizenship, and positive security check.
Stateless persons
For people without any citizenship, the rules below show what the law of Georgia provides.
Foundlings
Person is a child living in Georgia and of unknown parentage.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in Georgia to parents who have the status of stateless person, and are permanently resident in Georgia, or to one stateless parent permanently resident in Georgia and the other parent is unknown.
Stateless persons
Person was born in Georgia before 21 December 1991 and resided in the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia or in the territory of Tskhinvali Region (former Autonomous Region of South Ossetia) before that date, or is a child of such a person. Person may not have acquired a foreign citizenship and must pass a security check.
Special achievements
This route covers people recognised for special achievements or for contributions to Georgia, subject to the conditions below. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person is successful in sport, science or art and is willing to carry out his/her activities in Georgia or represent Georgia.
Investment
For applicants making a qualifying investment in Georgia, the rules below set out what applies. Even if the legal conditions are satisfied, authorities may still decide to refuse.
Person makes an investment in Georgia that substantially contributes to the development of the country's economy.
Not available in Georgia: Child of a new citizen, Adoption, Other family members of citizens, Citizens of specific countries, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Public or military service. Based on the GLOBALCIT coding of the law, updated with in-force changes.
Dual citizenship
Georgia does not generally accept dual citizenship.
- New citizens
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Authorities can withdraw citizenship from citizens who naturalise abroad, with exceptions
Person acquires citizenship of a foreign country, except if person has obtained permission for retention of citizenship. Permission to retain Georgian nationality IS granted if there is deemed to be a genuine connection of that person with Georgia
Compare with neighbours
Across Western Asia, the most common requirement is 5 years, while Georgia asks for 10 years.
Compare Georgia with all countries in the residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Azerbaijan | 5 years | Test or certificate | New citizens only |
 Cyprus | 8 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Iraq | 10 years | None | Accepted |
 Lebanon | 5 years | None | Accepted |
 Saudi Arabia | 5 years | None | Not accepted |
 Syria | 5 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 12, 12-1, 15-16.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Georgia Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/georgia/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/georgia/">How to Get Georgia Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a Georgian citizen?
10 years of residence is required for ordinary naturalisation in Georgia, plus further conditions.
Does Georgia allow dual citizenship?
Generally no. The law of Georgia does not accept dual citizenship in either direction.
Do I need a language test for Georgian citizenship?
Georgia requires language skills without naming a particular test or certificate.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Georgian citizenship?
Georgia requires civic knowledge for naturalisation but does not specify a formal test.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Georgian citizenship?
Georgia requires you to renounce your current citizenship for Georgian citizenship.
Can I get Georgia citizenship by marriage?
Yes, the law of Georgia has a route for spouses. Procedure: discretionary.
Can I get Georgia citizenship by descent?
Yes. A child of a citizen can acquire citizenship of Georgia by descent. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Georgia citizenship by investment?
An investment route is coded for Georgia. Confirm the current terms with the official authority.
Related pages
Also see: Georgia passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.