How to get Georgia citizenship in 2025 — routes & documents

Planning to get Georgia citizenship in 2025? Most applicants qualify via naturalisation after continuous lawful residence with language and civic knowledge. Other pathways include a simplified route via marriage to a Georgian citizen, descent/registration for children with Georgian parentage, restoration for former citizens, and the presidential grant (exception) for special merit or national interest. Applications are typically filed through the Public Service Hall (PSH) / Public Service Development Agency (PSDA) and decided at the level of the President of Georgia following the Commission on Citizenship Issues.

Quick answer (2025)

Routes: naturalisation (residence + test), marriage (simplified naturalisation), descent/registration (children), restoration (former citizens), and presidential exception. Core evidence: residence continuity, lawful income and integration, Georgian language + basics of law/constitution knowledge, civil-status chain, police clearances. Timeline: assembling documents takes weeks; review may take months depending on background checks. Outcome: decree of the President and Georgian passport/ID issuance after registration.

Georgia citizenship routes at a glance (one table)

Eligibility checklist (2025)

• Continuous lawful residence in Georgia (for naturalisation), proven by residence permits/cards, address registrations and renewals.
• Georgian language and civics: ability to communicate in Georgian and knowledge of the constitution/basic law (testing and/or interview).
• Lawful income & means: salary/business funds, bank statements, tax or social proofs; no dependence on unlawful sources.
• Good conduct: recent police clearances from Georgia and former countries of residence; clean criminal history.
• Civil-status chain: long-form birth/marriage/divorce/custody certificates; spouse’s Georgian citizenship for marriage route; parent’s citizenship for descent.
• Translations & legalisation of foreign records; use certified translations and apostille/legalisation where required.

Step-by-step (with realistic timing)

1. Pick your route — naturalisation, marriage (simplified), descent/registration, restoration, or exception. ~1–3 days
2. Map the evidence — residence timeline, income/tax proofs, civil-status chain, police certificates; list which documents need legalisation/translation. ~2–5 days
3. Order long-form records — birth/marriage certificates; obtain spouse/parent documents for marriage/descent; request archival proof for restoration. ~1–3 weeks
4. Prepare language/civics — schedule test/interview prep; collect any certificates or community references. parallel
5. File through PSH/PSDA — submit a complete dossier; keep receipts/barcodes; attend biometrics/interview if assigned. submission day
6. Commission review → Presidential decision — respond promptly to requests for additional evidence. months (varies)
7. Registration & documents — upon approval, complete registration and apply for Georgian passport/ID. same month

Documents (core & extras)

• Identity & residence: passport(s), Georgian residence cards/permits, address registrations, travel log (entries/exits).
• Income & means: employer letters, contracts, payslips, business registry extracts, bank statements, tax/social proofs.
• Civil-status chain: long-form birth and marriage certificates; spouse’s Georgian ID/citizenship (marriage route); parent’s Georgian citizenship at birth (descent route); archival proofs for restoration.
• Police & conduct: Georgian police clearance and foreign police certificates (recent), good-conduct letters if requested.
• Language & integration: evidence of Georgian language and basic civic knowledge; community references where available.
• Translations & legalisation: certified Georgian translations; apostille/legalisation for foreign documents as required.
• Administration: application forms, state fees/revenue stamps, submission receipts, barcodes, and a 1-page index of documents.

Costs & timeline (indicative 2025)

Costs usually include state fees, certified translations, apostille/legalisation, police/medical certificates, and (optionally) advisory support for complex lineage or restoration cases. Timelines depend on route and dossier quality: collecting records may take several weeks; the authority review can take months (or longer) if additional checks are triggered. Keep a buffer to refresh time-sensitive records (e.g., police certificates) that expire during processing.

Language & civics (what to expect)

• Language: practical ability to communicate in Georgian; be ready for testing/interview.
• Civics: basic understanding of the constitution, national symbols, and civic responsibilities.
• Integration: ties to Georgia (address, work/business, family, community) strengthen a naturalisation case.

Dual citizenship & travel (high-level)

Georgia’s framework allows dual citizenship in defined cases (including by presidential decision/consent). If you already hold or plan to acquire another citizenship, confirm any notification or administrative duties when your Georgian status is granted, and ensure your travel documents are kept consistent after registration.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Gaps in residence continuity — late renewals, undocumented address changes, or long absences that undermine continuous stay.
• Under-documented lawful income — missing employer/business proofs or weak banking trail.
• Language/civics underestimated — postponing preparation until interview stage.
• Unlegalised / untranslated records — foreign civil-status documents without apostille/legalisation or certified translation.
• Restoration without archives — filing for restoration without strong historical proofs of prior Georgian citizenship.
• Marriage route assumptions — believing marriage is automatic; it is a simplified naturalisation, not a guarantee.

Expert opinion

“The strongest Georgia citizenship files in 2025 combine flawless residence timelines, credible lawful income, and confident performance on language/civics. Most delays trace back to weak archival evidence (restoration/descent), expired police certificates, or leaving address/tax documentation inconsistent.” — VelesClub Int. Immigration Team

FAQ (quick answers)

How many years of residence are needed for naturalisation?
Expect a multi-year period of continuous lawful stay supported by residence cards/permits, addresses and renewals; language/civics and lawful income are part of assessment.

Does marriage to a Georgian citizen guarantee citizenship?
No. It enables a simplified track but still requires eligibility checks, integration, and complete documentation.

Can a child get Georgian citizenship by descent?
Yes, where a parent’s Georgian citizenship at birth is proven; file long-form records and complete registration.

What is the presidential “exception” route?
A discretionary grant for special merit or national interest; requires a strong petition and background dossier.

Do I need to speak Georgian?
Yes, for naturalisation you should demonstrate Georgian language ability and basic knowledge of the constitution/law.

Next steps

Ready to prepare your Georgia citizenship dossier in 2025? Open your workspace and use the Residency & Citizenship hub to generate a personalised checklist, translation/legalisation tracker, and a clean document index for your route.