Georgia mandates interviews for foreign spouses under new residency bill

How the marriage commission would work

Georgia's Interior Ministry has sent Parliament a bill that would route foreign spouses of Georgian citizens through a special commission interview before issuing residency, with lawmakers scheduled to take it up on an expedited basis starting today.

The draft creates a new temporary residence permit tied specifically to marriage, replacing the current path that lets foreign spouses move directly to permanent residency. A commission under the Ministry of Internal Affairs would interview applicants and verify the union is genuine before approval.

Sham marriages would become a criminal offense. Penalties include fines, house arrest of one to two years, prison terms up to two years, deportation and re-entry bans of 2 to 10 years. Some reports suggest the package could clear Parliament by the end of June.

Who gets pulled in

Foreign spouses of Georgian citizens are the direct target. The immediate jump to permanent residency disappears, replaced by a temporary permit gated by the interview.

The same legislative package tightens other routes nomads and expats often use:

• Foreign students face language proficiency rules, enrollment quotas and permits that can be revoked for non-attendance or extended absences abroad.
• Foreign workers and sole proprietors must hold work permits under a separate 2026 labor regime, with stricter thresholds for work-based and investment residency.
• Property and investment applicants face adjusted minimum real estate values and business turnover requirements.

Tourists on visa-free entry or short-stay visas aren't directly affected, though anyone planning to convert a stay into residency through marriage or study will hit the new scrutiny.

What applicants should do now

Anyone planning a marriage-based application should assume the commission model could be in force within weeks and consult a Georgian immigration lawyer before filing. The current process at the Public Service Hall, with passport, apostilled marriage certificate, photos and proof of income, runs about 30 days, though the new interview layer and criminal exposure change the calculation.

Couples whose marriages predate the reform should gather documentation that demonstrates a shared life: joint leases, bank accounts, photos, travel records and witness contacts. The bill doesn't specify new state fees for the interview itself, so existing Public Service Development Agency charges apply until the final text is published.

Read our full Georgia guide for the complete picture and follow ongoing visa updates as Parliament votes.