Georgia tightens residency rules for foreign students and spouses of citizens Georgia’s Interior Ministry has proposed new legislation to tighten residency rules for foreign students and spouses of Georgian citizens. These changes include mandatory language exams for students, quotas for educational institutions, and a new process for spouses seeking permanent residency. Sham marriages will become a criminal offense with severe penalties.

• Georgia’s Interior Ministry is drafting legislation to toughen residency rules for foreign students and spouses.
• Foreign students may need to pass a language exam to enroll.
• Educational institutions will face quotas and stricter reporting on foreign students.
• Spouses of Georgian citizens will first receive temporary permits, with marriage verification before permanent residency.
• Sham marriages for residency or citizenship will be a criminal offense, leading to deportation, fines, or imprisonment.
• The proposed amendments will be considered on an expedited basis.
• Georgia previously introduced restrictions on foreign employment in March 2026.
• Authorities state the measures aim to combat illegal migration, estimating around 20,000 people are in the country without legal status.