Georgia residency by investment: the 2026 guide

Georgia grants a renewable one-year residence permit to foreigners who own real estate with an appraised market value of at least $150,000 (raised from $100,000 on 1 March 2026). The permit extends to spouse and minor children, has no minimum-stay or language test, and can lead to permanent residence after five years. A separate $300,000 investor route gives an immediate five-year permit.

The threshold, and what changed in 2026

Since 2019, buying property worth $100,000 was enough to qualify for Georgia’s property-based short-term residence permit. From 1 March 2026 that floor rose by 50% to $150,000 – the first change in seven years, part of a wider tightening of Georgia’s immigration rules. The number that matters is the appraised market value set by an accredited valuer, not the price on your contract. A bargain doesn’t help if the official appraisal comes in under $150,000; equally, the threshold can be met by combining several registered properties rather than one big purchase.

Who it covers, and what it doesn’t require

One qualifying investment covers the main applicant plus a spouse and minor children. There’s no minimum number of days you must spend in Georgia, no language exam, and no income test beyond proving ownership. Foreigners can buy apartments, houses, commercial units, and non-agricultural land anywhere in the country – the one hard restriction is that agricultural land is off-limits to non-citizens.

Costs and timeline

Beyond the property itself, the government fees are modest and mostly about speed:

The first application must be made in person in Georgia; later renewals can be handled remotely by power of attorney. On the tax side, rental income is taxed at 5% (versus the 20% standard), and there’s no capital-gains tax after two years of ownership – part of why Batumi’s rental-led buyers favour the route.

The catches to plan for

Route	Minimum	Permit	Notes
Property (short-term)	$150,000	1 year, renewable	Appraised value; combinable
Investor	$300,000	5 years	Faster path to permanent residence

Processing	Time	Fee (approx.)
Standard	30 days	~$105
Accelerated	20 days	~$160
Priority	10 days	~$210

Works well when

You want legal status without relocating full-time
You’re buying a completed, registrable unit at or above $150k appraised
You value a low-tax, family-inclusive, fast process

Watch out for

The permit can be revoked if you sell or the value drops below $150k
Off-plan units can’t be used until delivered and registered – delivery risk is residency risk
Rules are tightening; grandfathering protects earlier buyers, but future renewals may change

The delivery point is the one most sales sites skip: if a building hands over late, your residency clock waits with it. That’s exactly why we track promised-versus-actual handover in the Batumi Delivery Index – use it before you commit to an off-plan unit for residency.

FAQ

Does the $150,000 have to be one property?

No. You can combine several registered, appraised properties to reach the threshold – it’s judged on total market value, not a single purchase.

I bought before March 2026 at $100,000 – am I affected?

Generally you’re grandfathered: you can keep renewing under the old threshold as long as you retain ownership. Sell the property, and any new application must meet $150,000.

Do I have to live in Georgia?

No. The property-based permit has no minimum-stay requirement.

Can it lead to a passport?

Permanent residence is possible after five years of holding the temporary permit; citizenship is a separate, discretionary process. Treat residency, not a passport, as the reliable outcome.

Sources

Last reviewed 2026-07-04 – verify the current threshold before you buy

This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Confirm your specific case with a licensed Georgian immigration lawyer before committing funds.