Parliament adopts amendments to Law on Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons in first reading

Parliament has approved, in the first reading and with 75 votes in favor, a draft law on the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons, which aims to clarify legal mechanisms related to the entry, stay, residence permits, and expulsion of foreign nationals in Georgia, the Parliament reported.

Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze presented the legislative initiative of the Georgian government. According to him, under the proposed regulations, foreigners wishing to enroll at a university in Georgia will be required to submit a language proficiency certificate in a language determined by the Georgian government. In addition, the National Assessment and Examinations Center will be authorized to organize foreign language examinations in specific cases.

The amendments also stipulate that foreign students studying in Georgia must earn at least one-third of the credits required by law during an academic year. According to the draft law, if a foreign student suspends their student status for more than 90 days, this will constitute grounds for revoking their residence permit.

Similarly, if a foreign student leaves Georgia for more than 183 days without a valid reason — such as participation in an exchange program or medical necessity — this will also serve as grounds for terminating their residence permit.

According to the Deputy Interior Minister, the amendments also address the issue of granting permanent residence permits following marriage to a Georgian citizen. In particular, a new article will be added to the Criminal Code criminalizing fictitious marriages or participation in such marriages when the purpose is not to establish a family but to obtain the legal right for a foreign national to reside in Georgia.

Alongside these amendments, the Deputy Minister also presented Parliament with a broader legislative package for first-reading consideration.