Parliament passes amendments to Law on Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons

Parliament has passed amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons in its third reading with 81 votes in favour. The bill was presented to the plenary session by the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Aleksandre Darakhvelidze, according to information released by the Parliament.

According to the legislature, the amendments clarify the legal mechanisms concerning the entry, stay, issuance of residence permits, and deportation of foreigners in Georgia.

“The legislation restructures immigration visa categories, notably introducing regulations for the D6 category visa aimed at the education of minors.

Specifically, if a foreign national wishes to enrol in a university in Georgia, they must submit a language proficiency certificate approved by the Government of Georgia. Furthermore, foreign students studying in Georgia must accumulate at least one-third of the mandatory academic credits stipulated by law within a single academic year.

Under the bill, suspending a foreign student’s status for more than 90 days will provide grounds to revoke their residence permit. Similarly, if a foreign student leaves the country for more than 183 days without a valid reason (such as an exchange programme or medical necessity), this will also result in the loss of their residency.

The bill also outlines the procedure for issuing a residence permit to the spouse of a Georgian citizen and establishes mechanisms for verifying the validity of marriages. It further clarifies the conditions for study and work-related residency. Notably, a new article will be introduced into the Criminal Code, criminalising sham marriages and/or remaining in such marriages where the objective is not to establish a family but rather to secure legal residency rights for a foreign national.

In addition, the project provides for the legal regulation of state and public security foundations, appeals procedures, and the rules governing the deportation of foreign nationals from Georgia,” the statement issued by Parliament reads.