The Parliament of Georgia, at III reading, adopted amendments to the Law of Georgia “On the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons” with 81 votes in favor. The draft law was presented at the plenary sitting by the Deputy Interior Minister, Alexander Darakhvelidze.

The amendments refine the legal mechanisms governing the entry, stay, residence permits, and expulsion of foreign nationals in Georgia. They also regulate categories of immigration visas, including the introduction of rules relating to the D6 visa category for educational purposes involving minors.

Specifically, a foreign national wishing to enroll in a university in Georgia will be required to submit a language proficiency certificate recognized by the Government of Georgia. In addition, foreign students studying in Georgia must earn at least one-third of the credits prescribed by law during an academic year.

According to the draft law, if a foreign student suspends his or her student status for a period exceeding 90 days, this will constitute grounds for the revocation of the student's residence permit. Likewise, if a foreign student remains outside Georgia for more than 183 days without a valid reason, such as participation in an exchange programme or a medical necessity, this will also constitute grounds for the loss of residence status.

The amendments further establish procedures for issuing residence permits to the spouses of Georgian citizens and for verifying the authenticity of marriages. They also clarify residence permit requirements related to educational and employment activities. In particular, amendments to the Criminal Code introduce a new offence criminalizing a fictitious marriage, or participation in such a marriage, where the purpose is not the creation of a family but rather the acquisition of a legal right for a foreign national to reside in Georgia.

The draft law also provides a legal framework governing matters related to state and public security, appeal procedures, and the rules and procedures for the expulsion of foreign nationals from Georgia.