Legal Grounds and Possibilities for Dual Citizenship in Georgia
15 May 2025
Nikoloz Gogiashvili, Lawyer
- Does Georgia allow dual citizenship?
Dual citizenship is permitted in Georgia in cases specified by law. For example, if a person acquires Georgian citizenship by the way of exception, or restores terminated citizenship on the basis of a temporary right to restoration of citizenship of Georgia.
The state of Georgia is authorized to terminate a person’s Georgian citizenship if it is revealed that he or she has acquired the citizenship of another country without the consent of the state. In order to avoid this, a person must apply to the state for consent to acquire the citizenship of another country. In this case, Georgia will allow a person to have dual citizenship.
The state of Georgia is authorized to terminate a person’s Georgian citizenship if it is revealed that he or she has acquired the citizenship of another country without the consent of the state. In order to avoid this, a person must apply to the state for consent to acquire the citizenship of another country. In this case, Georgia will allow a person to have dual citizenship.
- What are the grounds for acquiring Georgian citizenship?
The Law "On Citizenship of Georgia" provides for various grounds and procedures for foreigners to acquire Georgian citizenship.
Georgian citizenship can be acquired by the way of exception. To obtain citizenship under this ground, a foreigner must apply to the President of Georgia and request the granting of citizenship on one of the following grounds:
a) foreigner considers Georgia to be his homeland and his or her ancestor is a person who emigrated from the territory of Georgia at various times due to difficult political or economic conditions;
b) is a person who has been forcibly displaced from the occupied territory of Georgia or a descendant of such a person
When applying under these two grounds, it is necessary to pass a test in the knowledge of the basics of the Georgian language, history and law. Also, an interview with the Citizenship Commission is required so that the Commission can establish a credible connection of the person with Georgia and determine whether there is an interest of the state in granting citizenship to this person.
It is also possible to obtain Georgian citizenship on other grounds:
· Under the regular procedure, if the foreigner has legally resided in Georgia for at least 10 years;
· Under a simplified procedure, if a person is married to a citizen of Georgia and has been legally residing in Georgia for at least 5 years;
· Under a special rule, if a person was born on the territory of Georgia, is not a citizen of another country, and Georgian citizenship has not been established;
· Granting citizenship to a minor, if the minor did not acquire Georgian citizenship by birth and one of his or her parents acquired Georgian citizenship.
To obtain citizenship on all these grounds, except for the exceptional way, that provides for dual citizenship, a person must pass a test in the basics of the Georgian language, history, and law and renounce the citizenship of another country.
Georgian citizenship can be acquired by the way of exception. To obtain citizenship under this ground, a foreigner must apply to the President of Georgia and request the granting of citizenship on one of the following grounds:
a) foreigner considers Georgia to be his homeland and his or her ancestor is a person who emigrated from the territory of Georgia at various times due to difficult political or economic conditions;
b) is a person who has been forcibly displaced from the occupied territory of Georgia or a descendant of such a person
When applying under these two grounds, it is necessary to pass a test in the knowledge of the basics of the Georgian language, history and law. Also, an interview with the Citizenship Commission is required so that the Commission can establish a credible connection of the person with Georgia and determine whether there is an interest of the state in granting citizenship to this person.
It is also possible to obtain Georgian citizenship on other grounds:
· Under the regular procedure, if the foreigner has legally resided in Georgia for at least 10 years;
· Under a simplified procedure, if a person is married to a citizen of Georgia and has been legally residing in Georgia for at least 5 years;
· Under a special rule, if a person was born on the territory of Georgia, is not a citizen of another country, and Georgian citizenship has not been established;
· Granting citizenship to a minor, if the minor did not acquire Georgian citizenship by birth and one of his or her parents acquired Georgian citizenship.
To obtain citizenship on all these grounds, except for the exceptional way, that provides for dual citizenship, a person must pass a test in the basics of the Georgian language, history, and law and renounce the citizenship of another country.
- Is it possible for a person to obtain dual Georgian citizenship without testing?
Yes, this is possible, although it is a very long and relatively complicated procedure.
To do this, a person must apply to the President of Georgia with a request for granting citizenship by the way of exception and indicate the following grounds for obtaining citizenship: foreigner is successful in any field of sports, art or science and wishes to continue his/her work on behalf of Georgia, or request citizenship on the grounds that foreigner has made a significant contribution to the development of the Georgian economy (made an investment).
However, before the President makes a decision, certain actions need to be taken.
1. The person must apply to the relevant ministry to receive a recommendation from it. The ministry will consider the person’s application and make a decision to issue or refuse to issue a recommendation, depending on how important and useful the person’s activity/investment is for the state.
2. After receiving the recommendation, the person applies to the State Services Development Agency with an application along with the recommendation received from the ministry.
3. The person will be interviewed by the Citizenship Commission, which will confirm his/her candidacy and forward a recommendation to the President. However, the person is exempt from testing.
4. The President will grant the person Georgian citizenship based on the Commission’s conclusion.
To do this, a person must apply to the President of Georgia with a request for granting citizenship by the way of exception and indicate the following grounds for obtaining citizenship: foreigner is successful in any field of sports, art or science and wishes to continue his/her work on behalf of Georgia, or request citizenship on the grounds that foreigner has made a significant contribution to the development of the Georgian economy (made an investment).
However, before the President makes a decision, certain actions need to be taken.
1. The person must apply to the relevant ministry to receive a recommendation from it. The ministry will consider the person’s application and make a decision to issue or refuse to issue a recommendation, depending on how important and useful the person’s activity/investment is for the state.
2. After receiving the recommendation, the person applies to the State Services Development Agency with an application along with the recommendation received from the ministry.
3. The person will be interviewed by the Citizenship Commission, which will confirm his/her candidacy and forward a recommendation to the President. However, the person is exempt from testing.
4. The President will grant the person Georgian citizenship based on the Commission’s conclusion.
- In what cases may a person lose Georgian citizenship and is it possible to restore it?
The grounds for losing Georgian citizenship are provided for by law. A person will lose Georgian citizenship if:
a) he/she enters the military service or the police or security service of another country without the permission of the competent authorities of Georgia;
b) he/she acquires Georgian citizenship by presenting false documents;
c) he/she acquires the citizenship of another country
The grounds provided for in paragraph "a" do not apply to persons who have acquired Georgian citizenship by the way of exception. Also, paragraph "c" does not apply to persons who have received consent from Georgia for this before acquiring the citizenship of another country.
If a person loses Georgian citizenship, person can restore the lost citizenship if his or her citizenship was terminated unlawfully (a mistake was made), he or she lost citizenship while was a minor, as a result of the choice of parents (for example, a minor acquired the citizenship of another country by the will of parents, as a result of which person lost Georgian citizenship), or foreigner renounced Georgian citizenship.
Also, until December 31, 2026, a temporary right is in effect that grants the right to restore Georgian citizenship to those persons who lost Georgian citizenship due to acquiring the citizenship of another country.
To restore Georgian citizenship, a person must pass a test in basics of Georgian language and apply to the President with an application.
a) he/she enters the military service or the police or security service of another country without the permission of the competent authorities of Georgia;
b) he/she acquires Georgian citizenship by presenting false documents;
c) he/she acquires the citizenship of another country
The grounds provided for in paragraph "a" do not apply to persons who have acquired Georgian citizenship by the way of exception. Also, paragraph "c" does not apply to persons who have received consent from Georgia for this before acquiring the citizenship of another country.
If a person loses Georgian citizenship, person can restore the lost citizenship if his or her citizenship was terminated unlawfully (a mistake was made), he or she lost citizenship while was a minor, as a result of the choice of parents (for example, a minor acquired the citizenship of another country by the will of parents, as a result of which person lost Georgian citizenship), or foreigner renounced Georgian citizenship.
Also, until December 31, 2026, a temporary right is in effect that grants the right to restore Georgian citizenship to those persons who lost Georgian citizenship due to acquiring the citizenship of another country.
To restore Georgian citizenship, a person must pass a test in basics of Georgian language and apply to the President with an application.
- What should a person do if acquired the citizenship of another country, but has not yet lost Georgian citizenship?
Many Georgian citizens found themselves in such a situation. Against the backdrop of the crisis of the 1990s, many Georgian citizens left Georgia and sought refuge in other countries in search of work and a better life. Over time, these individuals acquired the citizenship of another country, unaware that they were required to obtain prior consent from Georgia.
If Georgia learned of this fact before 2018 and terminated the person’s Georgian citizenship, the person is entitled to restore Georgian citizenship by passing a Georgian language test and applying to the President.
As for those who have not yet lost their Georgian citizenship, they have the right to apply to the State Services Development Agency by December 31, 2026 and request that their citizenship be maintained (i.e., that their Georgian citizenship not be terminated in the future).
The agency will receive the person’s application, after which, within a certain period of time, the person will be invited for an interview by the Citizenship Commission. The Commission will examine whether the person’s connection with Georgia is credible and determine the expediency of maintaining Georgian citizenship.
If, as a result of the Commission’s decision, a person is denied the right to maintain citizenship, after termination, person has the right to apply for the procedure of restoring Georgian citizenship.
If Georgia learned of this fact before 2018 and terminated the person’s Georgian citizenship, the person is entitled to restore Georgian citizenship by passing a Georgian language test and applying to the President.
As for those who have not yet lost their Georgian citizenship, they have the right to apply to the State Services Development Agency by December 31, 2026 and request that their citizenship be maintained (i.e., that their Georgian citizenship not be terminated in the future).
The agency will receive the person’s application, after which, within a certain period of time, the person will be invited for an interview by the Citizenship Commission. The Commission will examine whether the person’s connection with Georgia is credible and determine the expediency of maintaining Georgian citizenship.
If, as a result of the Commission’s decision, a person is denied the right to maintain citizenship, after termination, person has the right to apply for the procedure of restoring Georgian citizenship.
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MARIA GUSEINOVA
Leading Manager of Commercial Department
Leading Manager of Commercial Department