Residence permit in Georgia through buying property: 150 000 dollar threshold, valuation, documents, renewal

Residence permit in Georgia through buying property: the 2026 terms

A residence permit in Georgia through buying property can, from 1 March 2026, be obtained by the owner of non-agricultural property with a market value above 150 000 US dollars. The value is taken from an accredited appraiser's report, not from the price in the agreement. The permit is short-term: it is issued for 1 year and renewed annually while the property remains yours. Those who obtained a permit under the old threshold of 100 000 dollars renew it on the previous terms. The main mistake buyers make is choosing an apartment by price, only for the appraiser to give a figure below the threshold. So we order the valuation for a residence permit before the deposit.

Which property qualifies

According to lawyers' explanations, the threshold can be reached with several properties if their total valuation is above 150 000 dollars. We look at an apartment in a building under construction for a residence permit with one question: when ownership of it will be registered in your name. Until then there is no ownership extract, and without it the application will not be accepted. More about completion and registration timing on the developer payment plan page.

The accredited appraiser's valuation

A residence permit requires a recent report from an accredited appraiser on market value. The appraiser looks at the apartment or house itself, the view, floor, condition and sales of similar properties nearby. Their figure can turn out lower than the developer's list price, especially in new builds, where the price is set with a margin for instalments. If the deal price is close to the threshold, we bring in the appraiser before the deposit: the valuation may come in below 150 000 dollars, and then the property will not do for a residence permit. The lari to dollar rate also matters: the valuation is given in lari, while the threshold is counted in dollars.

Documents for the application

• a passport;
• a Public Registry extract showing your ownership;
• an accredited appraiser's report on market value;
• a photo meeting the Public Service Hall's requirements;
• proof of family relationship in Georgian or with a translation, if the permit is for your family;
• a receipt for payment of the state fee.

Documents issued abroad must have an apostille or consular legalisation and a notarised translation into Georgian. A passport with Latin transliteration is usually accepted without translation. If the documents are made in your country, the procedure is the same as with a power of attorney; more on the power of attorney transaction page.

Filing and review

The application is filed in person at the Public Service Hall, before your lawful period of stay in Georgia ends. The state fee depends on the review period: the faster you need a decision, the higher it is. After the decision, the residence card is produced separately, and its timing also depends on payment. If the application contains an error or a document is missing, the review may be suspended, so we check the package before filing. On refusal, you can appeal the decision in court or apply again after fixing the reason.

Renewal and family

A residence permit through property is issued for a year, and each year it is renewed again. It is better to apply for renewal in advance, before the card expires. We check the renewal terms before every application: the rules already changed in 2026 and may change again. If you have sold the property or its value has fallen below the threshold, there is no longer a basis for the permit. A spouse and minor children, according to lawyers' explanations, can obtain a permit on the same basis; this requires marriage or birth documents with a translation.

If your permit was obtained under the 100 000 dollar threshold

For those who obtained a permit before 1 March 2026 under the 100 000 dollar threshold, the new threshold is no obstacle: they renew on the previous terms while the property remains in their ownership. If you sell that apartment and buy another, it is a new basis, and the 150 000 dollar threshold applies to it. So we discuss changing apartments before the deal, with a calculation of whether the permit will be kept.

What a residence permit gives and what it does not

A residence permit lets you live in Georgia without a limit on your period of stay while it is valid. By itself it does not make you a Georgian tax resident: tax residence is counted by the days spent in the country. A residence permit is not needed to buy an apartment, open a bank account or let a home; foreigners do all of this without one. A bank account is not required for the permit, but it makes paying utilities and taxes easier; more on the opening a bank account in Georgia page. The owner's taxes are the same as for any owner; more on the property tax in Georgia page.

How much residence permit support costs

Residence permit through property support, with preparing documents, translations, booking and filing at the Public Service Hall, costs from 840 ₾, excluding the state fee. Valuation by an accredited appraiser from 330 ₾, arranging the power of attorney, apostille and translations from 390 ₾, help opening a bank account from 360 ₾, a real estate lawyer consultation of up to an hour from 155 ₾. The final cost is set after reviewing your situation and agreeing the scope of work.