Georgian immigration law changed noticeably over 2025 and 2026. The state is tightening its oversight of foreign nationals and gradually bringing the rules closer to European regulatory standards.
One of the significant changes concerns the residence permit granted through property ownership: as of 1 March 2026, the minimum value of a property qualifying for a short-term residence permit has risen from USD 100,000 to USD 150,000.
Against this background, the investment residence permit with its USD 300,000 threshold becomes particularly attractive for anyone who sees Georgia not as a temporary place to live, but as a country for long-term investment and settlement. This status is granted for five years straight away and, provided the conditions set out in law are met, opens the way to permanent residence later on.
Below we look at where USD 300,000 can be invested, what is required of the investor and their assets, how the residence permit application works, and what routes to Georgian citizenship exist further down the line.
What an Investment of USD 300,000 Gives You in Georgia
Investment immigration is governed by the Georgian Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons and by Government Decree No. 520.
It is important to understand that buying property is not in itself grounds for obtaining Georgian citizenship. What is at stake here is solely an investment residence permit valid for five years.
To qualify for this permit, the market value of the property must exceed USD 300,000. What counts is not the price stated in the sale and purchase agreement, but the value of the property as confirmed by an appraiser. For an investment residence permit, therefore, the appraised value of the property must be more than USD 300,000, not merely equal to that figure.
Provided the statutory requirements are met, an investment residence permit subsequently opens the way to permanent residence in Georgia.
Where USD 300,000 Can Be Invested
The law provides for two main options: buying property or investing in a Georgian business. Each comes with its own requirements and particularities.
Buying Property
For most private investors this is the more straightforward route. There is no need to set up a company, run its day-to-day operations or confirm business turnover every year.
You can invest in both residential and commercial property: flats, apartments, villas, offices, hotel properties, warehouses and other premises. Land plots may also be acquired, provided they are non-agricultural. The purchase of agricultural land by foreign nationals in Georgia is restricted by law.
That said, when it comes to an investment residence permit, the amount you actually paid the seller is not the only thing that matters.
Market Value Counts, Not the Price in the Contract
This is one of the most important points to bear in mind while you are still choosing a property.
The state authorities go by the market value of the property as confirmed in a corresponding valuation report. Buying a flat for USD 300,000 does not in itself mean that the property will be appraised at exactly that figure.
The valuation must be carried out by a qualified specialist in line with the requirements of Georgian law. If the confirmed value falls below the required threshold, difficulties with the investment residence permit application will follow.
This is precisely why a property is best checked before the contract is signed and the money transferred, rather than after the deal has gone through.
Can You Buy More Than One Property?
Yes. An investor is not obliged to put the entire sum into a single flat, house or commercial unit.
You can build a portfolio of several properties – for example, buying a flat to live in yourself and a commercial unit to let out. What matters is that their combined confirmed value meets the investment threshold set by law.
Can You Sell the Property After Receiving the Permit?
Investment assets must be retained for the duration of the investment residence permit.
That does not mean the investor is tied to one specific property for good. The law allows assets to be replaced: one property may be sold and another acquired, provided the required level of investment is maintained.
In practice, transactions of this kind are best planned in advance with a lawyer, so that selling a property does not create a window during which the requirements of the investment residence permit formally cease to be met.
If you are planning to replace a property and are not sure how to structure the transaction correctly, you are always welcome to get in touch with us. The lawyers at PB Property will help you work through every detail and carry out the procedure in a way that preserves your residence status.
Investing in a Georgian Business
The second option is to invest in a Georgian company. This route suits those who intend not only to secure residence status, but also to build their own business in the country.
The fact of the investment must be documented. Among other things, an audit report prepared in accordance with the requirements of Georgian law is used for this purpose.
Unlike property, a one-off injection of money is not enough here. The company must carry on genuine economic activity and demonstrate the turnover required by law.
The minimum figures are:
- USD 50,000 in the first year;
- USD 100,000 in the second year;
- USD 120,000 per year for each of the following three years.
The business route therefore demands greater involvement from the investor and ongoing oversight. Failure to meet the prescribed figures may put the investment residence permit at risk.
How to Obtain an Investment Residence Permit in Georgia
To apply for this status, the investor must be in Georgia lawfully. Documents can be submitted through the Public Service Hall (House of Justice).
The exact set of documents depends on the chosen form of investment, but as a rule you will need:
- A foreign passport and confirmation of lawful stay in Georgia.
- Documents evidencing the investment. For a property purchase, an extract from the register and a valuation report; for a business investment, documents confirming the funds invested, including the relevant audit report.
- Recommendations or a petition as provided for by the investment residence permit procedure.
- Additional documents that the state authorities may request while reviewing the application.
In some cases a criminal record certificate or other information needed to vet the applicant may be required.
For that reason, it is better to check the current list of documents for your specific circumstances before filing, rather than relying solely on generic lists found online.
How Long the Process Takes
In 2026 there are several processing options, depending on the turnaround time you choose:
- 30 calendar days – GEL 300;
- 20 calendar days – GEL 450;
- 10 calendar days – GEL 600.
Once a positive decision has been issued, the corresponding residence card must be obtained. A separate state fee is charged for issuing it, the amount depending on how quickly it is produced.
What Happens After Five Years
The investment residence permit is designed from the outset for long-term residence in the country.
Over the five years, the investor must comply with the conditions set out in law and maintain the required level of investment. After that, the option of moving to permanent residence status becomes available.
Permanent residence and citizenship, however, are not the same thing. Obtaining permanent residence does not in itself make a person a citizen of Georgia. A separate procedure must be completed to obtain a passport.
Can the Investor’s Family Obtain a Residence Permit?
One of the advantages of the investment residence permit is that status can also be arranged for the investor’s family members.
Depending on the specific circumstances, this may extend to a spouse, children and other family members who meet the requirements of the law.
That makes it possible to view the investment programme not merely as a way of regularising one person’s status, but as the basis for a family’s long-term move to Georgia.
Taxes for Investors in Georgia
Alongside the conditions for obtaining a residence permit, tax obligations are an important consideration when buying property. Income connected with property in Georgia is treated as Georgian-source income, regardless of the owner’s tax residence.
For example, an individual’s income from letting residential property is taxed at 5%, provided the established conditions are met. On a sale, the length of ownership matters: in certain cases, after two years of ownership the income from the sale is exempt from tax.
The actual tax burden depends on the nature of the income and the owner’s circumstances, so it is best calculated on a case-by-case basis. This is especially relevant for investors who earn income in more than one country or who are planning to change their tax residence.
Why Property Valuation Matters So Much
Where the investment residence permit is obtained through a property purchase, an error in the valuation can prove expensive.
A buyer may in fact spend USD 300,000 or more, yet receive a report in which the market value of the property falls below the required threshold. As a result, the property will not meet the conditions for the chosen type of residence permit.
A professional valuation takes into account the characteristics of the property itself, its location and condition, comparable listings and transactions on the market, and other factors affecting its real value.
When buying property with an investment residence permit in mind, it is therefore important to check not only the legal cleanliness of the property and the terms of the contract, but also what value can officially be confirmed for immigration purposes.
Is It Worth Investing USD 300,000 for a Residence Permit in Georgia?
For an investor planning to live, run a business or hold assets in Georgia over the long term, the investment residence permit offers more than short-term status obtained through property.
A short-term permit has to be renewed regularly, and the market value of the property must exceed USD 150,000. For a five-year investment residence permit, the value of the property investment must exceed USD 300,000.
At the same time, there is no requirement to buy a single property worth more than USD 300,000. The necessary sum can be spread across several properties, since what counts is their combined market value as confirmed by an appraiser.
The choice between a short-term and an investment residence permit should rest not only on the amount invested, but also on the investor’s wider plans. For some, the priority will be buying one or more properties while keeping part of their capital free for other investments; for others, it will be living in Georgia long term with a view to permanent residence.
The best option therefore depends on the specific goal: buying property, relocating, preserving capital, obtaining permanent residence or building a business in Georgia.
Investing USD 300,000: The Bottom Line
An investment of USD 300,000 or more remains one of the most substantial instruments available to foreign nationals who are considering Georgia for long-term residence and capital investment.
An investor can choose property or business, obtain a five-year investment residence permit, arrange residence status for their family and, subject to compliance with the requirements of the law, move on to permanent residence in due course.
That said, an investment residence permit should not be confused with citizenship. If the ultimate goal is a Georgian passport, the strategy has to be built separately, taking into account the length and nature of residence in the country, the investments made and the possible grounds for naturalisation or for citizenship granted by way of exception.
If you still have questions about the investment residence permit in Georgia, buying property from USD 300,000, property valuation, permanent residence or the routes to citizenship that follow, the PB Property team will gladly help you work through the requirements and identify the option best suited to your objectives.
We can support you at every stage – from selecting and vetting a property to closing the transaction and preparing the documents for your residence status in Georgia.
