The package of legislative amendments prepared by the government regarding foreign citizens has been introduced in the Parliament.

The amendments are being made to 18 laws, including: - the Law “On International Protection”, the Law “On the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons”, the Law “On International Cooperation in the Field of Criminal Justice”, the Law “On the Procedure for Registration of Georgian Citizens and Foreigners Living in Georgia, Issuance of Identity (Residence) Certificates and Passports of Citizens of Georgia”. Amendments are also made to the Law “On Police”, the “Code of Administrative Offenses”, the “Code of Criminal Justice” and other laws.

The legislative initiative was prepared by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. According to the ministry, the aim of the amendments is to combat illegal migration, prevent abuse of the asylum procedure, and refine the regulations related to granting international protection to a foreigner or stateless person.

According to the amendments submitted for consideration in the parliament:

. A new type of punishment is added to the Criminal Code - expulsion of a foreigner from Georgia and a ban on entering Georgia for a specified period;

. A new type of administrative penalty is added to the Administrative Offenses Code - expulsion of a foreigner from Georgia and a ban on entering Georgia;

. Fines are increased for those foreigners who have violated the rules of stay on the territory of Georgia;

. The procedure for expelling foreigners illegally staying in the country is simplified.

In addition, as the Ministry of Internal Affairs explains, in order to prevent abuse of the asylum procedure:

. An accelerated asylum review procedure will be introduced for foreigners who have not requested asylum within 1 month of entering the country;

. A new mechanism will be introduced, according to which, at the state border of Georgia, without allowing the alien to enter the territory of Georgia, asylum will be reviewed if the alien’s entry into the country poses a threat to state security;

. The terms for asylum review and appeal will be reduced;

. A simplified (electronic) procedure for submitting decisions will be introduced, which, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, will significantly facilitate the control of the appeal terms;

. The issuance of a residence permit in Georgia will be restricted to the foreigners in respect of whom the study of the issue of expulsion has been initiated or a decision has been made to expel them from Georgia.

The package of legislative amendments has been submitted to parliamentary committees for consideration.