Under current legislation, marriage to a Georgian citizen is sufficient grounds for a person to obtain permanent residency. Today, nearly 30,000 foreign nationals hold permanent residency in Georgia, and oversight mechanisms in this area have been very weak, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia Aleksandre Darakhvelidze told journalists.

According to him, a new article has been added to the Criminal Code that criminalizes fictitious marriages when the purpose is to obtain the right to reside legally in the country.

Darakhvelidze explained the legislative amendments on illegal migration currently submitted to Parliament.

“We have presented Parliament with important changes concerning illegal migration. This is already the second phase of reforms. As you may recall, significant amendments were introduced last year. Those changes have already produced positive results, and the public regularly sees illegal foreign nationals being expelled from Georgia after using various mechanisms to remain in the country for extended periods.

The second package continues the reforms we began last year. This time, the legislation governing the issuance of residence permits has been reviewed. At present, nearly 35,000 educational residence permits have been issued to foreign citizens. In practice, cases have emerged where such permits were used not for studying, but simply as a means of remaining in the country long-term.

These amendments are designed to ensure that genuine students who are actually studying and using their permits for the intended purpose will face no obstacles. However, strict regulations will apply to individuals who use student residence permits merely as a way to remain in Georgia for extended periods.

Another issue concerns fictitious marriages. Under the current legislation, marriage to a Georgian citizen is enough for a person to receive permanent residency. Today, around 30,000 foreign nationals have obtained permanent residency in Georgia. Oversight mechanisms in this area have been very weak. Many countries face fraudulent schemes involving sham marriages used to obtain residency rights.

A specific mechanism is now being introduced. If a foreign national marries a Georgian citizen and applies for a residence permit, they will be required to attend an interview with a commission. If the commission believes there are grounds to doubt the authenticity of the marriage, the documentation will be forwarded to investigative authorities.

As you know, a new article has been added to the Criminal Code that makes fictitious marriages punishable when their purpose is to obtain the right to reside legally in the country. This mechanism will include maximum safeguards. Only those who genuinely need such documentation will receive the right to live in Georgia, and it will no longer be possible for foreign nationals to remain in the country long-term when the law does not provide for such a right,” Darakhvelidze stated.