2018-05-10
"At today's Government meeting, the Ministry of Justice will present a package of legislative amendments seeking adopt additional mechanisms preventing illegal migration. These amendments introduce changes to the procedures for issuance of temporary residence permits to foreign nationals, and the reason for their development lies in the fact that is the abuse of the existing regulations by some foreign citizens-and they are not few in number at all, unfortunately," Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili stated during today's Government meeting.
The Prime Minister emphasized that this issue must be decided solely by the ruling team, and these amendments will serve to prevent abuse of law.
"A few days ago, we discussed this issue together with the Minister of Justice. Of course, this issue exceeds the prerogative of the Government alone and must be reviewed by the ruling team as a whole, and that is what we discussed. The meeting was attended by the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, the Interior Minister, and the Head of the State Security Service. In practice, there are cases when illegal aliens in Georgia formally request asylum and, at the same time, try to obtain a residence permit, or request in court to postpone their obligatory departure under the pretext of their participation in case proceedings, while afterward applying with the Service Development Agency to obtain a residence permit. In addition, they obtain short-term C category visas and then apply for residence permits. We are dealing with an innovative approach on their part, and said amendments will prevent and eliminate abuse of law," the Head of Government stated.
According to Kvirikashvili, the package of legislative amendments will increase the term for obtaining a permanent residence permit from 6 to 10 years, while increasing the term for obtaining temporary residence permits to 12 years (the maximal duration according to the current law is 6 years).
"The following regulation will be amended by the legislative changes. To obtain a permanent residence permit in Georgia, foreigners must have lived in the country for the past 10 years, as opposed to presently required 6 years. 12 years will be required for permanent residence permits, with also 6 years required presently. In addition, if foreign nationals have no motivation to settle in Georgia permanently, after the 6-year period, they will receive new temporary residence permits, instead of permanent residence permits," Giorgi Kvirikashvili said.
the Prime Minister thanked Justice Minister Thea Tsulukiani for preparing the package of legislative amendments in such a short period.
According to the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development is considering the issue of raising the 35,000 USD threshold on immovable property required for a short-term residence permit. As the Prime Minister pointed out, the Government will also reconsider the investment threshold.
"I would like to underscore that Georgia is open to tourism and investment, which is promoted by our liberal immigration legislation. In this regard, we will remain an open country, but this does not mean allowing people to employ innovative and twisted mechanisms to bypass the law, prolong their legal stay in the country, demand for they are not entitled to have, and so on. I believe it is necessary and important in many ways, so that qualified investors may enter Georgia, and that the country's security my be protected, and the like. I am sure that the Justice Minister will provide additional explanation on this issue. The discussion will further continue in the Parliament," the Head of Government emphasized.
Prime Minister's Press Office