Georgia Raises the Real Estate Investment Threshold for Temporary Residence Permits

Georgia is resetting the price of entry for residency through property. From March 1, 2026, the country raises the real estate investment threshold required for a temporary residence permit (TRP). The pathway itself isn’t new. Since 2019, foreign nationals have used real estate as a straightforward way to secure legal temporary residence in Georgia.

The steps remain uncomplicated: purchase non-agricultural property, obtain a certified independent market valuation, and receive a one-year temporary residence permit. No procedural surprises, no added layers — just a higher financial floor.

What hasn’t changed is the family logic. One investment still works for more than one person. The main applicant can include a spouse and minor children under the same property purchase. The design clearly favors investors who want legal status without being tied down — no minimum days inside the country, no language exams, no pressure to rearrange daily life. Residency here is administrative, not behavioral.

Georgia Raises the Property Investment Requirement for Residence Permits From 2026

From 2026 onward, a one-year temporary residence permit in Georgia through property ownership requires proof of real estate worth at least USD 150,000. The previous threshold — USD 100,000, unchanged since 2019 — is officially retired.

The valuation rule matters more than it looks at first glance. The threshold applies to the combined market value of all properties owned, not to a single purchase. Investors can assemble the required amount across several assets, as long as each property is properly registered and assessed by an accredited appraisal body. This keeps the door open for portfolio buyers rather than forcing everyone into one high-ticket acquisition just to qualify for obtaining Georgian residence through real estate investment.

Beyond property-based permits, Georgia keeps another option active: the Investor Residence Permit, starting from USD 300,000. This route grants the main applicant, their spouse, and children under 18 a five-year temporary residence permit. It accepts multiple investment formats, including real estate, and shortens the timeline to permanent residence eligibility to five years, instead of the standard ten.

There’s also a separate track emerging outside the investment logic. From September 2025, Georgia introduces a three-year residence permit for IT specialists. The focus here is professional profile, not capital — at least two years of experience and annual income above USD 25,000. A different doorway, built for skills rather than assets.

New Rules for Obtaining a Georgia Residence Permit in 2026: Where the Threshold Now Sits

Georgia is reshaping how property-based residence permits work, and this shift is part of a wider rethink, not a standalone tweak. Officials point to a long-running imbalance: more foreigners entering the country than formally registering their stay. In the government’s view, that gap quietly fed informal employment and made enforcement harder. Raising the investment threshold became a tool to restore visibility and control, not a symbolic gesture.

Despite the tighter frame, obtaining a residence permit in Georgia through property ownership remains one of the more straightforward legal routes. Applicants are required to submit certified property valuations issued by organizations accredited by Georgia’s Unified National Accreditation Body. The residence permit applies to the property owner and extends to eligible family members.

Compared to work-based residence permits, the difference is obvious. Employment routes demand layers of paperwork — contracts, payroll data, company turnover figures. For a Georgia residence permit via real estate, there’s no income test at all, aside from confirming ownership. At the same time, the state keeps its guard up: sell the property or let its total market value fall below the threshold, and the permit can be withdrawn.

Georgia Residence Permit Through Real Estate Investment: What Changes in 2026

Beginning in 2026, it will cost more to get a Georgia residence pass through real estate investment. The minimum requirement goes up from USD 100,000 to USD 150,000, which is based on how much all of the applicant's properties are worth on the market. The structure stays the same: an investor, their spouse, and their minor children can all get a renewable one-year residence pass. There are no minimum stay requirements and no language tests.

Eligibility is confirmed through official market valuations issued by accredited organizations. If the property is sold, or if its market value drops below the required level, the residence permit may be revoked.