The Georgian government is moving forward with significant amendments to its immigration laws, aiming to curb illegal migration and prevent misuse of the asylum system. Proposed changes to the Criminal and Administrative Codes focus on enhanced biometric controls, harsher penalties, and faster processing of asylum applications.
Key measures include:
Biometric Controls: Mandatory collection of photographs and fingerprints from detained non-residents, with authorities authorized to forcibly obtain data if refused.
Fines and Deportations: Fines for visa violations will triple, rising from 1,000 to 3,000 Georgian Lari (GEL). Minor offenses such as vandalism, resisting police, or participating in protests may lead to deportation and a re-entry ban of up to three years. Serious crimes carry deportation with a ban lasting up to 20 years.
Criminal Liability: Deportation will be codified as a penalty for criminal offenses, allowing authorities to expel foreigners and restrict re-entry upon conviction.
Accelerated Asylum Processing: Applications may be reviewed at the border without entering Georgia, especially if the applicant poses a threat to national security.
Recent deportation statistics reveal heightened enforcement: 430 foreigners were expelled in 2024; in the first quarter of 2025, 219 were deported, with 100 in March alone. In April 2025, 96 individuals from over 20 countries faced deportation.
According to 2024 data from Geostat, Georgia saw 135,811 foreign arrivals, including 23,574 Russians, 6,898 Ukrainians, 5,214 Turkish citizens, 4,594 Indians, and 4,556 Azerbaijanis. At the height of migration flows, around 100,000 Russians resided in Georgia, with 60,000 remaining by 2023. The UN estimates approximately 26,000 refugees currently live in Georgia, predominantly Ukrainians, alongside Syrians, Iraqis, Iranians, and Russians.
While visa waivers remain intact and stay requirements for up to one year have been simplified, these legislative reforms mark a toughening of Georgia’s immigration policies. The measures aim to balance national security concerns with humanitarian obligations but also carry significant implications for the country’s diverse foreign population and migration management.
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