Georgia tightens immigration rules: controls, deportations, and data on foreigners

Georgia tightens immigration rules: controls, deportations, and data on foreigners

15 June , 2025

The Georgian government is discussing a package of amendments to the Criminal Code and the Administrative Code aimed at tightening immigration policy. The goal is to strengthen the fight against illegal migration and prevent abuse of the asylum system.

Main amendments:

Biometric control: import of photographs and fingerprints of detained non-residents, possibility of forced extraction of data in case of refusal.
Fines and deportation: increase in fines for violating the visa regime (from 1,000 to 3,000 GEL), expulsion for minor offenses (vandalism, disobeying the police, participating in demonstrations) with a re-entry ban for up to three years, and up to 20 years for serious crimes.
Criminal liability: inclusion of expulsion in the penalties of the Criminal Code: in the event of an offense, foreigners may be expelled and deprived of the right to re-enter the country.
Accelerated examination of asylum applications: applications may be examined at the border, without entering the country, if the applicant poses a threat to the state.

Deportation statistics:

In 2024, 430 foreigners were deported;
In the first quarter of 2025, 219, of whom 100 were deported in March alone.
In April 2025, 96 people, citizens of more than 20 countries, were expelled from the country.

How many foreigners are there in Georgia?

According to Geostat data for 2024, 135,811 people entered the country, including:

Russians: 23,574 new arrivals;
Ukrainians: 6,898;
Turkish citizens: 5,214;
India: 4,594;
Azerbaijan: 4,556;
Other countries: 25,487.

In addition, up to 100,000 Russians were in Georgia at the peak of the migration flow, of whom 60,000 remained and 30,000 left the country in 2023. According to estimates by the UN and migration centers, approximately 26,000 refugees live in Georgia, mainly Ukrainians, but also Syrians, Iraqis, Iranians, and Russians.

Georgia is tightening migration controls, introducing deportation with long-term bans, increasing fines, and speeding up the processing of applications. This is part of efforts to combat illegal migration and abuse of the asylum procedure.

However, the visa waiver remains in place and requirements for stays of up to one year are being simplified. Tens of thousands of foreigners, mainly from Russia and Ukraine, reside in the country, making the reforms both sensitive and controversial. The changes to migration legislation will have long-term consequences for both new arrivals and Georgia’s migration practices.

GEORGIA