Georgia’s residential real estate market maintained moderate growth in the first quarter of 2026. According to the National Statistics Service of Georgia, the housing price index rose by 1.8% quarter-over-quarter and by 3% year-over-year. Since 2020, the cost of residential real estate in the country has increased by 62.3%.
Apartments saw the most significant price increases. In the first quarter, apartment prices rose by 2% quarter-over-quarter and 3.3% year-over-year, while private homes increased by 1.1% and 1.8%, respectively. This indicates more stable demand specifically for the apartment segment, particularly in the capital.
The highest prices continue to be recorded in the prestigious districts of Tbilisi. Among apartments, Mtatsminda leads with an average price of about $2,542 per square meter, followed by Vake at about $2,222, and Krtsanisi at about $1,662 per square meter. In the single-family home segment, the most expensive districts are Mtatsminda at around $1,803 per square meter, Vake at $1,679, and Didube at $1,582 per square meter.
For buyers of new construction, the stage of completion remains an important factor. According to the publication, average asking prices in the first quarter were approximately $1,639 per square meter for “green frame” apartments, $1,343 per square meter for “white frame” apartments, and $1,239 per square meter for “black frame” apartments. However, the source itself notes that these are asking prices on popular online platforms, not final transaction prices.
Overall, the new data confirms that the Georgian housing market continues to grow, albeit without sharp spikes. The main driver is the capital, and above all, high-quality urban housing in Tbilisi’s expensive neighborhoods, where prices have already noticeably exceeded $2,200 per square meter.
According to a survey conducted in March 2026 by the research firm Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center, Ukrainians’ attitudes toward Georgia are predominantly positive, with only minor changes compared to the previous period. The overall share of positive assessments stands at 57.3%, which is slightly higher than in August 2025 (56.3%). At the same time, the level of negative perception has decreased from 10.7% to 9.8%, indicating a gradual softening of critical assessments.
The structure of positive attitudes is fairly balanced: 19.3% of respondents chose “completely positive,” while another 38.0% selected “mostly positive.” This indicates the presence of both emotionally strong and rationally restrained positive perceptions of the country. At the same time, the share of neutral assessments remains significant—31.7%—which indicates a moderate level of engagement or awareness among Ukrainians regarding Georgia.
Negative assessments are relatively limited. The share of those with a “mostly negative” attitude stands at 8.2%, while “completely negative” accounts for only 1.6%. This results in an overall low level of critical perception of the country against the backdrop of a predominantly positive or neutral image.
The dynamics of change between August 2025 and March 2026 are insignificant, indicating the stability of perceptions of Georgia within Ukrainian society. A slight increase in positive assessments and a simultaneous decrease in negative ones may indicate a gradual strengthening of the country’s positive image; however, these changes are not dramatic.
The high proportion of neutral responses, combined with a moderately high level of positive sentiment, suggests that Ukrainians perceive Georgia as a friendly country that does not dominate the public or media sphere. This distinguishes it from states with a more pronounced emotional or political influence, where the share of positive or negative assessments is more concentrated.
Thus, Georgia maintains a stable positive image in Ukraine, based on a combination of a friendly attitude and moderate distance. Further changes in perception will likely depend on the intensity of bilateral contacts, media presence, and the political context of interaction between the countries.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, Georgia ranks 45th in total trade volume with Ukraine as of December 31, 2025, with a figure of $386.7 million. At the same time, Ukraine has a trade surplus with Georgia of $194.1 million, as exports of Ukrainian goods significantly exceed imports.
The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press center; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found at this link on the Experts Club analytical center’s website.
ACTIVE GROUP, EXPERTS CLUB, GEORGIA, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, SURVEY, UKRAINE, URAKIN
On April 15, the Georgian Parliament passed a law in its third reading to introduce a new C5 visa category; the text of the law, published in the Official Gazette, stipulates that it takes effect upon publication.
The new C5 visa will be a multiple-entry short-term visa valid for up to 5 years, granting the holder the right to stay in Georgia for up to 1 year. The visa is intended for foreigners visiting the country for tourism purposes and who are permitted to work only on behalf of a non-resident, provided such work is related to that non-resident’s employment outside Georgia. In essence, this establishes a legal framework for remote work for foreign companies or clients.
The law also explicitly provides for the extension of this visa to the spouse and minor children of the primary applicant. Additionally, the regulations allow for expedited processing of applications by separate government decision.
For the C5 visa and its electronic version via a special website, a fee range of $20 to $500 has been established, but the specific amount must be further determined by a resolution of the Georgian government.
According to the drafters of the law, the new visa is intended as a tool to attract high-income, low-risk foreigners from “safe countries.”
Ukraine ranked 9th among the countries whose citizens most often came to Georgia in 2025 – 136,826 visits (an increase of 15.4% to 2024), follows from the data of the National Tourism Administration of Georgia.
In total, Georgia recorded 6,856,809 international visits in 2025 (plus 6.2% to 2024). The leader was Russia with 1,579,764 visits, or about 23% of the total (plus 11.1%).
Turkey, Armenia, Israel, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, India and China were also in the top 10 source countries of tourist flow (international visits).
Georgia from January 1, 2026 introduces a mandatory requirement of medical insurance for all foreign citizens crossing the border of the country. This is reported by the National Tourism Administration of Georgia and local media with reference to the updated Law on Tourism.
From this date, foreign tourists must have a medical and accident insurance policy in Georgian or English upon entry. The document must be valid from the moment of crossing the border and cover the entire period of stay in Georgia.
According to explanations of insurance companies and tour operators, the minimum parameters of coverage include payment for emergency outpatient services for at least 5 thousand dollars and inpatient treatment for at least 30 thousand dollars, including risks of accidents, injuries, sudden illnesses, medical evacuation and repatriation. A number of materials also mention the benchmark of the minimum sum insured at the level of GEL 30 thousand equivalent, but in the market for non-residents the benchmark of USD 30 thousand is used as a basic benchmark.
In case of absence of a valid policy, a fine of 300 GEL (about $110) is envisaged, and the border guard at its discretion can either offer to issue insurance on the spot or refuse entry. The new rules apply to all foreign citizens, regardless of citizenship and mode of entry, Georgian and international media emphasize.
Tour operators note that the greatest practical significance of the innovation will be for independent travelers who book flights and accommodation without package tours.
The Georgian authorities are carrying out a large-scale reform of migration legislation, which provides for tighter control over the legality of foreigners’ residence, the creation of a database of violators and the introduction of mandatory work permits from 1 March 2026.
Since 1 October 2025, the relevant ministry has been keeping a special register of foreigners who are or have previously been in the country illegally. State authorities have been given the right to request extended biometric data (including fingerprints and palm prints) and to carry out checks in private premises – residential buildings and workplaces – if there is a suspicion of a violation of the residence regime.
Complaints about the refusal to issue a residence permit or a decision on deportation will not automatically suspend the execution of such decisions. The new monitoring procedures apply to the main categories of residence permits – for work, business, study and property ownership.
A separate type of residence permit is being introduced for IT specialists: applicants must have at least two years of documented relevant experience and an annual income of at least $25,000. Such residence permits are issued for three years with the possibility of extension up to 12 years.
From 1 March 2026, foreigners will generally require a valid work permit to work in the country. Experts recommend that foreign citizens and employers prepare a package of documents in advance – employment contracts, proof of income, certificates of no criminal record – and strictly comply with the conditions of already issued residence permits, as violations can lead to additional checks, fines, deportation and refusals to extend status.
According to data from the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat), in 2024, foreigners made up about 6.6% of the country’s population, or about 250,000 people, while in 2014 there were only about 22,000 (0.6% of the population). Research by ISET-PI and other think tanks shows that in 2015–2024, the largest net immigration inflows came from citizens of Russia (about 97,000 people), Ukraine (about 27,000) and Azerbaijan (about 14,000), with significant groups also coming from Turkey, India and Belarus.
Analysts note that further tightening of the migration regime could lead to a partial outflow of relocants and their families to other jurisdictions with more predictable rules – primarily to EU countries with active programmes for IT and start-ups (Portugal, Spain, Germany, the Czech Republic), as well as to destinations already popular with people from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus: Serbia, Montenegro, Armenia, Kazakhstan and the UAE. According to consultants, the key factors when choosing a country for relocation are the transparency of residence permit and work permit procedures, the availability of housing and political stability.
