Foreign buyers have become the main driver of growth in Batumi’s residential real estate market: in April 2026, their share of apartment transactions reached 47%, approaching half of the total market. This confirms that Georgia’s largest Black Sea resort is increasingly transforming from a local housing market into an international investment hub.
According to data from the Recov.ge platform, 1,292 apartments were sold in Batumi in April 2026, which is 12.3% more than in April 2025, when 1,165 transactions were recorded. The total market volume for the month grew by 27.4% and reached $85 million.
This growth was accompanied by a noticeable increase in the price per square meter. The weighted average price in new Batumi developments rose by 11.3% year-over-year to $1,351 per square meter. Prices in the primary market rose by 15.2%, and in the secondary market by 9.4%. At the same time, demand is concentrated specifically in new and modern projects: sales in new developments rose by 12.3%, while interest in the existing housing stock declined by 5.4%.
The key driver of growth is foreign capital. Non-residents accounted for 90% of the net increase in the number of transactions in April. Leo Chikava, Head of Research and Data Analysis at Colliers Georgia, notes that the share of foreign buyers has remained stable in the range of 44–47% in recent months, and during certain periods, foreign buyers have already surpassed local buyers in terms of activity.
Batumi differs significantly from Tbilisi in terms of demand structure. In the Georgian capital, domestic buyers remain the main driving force of the market: according to Galt & Taggart, in a January survey of developers, Georgian buyers accounted for about 77% of primary sales in Tbilisi. In Batumi, the situation is reversed: foreign demand is much more significant, and the share of foreign buyers in the surveyed projects reached 52%.
Among the most active foreign buyers in Batumi are citizens of Israel, Russia, and EU countries, as well as buyers from Ukraine, Belarus, and other post-Soviet states. According to Global Property Guide, citing Galt & Taggart, in 2025, buyers from the EU and Israel each accounted for 13% of sales in the surveyed projects in Batumi, while buyers from Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus together accounted for 11%. The exact share of Ukrainians is not disclosed in this report.
In 2025, the Batumi market had already surpassed the $1 billion mark in total value of apartments sold, and the number of transactions reached 17,053, which is 14.7% more than the previous year.
For foreign buyers, Batumi remains attractive due to a combination of a relatively low entry price, its seaside location, a high proportion of new projects, rental potential, and a relatively lenient real estate purchase regime. Against this backdrop, the city competes not only with Tbilisi but also with resort markets in Turkey, Montenegro, Bulgaria, and Cyprus.
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.
