Georgia Announces Stricter Migration Rules for International Students, Fictitious Marriages
Georgia’s Interior Ministry announced on June 8 new legislative amendments tightening migration rules, introducing language requirements for international students, “maximum quotas” for educational institutions in admitting foreign students, as well as criminalizing migration-related fictitious marriages between Georgian and foreign citizens, among other measures.
According to the Interior Ministry, the new initiative “responds to modern migration challenges and aims to establish a more efficient, transparent, and secure system for regulating the presence of foreign nationals in Georgia.” The amendments are set to be adopted under the country’s Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons and related legislation.
The initiative follows the Georgian Dream government’s crackdown on illegal migration, including pledges to “free” the country of illegal migrants amid continued reports of expulsions. It also follows other anti-migration measures, including tightened labor laws for foreigners, with certain exemptions, including restrictions on working in courier and taxi services. Under ongoing controversial education reforms, Georgia is also moving to restrict the access of foreign students to public universities.
Changes to Foreign Student Rules
The Interior Ministry said the amendments include “additional requirements” for the admission of foreign students to higher and vocational education institutions in Georgia, arguing that the current legal framework “does not provide detailed regulations” regarding their studies and that, “in practice, there are cases in which foreign nationals are formally enrolled at universities, but their participation in the academic process is not actually confirmed.”
According to the ministry, such additional requirements would include “the submission of an international language certificate and/or passing a foreign language or state language examination organized by the National Assessment and Examinations Center (NAEC),” as well as setting a “maximum quota for the admission of foreign students” for educational institutions.
The ministry added that educational institutions will also be required to enter information on foreign students into what it described as a “unified information system,” including their admission eligibility, enrollment, suspension, termination or restoration of student status, mobility, completion of studies, and “other information,” to which “appropriate state agencies will have access.”
“Educational institutions will face administrative liability for violations of the rules for recording foreign students, and sanctions may include both a fine and restrictions on the admission of foreign students and revocation of authorization,” the ministry warned.
The legislative amendments will also regulate issues related to student residence permits, the Interior Ministry noted, saying that such permits will be issued to adults “studying at an authorized higher or vocational education institution.” The amendments will also establish grounds for revoking such permits, “including if the student fails to meet academic requirements, violates conditions of employment, or is not actually present on the territory of Georgia for the period defined by law.”
Criminalizing Fictitious Marriages
The amendments will introduce a new type of residence permit to be issued to the spouses of Georgian citizens until a person acquires a permanent residence permit. Such a permit will be preceded by a check of the authenticity of the marriage by a special commission, the ministry said.
The legislative amendments will criminalize “fictitious marriages” between a Georgian citizen and a foreign citizen “for the purpose of obtaining Georgian citizenship, a residence permit in Georgia, or another legal basis for lawful stay in Georgia,” the ministry said, adding that penalties will include deportation of a foreign national and a reentry ban for a period of two to ten years, or a fine, or house arrest for one to two years, or imprisonment for up to two years.
The legislative package also provides for the replacement of the unserved portion of a foreign convicted person with deportation from Georgia and a ban on entry to the country, the ministry added.
“For the purpose of combating, preventing, and suppressing illegal migration, the legislative amendments will grant the Migration Department of the Interior Ministry of Georgia the authority to conduct operational-search activities,” the ministry said.
The amendments would also introduce “significant changes” to court proceedings. “Specifically, appeal deadlines will be shortened, expedited timelines for case hearings will be established, and in certain cases, proceedings may be conducted without oral hearings,” the ministry said.
Also Read:
- 02/07/2025 – Georgian Dream Grants Interior Ministry Authority to Inspect Foreigners’ Homes, Workplaces
- 23/04/2025 – Amendments to Laws Relating to Foreign Nationals Initiated in Rump Parliament
- 19/03/2024 – Citing labor shortages, Georgian businesses eye employing migrant workers