Published: 25.06.2026
With certain exceptions, a Georgian residence permit cannot be issued on the basis of an ordinary C-category visa. Applicants must also be legally staying in Georgia; asylum seekers and people whose obligation to leave has been deferred are not treated as lawfully staying for residence-permit purposes.
According to the source, an ordinary short-term C visa cannot by itself support most residence-permit applications, so entering Georgia on such a visa does not replace having an appropriate immigration basis. The rule is particularly relevant to foreigners who plan to regularise a long-term stay after arrival, as well as asylum seekers and people with a deferred obligation to leave. In practice, it affects the choice of relocation route and the documents needed before applying. Anyone planning to seek residence after entering Georgia should pay attention to the legal basis of their current stay.