Georgia is overhauling its migration laws in one of the most significant legal reforms in years, introducing criminal penalties for fake marriages, tighter controls on foreign students and expanded investigative powers for the migration authorities.
The draft amendments, prepared by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in coordination with the justice and education ministries, aim to close what officials says are long-standing gaps in the laws regarding foreign nationals in the country.
One of the more immediate changes targets foreign students. Under the current system, there is no reliable way to verify whether enrolled students are actually attending classes; the ministry acknowledges that some foreign nationals have used university enrollment simply as a route into the country.
The proposed fix requires foreign students to submit an internationally recognised language certificate or sit an exam administered by the National Assessment and Examinations Center before being admitted to higher education or vocational programmes. Universities would also be required to log enrollment status, suspensions, academic mobility and course completion into a unified state information system accessible to relevant authorities.
Institutions that fail to comply could face fines, restrictions on admitting foreign students or the loss of their authorisation altogether.
Perhaps the most eye-catching part of the package is the proposed criminalisation of fake marriages between Georgian citizens and foreign nationals for the purpose of obtaining residency, citizenship or any other legal status in Georgia.
If passed, those found guilty could face deportation with a re-entry ban of between two and 10 years, a fine, house arrest for up to two years or imprisonment for the same period.
In this case, a new category of residence permit specifically for spouses of Georgian citizens would be created, and a dedicated commission would be established to verify the authenticity of marriages before permits are issued.
The amendments also tighten the rules around student residence permits, limiting them to adults enrolled at authorised institutions. A student's legal stay could be terminated if they fail to meet academic requirements, breach employment conditions or are found to have not been physically present in Georgia for the period required by law.
In a significant expansion of state authority, the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs would be granted the power to conduct operational and investigative activities, strengthening its ability to act against illegal migration rather than simply processing paperwork.
Court procedures related to migration cases would also be accelerated, with shorter appeal deadlines, faster case reviews and the option to decide certain cases without oral hearings.
Officials stress the reforms were developed in close coordination across three ministries and are designed to bring Georgian migration law closer to internationally recognised standards.
The amendments are yet to pass through parliament.
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