Living in Georgia
Information forabout British citizens moving toto, living or livingretiring in Georgia,Georgia – including guidancevisas, onworking, residency, healthcare and driving.
- From:
- Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
- Published
- 20 November 2013
- Last updated
-
2022AugustDecember20242025 — See all updates
This
Getting guidehelp setswith outliving essentialin informationGeorgia
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For any questions about moving to or living in Georgia.Georgia, Readyou aboutmay howbe Britishable Embassyto Tbilisiget canhelp help.from the:
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Help abroadfrom and how the FCDOUK can help if you do get into difficulty.government
Read generalthe guidancetravel onadvice movingfor or retiring abroadGeorgia.
To stay up to date:understand follow the Britishrisks Embassyyou Tbilisimay onface Facebookif andyou Twitter.
Beforelive youin go
Seeor ourvisit GeorgiaGeorgia. travelThis adviceincludes forthe up-to-datelatest information onon:
- visas and entry
requirements,localrequirements - laws and
customs,cultural differences - safety and
emergencies.security
IfRead youour areguidance planningon tomoving, commissionliving surrogacyor arrangementsretiring inabroad.
Get Georgia,help seefrom Surrogacythe sectionUK ingovernment ourabroad, Georgiaincluding Travelin Advicean emergency.
VisasVisas, residency and residencycitizenship
CheckMake sure you meet the entry requirements for Georgia inbefore ouryou travel advice.travel.
Visas and residence permits
British nationals can enter and stay in Georgia aswithout visitors,a visa-freevisa for up to 365 days.days. This Thisapplies is the case whether enteringyou Georgiavisit for tourismtourism, orto for work or to study.
If you willplan to work or study in Georgia, afteryou enteringmust theapply countryfor youa shouldresidence applypermit. forYou thecan relevantdo permitthis at theyour nearest Public Service Hall (in Georgian), ,after whichyou providesarrive thein servicesGeorgia. ofRead guidance on:
- migration and residence permits, from the Georgian Public Service Development Agency
-
residence
underpermits, from theMinistryofEuropeanJusticeofGeorgia.Commission
IfFor youmore exceedinformation, read the 365Georgian daygovernment’s periodvisa asinformation aor visitor,contact includingthe ifGeorgian youMinistry areof workingForeign orAffairs.
Registering studyingas buta resident
Once you have notyour obtainedresidence thepermit, appropriateyou permitneed to resideregister your address in Georgia forand longer,get youa couldresidence becard. finedTo iffind theout authoritieshow haveto reasondo tothis, checkcontact your immigrationlocal statusPublic duringService yourHall stay,(in orGeorgian).
If atyou thehave timeany ofproblems or questions about registering your departureaddress fromand Georgia.getting a residence card, contact:
Find
- your
additionallocalinformationPubliconServicevisasHallfrom(intheGeorgian) - an
GeorgianEnglish-speakingMinistrylawyerofinForeignAffairs.Georgia
PassportsPermanent and travel
residency
You canmay applybe forable orto renewapply yourfor Britishpermanent passportresidency fromin Georgia.Georgia.
CheckTo find out if you’re eligible and how to apply, read about permanent residence permits in the GeorgiaGeorgian TravelPublic AdviceService forDevelopment passportAgency’s validityguidance requirements.on migration and residence permits.
Citizenship
YourGeorgia Britishgenerally passportdoes shouldnot beallow validdual forcitizenship. theThis proposedmeans durationthat ofyou may have to give up (renounce) your intendedBritish staycitizenship into Georgia.become Ana additionalGeorgian periodcitizen.
To offind validityout beyondif thisyou’re iseligible notfor required.Georgian Readcitizenship:
- read
moretheinformationOrganiconLawentryofandGeorgiaresidenceonrequirementsGeorgian citizenship - contact
fromyourthelocalMinistryPublicofServiceForeignHallAffairs(in Georgian) - contact the Embassy of
Georgia.
LondonHealthcareGeorgia inGeorgia
Help with visa, residency and citizenship applications
ThereThe isBritish noEmbassy reciprocalin healthcareTbilisi agreementcannot betweenhelp Georgiawith andGeorgian Unitedvisa, Kingdom.residency or citizenship applications.
YouFor cannotany registerquestions foror issues, contact:
- the
nationalConsularhealthcareandsystemDiasporainDepartmentGeorgiaofwhethertheyouGeorgianareMinistryvisitingoforForeignresidingAffairs - the
inEmbassyGeorgia,ofthereforeGeorgiayouinmustLondon - an
ensureEnglish-speakingyoulawyerhaveinprivateGeorgia
Passports healthcareand cover.travel
FindRead aour listguidance ofon medicalmoving, facilitiesliving inor Georgiaretiring abroad. This covers how to:
UK
- apply
TravelforinsuranceaprovidersBritishwillpassportnotfromgenerallyabroad - travel
coverurgently without yourhealthcareBritishcostspassport
Dual ifcitizens youtravelling liveto overseas.the UK
IfWhen youtravelling areto planningthe toUK, commissionBritish surrogacycitizens arrangementsmust incarry Georgia,a see thevalid SurrogacyBritish passport sectionor certificate of ourentitlement. GeorgiaRead travelguidance adviceon dual citizenship.
Medicine
Healthcare in Georgia
IfRead youour areguidance on anymoving, prescriptionliving medicationor youretiring shouldabroad. ensureThis youcovers how to:
- plan your healthcare
- take medicine abroad
Georgia does not have a supplyreciprocal ofhealth itagreement orwith arethe ableUK.
Make tosure obtainyou ithave whenappropriate inhealth Georgia.insurance Certainto medicinescover mayany nothealthcare becosts. availableYou incan Georgiaget (includinginsurance majorfrom brandsGeorgian readilyor availableinternational inproviders. theYou UK),cannot andregister youfor maythe benational prohibitedhealthcare fromsystem takingin themGeorgia.
To intofind theout country.how Youto shouldget consultmedical treatment:
- contact your
GPinsurancebeforeprovider - read
travellingguidancetoonGeorgiahealthtoin Georgia - find
outEnglish-speakingaboutmedicalanyfacilitiesalternativeformedication.British nationals in Georgia
Surrogacy
ReadIf theyou plan to commission a surrogate in Georgia, read our guidance ifon yousurrogacy needin tosafety and security in the travel withadvice medicinesfor Georgia.
Working in Georgia
IfRead youour areguidance planningon tomoving, moveliving toor Georgiaretiring forabroad. work,This covers working abroad, including documents you canmay enterneed Georgiafrom withoutthe UK government.
To work in Georgia, you need a visawork butpermit. shouldYou can apply for workthis permit at theyour nearest Public Service Hall.Hall Information(in Georgian) after you arrive in Georgia. Read more about work permits is given in Article 5 of the Government of Georgia Ordinance on Residence Permits.
Before making your application please check at the Public Service Hall what supporting documents you will need to provide.
To apply for a jobjob, you may need to provide a UK police certificate.
YouFor can more information, read informationthe:
- Georgian
aboutgovernment’s guidance on labour and employment policy in Georgiafrom - Labour
theCodeMinistryofInternallyGeorgia
Recognition Displacedof Personsqualifications
If fromyou thewant Occupiedto Territories,work Labour,in HealthGeorgia, andyou Socialmay Affairsneed ofto Georgia.
Read guidanceget onyour recognitionforeign of education and professional qualifications recognised.
StudyingDriving in Georgia
IfRead youour areguidance planningon tomoving, moveliving toor Georgiaretiring toabroad. study,This youcovers canhow enterto:
- drive
Georgiaabroadwithoutlegally - take
ayourvisaUKbutvehicleshouldabroad - get
applydrivingforlicencealetters
You studycan permitdrive atin theGeorgia nearestusing Publica Servicevalid Hall.UK Informationdriving aboutlicence studyfor permitsup isto given12 inmonths Articlefrom 6your oflast theentry Governmentinto ofthe Georgiacountry. OrdinanceAfter onthis, Residenceyou Permits. must either:
Contact
- have
theanrelevantInternationalhigherDrivingeducationPermitprovider(IDP) - apply
inforGeorgiaatoGeorgiancheckdrivingwhatlicencefeesinyoupersonhaveattothepayGeorgianandServicegetAgencydetailedofinformationtheaboutMinistrytheofselectedInternalstudyAffairsprogrammes.(in Georgian)
Tax
If you aredo innot Georgiaspeak forGeorgian, moreyou thanmay 183need daysto andget takehelp upfrom anyan formEnglish-speaking oftranslator paidor employmentinterpreter within Georgia to apply for a Georgian companydriving orlicence.
If organisation, you arehave automaticallya liablevalid forUK incomedriving tax.licence, Informationyou aboutdo taxesnot inneed Georgiato cansit bea obtaineddriving fromor the Revenuetheory Servicetest ofwhen Georgia.you apply for a Georgian driving licence.
TheFor UKmore hasinformation, a doubleread taxationabout agreementroad withtravel Georgia soin thatGeorgia, youin dosafety notand paysecurity tax in the UKtravel onadvice incomefor in Georgia.
Tax
Read thatour youguidance haveon alreadymoving, paidliving taxor on.retiring Theabroad. RevenueThis Servicecovers oftax, Georgiaincluding andpaying HMUK Revenuetax and CustomsNational can provide more information.Insurance.
IfYou youare needautomatically professionalliable advicefor onincome paying tax inif Georgia,you findhave an English-speakingbeen lawyer in Georgia.
Read guidancefor on:
tax183ifdaysyouorleavemoretheandUKaretoinliveanyabroadtaxformonofyourpaid employment.The UK
incomehasifyouliveabroadtaxifyougetapensiondoubleandtaxationliveagreementabroadwith GeorgiapayingNationalsoInsurancethatwhileyouabroaddotonotprotectpayyourtaxStateonPensiontheandsameentitlementincometoinotherbothbenefitsandallowances
Benefits
CheckContact whichthe UKRevenue benefitsService youof canGeorgia claimfor whileany abroadquestions andabout howdouble totaxation claim them.relief.
ManyConsider income-relatedgetting benefitsprofessional suchadvice ason Pensionpaying Credittax andin HousingGeorgia. BenefitTo cannotdo bethis, paidfind ifan you’reEnglish-speaking abroadlawyer forin more than 4 weeks.Georgia.
Pensions
If
Claiming you retire in Georgia, you can claim your UK Statepension
Read Pension or newour UKguidance Stateon Pension. Contactmoving, theliving Internationalor Pensionretiring Centreabroad for. furtherThis information.covers:
Read State
Pensionto guidanceclaim ifyour youUK haveState livedPensioninthe Australia,UK Canadagovernment orpays Newan Zealand andannual youincrease arein claimingthe orState waitingPension
Claiming toa claimGeorgian your UK State Pension.pension
IfYou youmay arebe aeligible manto overclaim 65 or a womanGeorgian overstate 60pension andif you have lived in Georgia for more than 10 years on a residence permit,permit.
Men youcan areclaim eligiblefrom forthe aage pensionof in65 Georgia.and women can claim from the age of 60. You must provide evidence that you are not receiving a pension from the UK.
Life certificates for UK State Pensions
IfContact you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service,Fund youof mustGeorgia respondfor asmore sooninformation. asYou possible.can Youralso paymentsread mayguidance beon suspendedthe ifpension youscheme doin not.Georgia.
MoneyBenefits
Claiming andUK bankingbenefits
ItRead isour generallyguidance straightforwardon formoving, Britishliving citizensor toretiring openabroad. aThis bankcovers accounthow into Georgia.claim YouUK shouldbenefits goabroad, toincluding aChild bankBenefit.
Claiming inGeorgian personbenefits
Contact with your passportlocal (andPublic workService orHall study(in permit,Georgian) if to held)find andout completewhether anyou applicationcan form.claim Atbenefits somein banksGeorgia.
Buying and inrenting someproperty circumstancesin youGeorgia
Read mightour beguidance askedon tomoving, payliving anor applicationretiring serviceabroad. fee.This Applicationscovers arebuying consideredand withinrenting 5property workingabroad.
Foreign days.nationals Thecan bankown mayproperty requestand additionalnon-agricultural documentsland fromin youGeorgia.
Contact asan partEnglish-speaking oflawyer thein applicationGeorgia process.if Banksyou’re haveconsidering discretionbuying toproperty refuseor applications.land.
The
Voting currency in Georgia
UK iselections
Read theour Georgianguidance Larion butmoving, bankliving accountsor canretiring beabroad. openedThis incovers otherhow currenciesto:
- vote
(GBP,inUSD,UKEUR)electionstoo.Accommodationfromandabroad - register
buyingaspropertySeeanbuyingoverseasavoter
Georgian property abroad.elections
GeorgianYou legislationcannot allowsvote foreignin nationalsGeorgian toelections buyunless propertyyou andhold landGeorgian except for agricultural land.citizenship.
DrivingStudying in Georgia
ReadIf our guidanceyou onplan drivingto abroadstudy andin adviceGeorgia, onyou roadcan safetyenter inwithout Georgiaa visa.
ReadOnce the Georgianyou lawarrive, onyou drivingmust legallyapply infor Georgia.
Ifa youstudy wishpermit toat bring your ownnearest vehiclePublic toService GeorgiaHall with(in you,Georgian). see takingRead amore vehicleabout outstudy permits in Article 6 of the UKGovernment of Georgia Ordinance on Residence Permits.
Driving
The licenceMinistry rulesof inEducation, GeorgiaScience ifand youYouth liveof there
YouGeorgia canprovides driveinformation on higher education in Georgia.
For withmore ainformation:
- read
validguidanceUKondrivingtravellicencegrants forupstudentstostudyingoneabroadyearorfromon placements (England) - contact your
lasthigherentryeducationintoprovider in thecountry.UKBeyondorthis,Georgia - contact
youthewillMinistryeitherofneedEducation,anInternationalScienceDrivingandPermitYouth(IDP)of Georgia
Children
Read orour toguidance applyon formoving, aliving Georgianor licence.retiring abroad. This iscovers amoving straightforwardabroad processwith throughchildren, anincluding:
- getting
applicationpermission totheServicetakeAgencyyourofchildtheabroad - claiming
MinistryUKofChildInternalBenefitAffairs.abroad - child
Holdersmaintenanceofpayments if avalidparentUKlivesdrivingabroad
Schools licenceand doeducation
The notEuropean needCommission toprovides sitinformation aabout drivingthe examschool assystem partin of the application.Georgia.
IfAll youchildren areaged asked6 forto a16 lettermust authenticating,attend certifyingschool or validatinghome yourschool UKin driver’sGeorgia.
For licence,more youinformation, should contactread the DVLA.
DisabledGeorgian drivers
Ifgovernment’s youguidance haveon ageneral UKeducation Bluein BadgeGeorgia.
Childcare
The andMinistry liveof inEducation, Georgia,Science youand mustYouth returnof itGeorgia tois theresponsible originalfor UKpre-school issuingeducation authority.in Georgia.
Voting
YouFor maymore beinformation, ableread tothe voteEuropean inCommission’s someguidance UKon elections.early Youchildhood can:
Births, deaths, marriagemarriages and civil partnershippartnerships
Births
If your child is born in GeorgiaGeorgia, you should register the birth with the localGeorgian authorities. Read the Georgian government’s guidance on birth registration.
IfRead yourour childguidance hason Britishmoving, nationalityliving andor youretiring wishabroad. toThis docovers so,how you can to:
- register the birth
onlinewith the UK authoritiesandto get a UK birth certificate - apply for
a UKyourbirthchild’scertificate.first British passport
Deaths
ItRead isour notguidance necessaryon tomoving, registerliving theor birthretiring withabroad. theThis UK authoritiescovers:
- what
intoorderdotoapplyafterforsomeoneadiesBritishabroad - how
passport.toTheregisterbirththecertificatedeathissuedwithbytheGeorgianUK authoritiesissufficient.
Deaths
If asomeone British citizen dies in GeorgiaGeorgia, read our guidance on:
- what to
dowhenifsomeone diesabroad bereavementinguidanceforGeorgiafindingEnglish-speaking funeral directors in Georgia
MarriageMarriages and civil partnershippartnerships
FindRead outour guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how you canto get married or get a civil partnership abroad.abroad.
You can register a marriagemarriage in Georgia at any branch of theof the Public Service Development Agency or or Public Service Hall (in Georgian).
GeorgiaSame doessex marriages and civil partnerships are not recogniselegally same-sexrecognised marriagesin andGeorgia. onlyFor heterosexualinformation couplesabout canLGBT+ legallyrights marry.in CivilGeorgia, partnershipread isguidance noton recognisedsafety byand Georgiansecurity law.in the travel advice for Georgia.
Pets
Divorce and separation
YouRead mayour bringguidance petson intomoving, Georgialiving asor longretiring asabroad. theyThis arecovers healthy,how vaccinatedto andget accompanied by a veterinarydivorce certificate or end a petcivil passport.partnership.
DetailedThe informationGeorgian aboutPublic transportingService petsDevelopment intoAgency Georgiaoffers isguidance availableon fromregistering thea Revenue Service of Georgiadivorce.
PleaseConsider also see information on taking petslegal overseasadvice from thean UK,English-speaking orlawyer returningin withGeorgia.
Documents petsfor toBritish thepeople UKin from overseas.
EmergenciesGeorgia
DialRead 112our forguidance theon police,documents ambulancefor orBritish firepeople brigade.abroad. EnglishThis speaking operators are available.covers:
If
- legalising
you’reandthecertifyingvictimUKofdocuments - marriage
aandcrime,civilhavepartnershipbeendocuments - affirmations
arrested,andoraffidavits - witnessing
aresignatures
Lawyers, affectedtranslators byand a crisis, contact the British Embassy Tbilisi.notaries
IfTo youfind havean beenEnglish-speaking thelawyer, victimtranslator of a rape or sexualnotary assault in Georgia, Georgia, read the informationguidance foron victimsprofessional ofservices rapeif andyou’re sexual assaultabroad.
Pets
ReadIf the guidanceyou onwant internationalto parentalbring child abduction if your childpet maywith beyou atto riskGeorgia, ofread this.guidance on:
If
- bringing
youanimalsneedtolegalGeorgia - taking
supportyourinpetanydog,emergencycatcircumstanceoryouferretcantofindEnglish-speakingalawyersnon-EUinGeorgiacountry.
Returning to the UK
Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanentlythe UK permanently. whichThis includes information on bringing family members,members back to the UK, tax and access to services.
Disclaimer
ThisWe informationprovide isthis providedinformation as a general guide andonly. For isdefinitive basedinformation, uponcontact information provided to the embassyGeorgian byauthorities.
Read theour relevantconsular localinformation authoritiesdisclaimer.
Updates and may be subject to changethis atpage
-
Rewrote
liableguidefortoanymakeinaccuraciesitineasierthistoinformation.readBritishandnationalsunderstand.wishingIncludestonewobtainanyfurtherinformationmustaboutcontactdualthecitizensrelevanttravellinglocalauthority.
Updates to thisthe page
- section).
-
This guidance has been reviewed and updated where necessary.
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Update history
2025-12-22 17:04
Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand. Includes new information about dual citizens travelling to the UK (‘Passports and travel’ section).
2024-08-20 07:07
This guidance has been reviewed and updated where necessary.
2022-12-07 15:00
Guidance reviewed and updated.