Postponing the obligation to leave

A foreigner staying in Georgia has to leave the territory of Georgia until the term of his/her legal stay has expired.

If a foreign citizen is not able to leave Georgia until the term of legal stay expires, the obligation to leave may be postponed in specific cases prescribed in the law. to postpone the obligation to leave Georgia, a foreigner must apply to a territorial office of the Public Service development agency or to the branch of the Public Service Hall.

The obligation of a foreigner to leave Georgia may be postponed:

  • If he/she has submitted an application to the agency for either a residence permit in Georgia or the citizenship of Georgia;
  • In case of illness and pregnancy, when according to the medical conclusion travel will endanger the person’s health. in such case, family members and accompanying persons may stay with the person;
  • If a case involving the foreigner is under hearing in the general court of Georgia and his/her stay in Georgia is crucial to defend his/her interests;
  • The foreigner is forced to stay on the territory of Georgia for more than ten days when transiting Georgia. if so, the following is deemed a forced stay:
    • Natural disaster hindering movement of train, vehicle, ship, or airplane;
    • Necessary repair of the transport means or a traffic accident;
    • Delay in changing the means of transportation;
    • Other cases when it is impossible to move from one place to another without hindrance.
  • On the basis of a request issued by an authorized person from a Georgian ministry or a state subordinated entity.

In exceptional cases, if the request is substantiated, the obligation to leave Georgia may be postponed once, for the term of up to 3 months. the reasons to postpone the departure must be connected to the initial purpose of the travel and stay in Georgia.

Note: A foreigner who has applied to the Public Service development agency for a residence permit or a Georgian citizenship, shall submit the request to postpone the obligation to leave 7 days before the expiry of his/her legal stay in Georgia. in such a case, the foreigner’s obligation to leave may be postponed once for the period of up to 3 months.

The decision to postpone the obligation to leave is taken by the agency within the 3 calendar days after the submission of the request.

Note: A foreigner who has applied to the Public Service development agency for a residence permit or a Georgian citizenship, shall submit the request to postpone the obligation to leave 7 days before the expiry of his/her legal stay in Georgia. in such a case, the foreigner’s obligation to leave may be postponed once for the period of up to 3 months.

A foreigner whose term of legal stay in Georgia has expired and who arbitrarily leaves the country should, before or after leaving Georgia, pay the administrative fine. the fine for staying for 3 months after the expiry of the term of legal stay is 180 Georgian Lari; if the person stays longer than 3 months the fine is 360 Georgian Lari. a person will be denied the entry and will not be issued a Georgian visa until he/she pays the administrative fine for overstaying. in addition to the fine, a person who has been subject to expulsion is banned to enter Georgia from 2 to 5 years.

Guidebook on legal immigration