June 15, Pozirk. Lawmakers in Georgia passed amendments to extend the validity of residence permits from one to three years on first application for IT professionals and businesspeople, as well as their families, a government website has reported.
Georgia has been one of the most popular destinations for Belarusians fleeing reprisals after the disputed 2020 presidential election.
According to the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs, 12,808 immigrants with Belarusian passports lived in the country on January 1, 2025. Over 20,000 Belarusians have entered Georgia over the past four years.
Under the new amendments, an applicant must prove having at least two years of IT experience and at least $25,000 in annual income.
These permits will be valid for three years with a possibility of extension to 12 years.
The amendments take effect on September 1, 2025.
