Retiring in Georgia in 2026: how to get residence

7 min read · Published 6 October 2026

Georgia has no retirement visa, and it is not needed: Russian citizens live there visa-free for up to a year. For a status, buy a home valued at $150,000 or more.

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Key facts	2026
Visa-free	up to 365 days for Russian citizens
Residence for a home	from $150,000 by valuation, for a year, renewable
Residence for investment	from $300,000, for 5 years straight away
Residence fee	~$120 for 30-day processing
Tax on a foreign pension	0%: individuals' foreign income is not taxed
Permanent status	after 10 years
Seaside flat in Batumi	$350-500 a month

Data checked: 06.10.2026

Georgia is a rare case where a retiree from Russia does not need residence right away. Russian citizens stay visa-free for up to 365 days, and individuals' foreign income, including a pension, is not taxed. Many older people understand Russian, and seaside life in Batumi costs noticeably less than in Europe.

Those who want a permanent status buy a home valued at $150,000 or more: that permit is issued for a year and renewed while you own the flat. Below is who qualifies, documents, insurance, a couple's budget and the steps.

We will work out online the investment or income your family needs and what the permit costs for each member.

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Who can get residence as a retiree

Georgia has no separate ground for retirees and no pension threshold. Russian citizens live there visa-free for up to 365 days. For a status, buying a home valued at $150,000 or more, or investing from $300,000, which gives a 5-year residence permit straight away and then an indefinite one, both work.

The home threshold is based not on the contract price but on an accredited valuer's report. Residence for a home is short-term: it is renewed yearly while you own the property and offers no fast path to permanent status.

retirees for whom a visa-free year is enough;
owners of a home in Georgia valued at $150,000 or more;
investors of $300,000 or more in property or business;
spouses of Georgian citizens, through marriage.

Documents and how to prove a Russian pension

passport with a notarised Georgian translation;
a property registry extract and an accredited valuer's report;
health insurance for the stay;
a photo and application at the Public Service Hall;
a marriage certificate for a spouse, with an apostille and notarised translation;
a fee receipt.

Documents issued in Russia need an apostille and a notarised Georgian translation. A pension certificate is not required for residence through a home, but it is useful for the bank.

You can keep receiving the pension on a Russian card and open a Georgian bank account for living costs: many banks open accounts for Russian citizens without residence.

Health insurance

Residence requires health insurance for the stay. Private clinics in Tbilisi and Batumi are inexpensive by European standards, and basic policies for foreigners cost little.

Policies cost more for older people and serious conditions, so choose one before filing. For complex treatment many go to clinics in Tbilisi rather than Batumi.

Tax on your pension and the treaty with Russia

Georgia taxes individuals on a territorial basis: 20% income tax applies only to Georgian income. A Russian pension is foreign income, so it is not taxed in Georgia even if you become a tax resident.

Russia does not tax its state pension either. If you rent out a flat in Georgia, rental income is taxed at a reduced rate. More in Georgia residence and taxes.

Monthly budget for a couple

Monthly item	Amount
Seaside flat in Batumi, long-term	$350-500
Utilities	$40-80
Internet	$10-15
Groceries for two	$300-500
One-bedroom flat in Tbilisi, Saburtalo	$450-750
Total for a couple in Batumi	from $700

For a couple in Batumi: rent from $350, utilities and internet from $50 and groceries from $300. Seaside rent doubles in summer, so leases are signed for a year. Heating bills rise in Tbilisi in winter. A consultant will calculate a budget for your city in the chat.

Support from choosing a home to the card

Retirees in Georgia lose time and money on the home for residence: a flat bought counting on the threshold but valued below $150,000, documents from Russia without an apostille, a passport without a notarised Georgian translation. We choose a property for the threshold, check the valuation before the deal, prepare documents and file at the Public Service Hall.

A consultant will calculate the support fee in the chat.

Get a support quote

Where retirees settle

Batumi is chosen for the sea: mild winters, a promenade and affordable long-term rent. Tbilisi suits those who value the best clinics, theatres and an airport with direct flights; quiet districts are Vake and Saburtalo.

Kutaisi and the resort towns of Kakheti attract with quiet and prices below the capital, but a good hospital is further away. Many spend the winter by the sea and the summer in the mountains or Tbilisi.

The climate varies: Batumi is humid with mild winters and rainy autumns, Tbilisi has hot dry summers and cool winters. Many retirees split the year between two cities to winter by the sea.

Steps and timelines

Step	Timeline
Visa-free entry	up to 365 days
Choosing a home and checking the valuation before the deal	2-4 weeks
Purchase and property registration	a few days
Filing at the Public Service Hall with the fee	~$120
Decision and card	in 30, 20 or 10 days depending on the fee
Renewal	every year while you own the home

The residence fee is about $120 for 30-day processing, $180 for 20 days and $240 for 10 days. Permanent status comes after 10 years, or after 5 years on an investment permit for investments from $300,000.

Common reasons for refusal

a valuation below $150,000 even if the contract price is higher;
documents without an apostille or a notarised Georgian translation;
no health insurance for the stay;
the home sold before renewal;
a missed renewal deadline.

The costliest mistake is buying a flat for $130,000 hoping the valuation will reach the threshold. The valuer decides, so the valuation is checked before the deposit.

This topic in other countries

Retiring in other countries:

FAQ

Does Georgia have a retirement visa?

No, and Russian citizens do not need one: you can live in Georgia visa-free for up to 365 days.

How can a retiree get residence in Georgia?

Buy a home valued at $150,000 or more by an accredited valuer and file at the Public Service Hall. The permit is issued for a year and renewed while you own the home.

Is a Russian pension taxed in Georgia?

No. Georgia taxes only Georgian income, and a foreign pension is not taxed.

How much does residence in Georgia cost?

The fee is about $120 for 30-day processing. The home purchase, valuation, translations and insurance are extra.

What does a retiree's life in Batumi cost?

A couple by the sea needs from $700 a month including rent. Rent is higher in summer, so leases are signed for a year.

When can I get permanent residence in Georgia?

After 10 years, or after 5 years on an investment permit for investments from $300,000.

Does a retiree need health insurance in Georgia?

For a residence permit, yes, for the stay. Private clinics are inexpensive, but policies cost more at older ages.

Where is best for a retiree to live in Georgia?

By the sea in Batumi for mild winters and affordable rent. Tbilisi has the best clinics and cultural life; quiet districts are Vake and Saburtalo.

Can I live in Georgia longer than a year without residence?

Russian citizens stay in Georgia visa-free for up to 365 days. Longer stays need a residence permit, for example for a home from $150,000.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.

The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.

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