Who qualifies for Georgian citizenship by descent
By birth: a Georgian parent at your birth. Restoration (Article 18): people whose citizenship ended by renunciation or their parents' choice, with Georgian language knowledge. Repatriates: a simplified procedure by presidential decree. Dual citizenship: generally only through a grant by way of exception by the President (Article 17).
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Georgian by birth, wherever you were born
Article 10 of the Organic Law is short: a person is Georgian by birth if one of their parents was Georgian when they were born. A minor who didn't acquire citizenship at birth can be granted it under the regular procedure if a parent is Georgian (Article 13). You establish the link at a Public Service Hall or a Georgian consulate.
Sources: Organic Law of Georgia on Georgian Citizenship (Matsne) · Public Service Development Agency — Georgian citizenship services and fees
Single citizenship and the presidential exception
Article 3 says Georgia has a single citizenship and that a Georgian citizen may not also be a citizen of another country, except as provided in Article 17 — which lets the President grant citizenship by way of exception to people of exceptional merit or on the basis of state interests. Article 21 ends Georgian citizenship when a citizen acquires a foreign one, unless they hold it by way of exception. If you already hold another citizenship, ask the consulate how your case will be treated before you apply.
Restoration and repatriates
Article 18 restores citizenship to people whose Georgian citizenship ended unlawfully, by renunciation, or because of their parents' choice — provided they know the Georgian language to the required level. Repatriate status leads to citizenship under a simplified procedure regulated by presidential decree, without the usual residence and language conditions.
Step by step
1. Get your Georgian parent's ID card or passport and your birth certificate (apostilled, translated into Georgian). 2. Apply to establish the legal bond with Georgia at a Public Service Hall or a Georgian consulate — free with a 15-day turnaround, or GEL 40 (5 days), GEL 60 (3 days) or GEL 100 (same day) in Georgia. 3. If you hold another citizenship, ask how it's treated; keeping both normally requires a presidential decision.
Worked examples
Nino was born in Germany to a Georgian mother. She's Georgian by birth under Article 10; she establishes the legal bond at a consulate, and asks how her German citizenship is treated.
David's grandparents were Georgian, but his parents were never Georgian citizens. He has no claim by birth; his options are repatriate status or a presidential grant.
Georgian requirements at a glance
- A Georgian parent at your birth
- Single citizenship: another citizenship needs a presidential decision
- Restoration: Georgian language test
- Naturalisation: 5 years' residence, Georgian language, history and law tests, and work or property in Georgia
Documents for a Georgian claim
- 1Your birth certificate, apostilled and translated into Georgian
- 2Your Georgian parent's ID or passport
- 3Your passport
Georgian processing times
Establishing citizenship at a Public Service Hall: free with a 15-day turnaround, GEL 40 for 5 days, GEL 60 for 3 days or GEL 100 same day.
Where Georgian claims go wrong
- Assuming dual citizenship is automatic — it isn't
- Expecting a grandparent route — there isn't one
Official Georgian government sources
Georgian citizenship FAQ
Q1My mother is Georgian and I was born in the US. Am I Georgian?
Yes, under Article 10 — but Georgia has single citizenship, so ask how your US citizenship will be treated.
Q2Can I have Georgian and another citizenship?
Only through a presidential grant by way of exception.
Q3My parents gave up my Georgian citizenship when I was a child. Can I get it back?
Yes, through restoration under Article 18, if you pass the Georgian language requirement.
Q4What does naturalisation require?
Five years' lawful residence, knowledge of Georgian, Georgian history and basic law, and a job or property in Georgia (Article 12).
Q5Can ethnic Georgians abroad get citizenship more easily?
Repatriate status leads to citizenship under a simplified procedure; otherwise a presidential grant by way of exception is possible.
Georgian nationality law
Organic Law of Georgia on Georgian Citizenship (No. 2319-II of 30 April 2014): Article 3 (single citizenship), Article 10 (citizenship by birth), Articles 12–14 (naturalisation, including repatriates), Article 17 (grant by way of exception), Article 18 (restoration), Article 21 (loss).
Dual citizenship in Georgia
Single citizenship: Georgian citizens may hold another citizenship only where the President grants it by way of exception.
Georgian application costs
Establishing citizenship: free (15 days) or GEL 40 / 60 / 100 for faster service.