Quick facts
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Who must register | Georgian citizens, foreigners holding a residence permit, stateless persons with status |
| Deadline for new residence permit holders | 1 month from receiving the permit or from entry into the country |
| Where to apply | A territorial office of the public service agency, or the House of Justice |
| Proof of right to the address | Ownership document, owner's consent, or confirmation by two witnesses |
| Fee | Free of charge |
| Processing time | 5 calendar days for initial registration, up to 1 month otherwise |
| LLC legal address | A separate procedure, unrelated to personal registration |
Who must register a residential address
Address registration in Georgia is mandatory for Georgian citizens and for foreigners who already hold a residence permit or stateless person status. A tourist without a residence permit, staying in the country under the visa-free regime, cannot register a residential address: legal status must come first.
For those who have obtained a residence permit, the law sets a deadline: registration must be filed within one month of receiving a positive decision on the residence permit if the applicant is already in Georgia, or within one month of entering the country if the decision was obtained while abroad.
Where to apply and what is required
The application is filed at a territorial office of the Agency for the Development of State Services covering the intended address, or through the House of Justice, which helps with document collection and translation into Georgian. Permanent residents apply at the office corresponding to their registration address; holders of temporary status may apply at any territorial office.
Proving the right to register at the address requires one of three documents:
- an ownership document, if the applicant owns the property
- the property owner's consent to the registration
- a written confirmation from two adults stating that the applicant has actually resided at the address for the past three months
Registration is free of charge. Initial registration, along with registering a family member of the owner or removing a registration, is processed within five calendar days. In other cases, processing takes up to one month.
How this differs from an LLC's legal address
Personal residential registration and a company's legal address are two separate requirements, and they should not be confused.
A legal address is required when registering an LLC with the Public Registry: it is the address the company is officially listed under, and it does not have to match the actual residence of the director or founder. A rented or owned property can serve as the legal address, as can an address provided by a law firm as part of a registered agent service. Filing for a legal address and filing for personal residential registration are separate procedures handled by different agencies, and having one does not substitute for the other.
If you are registering an LLC while also applying for a residence permit, both addresses may be needed at the same time, but independently of one another. What to do right after registering a company is covered in a separate article.
What happens if you do not register
Address registration connects directly to several administrative procedures: without it, complications can arise with obtaining a resident ID card, with subsequent residence permit renewal, and with a range of services that Georgian government agencies provide based on a confirmed address. Since registration is free and takes up to a month, there is little reason to delay it, particularly given the statutory one-month deadline from the date the residence permit is granted.
Can a foreigner without a residence permit register an address in Georgia?
No. Residential address registration is available to Georgian citizens, foreigners with a valid residence permit, and stateless persons with status. Visa-free stay in the country does not grant this right.
How much time do I have to register after receiving my residence permit?
One month from the date of the positive decision on the residence permit if the applicant is already in Georgia, or one month from entering the country if the decision was obtained abroad.
Do I need the property owner's consent if the property isn't mine?
Yes. If the applicant is not the owner, either notarized consent from the owner or a written confirmation from two adults about actual residence at the address for the past three months is required.
Is address registration the same as an LLC's legal address?
No. Personal residential registration does not replace a company's legal address, and vice versa. These are two separate procedures handled by different agencies, and running a business may require obtaining both.
How much does address registration cost?
The service is free of charge.
Where do I submit the documents?
At a territorial office of the Agency for the Development of State Services covering the registration address, or through the House of Justice, which also helps with translating documents into Georgian.