Investment residence permit, with the 5-year fast track to permanent residence.

What you get#

A Georgian residence permit grounded by your substantial Georgian business or financial commitments. The Investment residence permit serves foreign clients making material investments in Georgia — substantial LLC operations with operational substance, qualifying International Company status holdings, Free Industrial Zone operational footprint, or financial commitments at scale that exceed simple property ownership. The structure rewards meaningful Georgian commitment with a faster path to permanent residence than the standard pathways offer.

The structure has four other clean properties:

5-year accelerated permanent residence track via Investment Permit. Foreigners holding the Investment Permit can apply for permanent residence after 5 years of continuous lawful residence — half the standard 10-year continuous residence requirement that applies to other residence permit categories. This accelerated path is the Investment residence permit's defining feature: every other residence permit category counts toward the 10-year track at the standard pace; Investment specifically halves it.

Substance-led, not paper-led. The Investment residence permit grounds in actual Georgian operational footprint — operating LLC with employees, qualifying International Company status with the substance the Ministry of Finance verified, Free Industrial Zone resident company with zone-defined operational activity. The qualifying configuration isn't a paper threshold; it's the demonstrated Georgian business or financial commitment that the SDA verifies during application and at each renewal.

Counts toward citizenship pathway with the accelerated timeline. Years held under the Investment residence permit count toward both the 5-year accelerated permanent residence application AND the eventual citizenship application that follows permanent residence. Citizenship in Georgia is discretionary (Article 3(2) default-single-citizenship policy means dual citizenship is exceptional), but for foreign investors planning the long-horizon citizenship outcome, the Investment pathway compresses the residence permit + permanent residence stages by 5 years versus standard pathways.

Distinct from property residence permit at scale. A USD 500,000+ Georgian property investment can ground either property residence permit (standard 10-year track) or be part of the substance package for Investment residence permit (5-year accelerated track) depending on configuration. For property-focused commitments, property residence is operationally simpler. For mixed property + business commitments where the operational substance is part of the qualification, Investment residence permit captures the broader picture and unlocks the accelerated track. We work through the specific case in the consultation — sometimes the right answer is property residence, sometimes Investment residence, and the choice depends on operational profile and timeline preference.

The combined effect: a residence permit pathway designed for foreign clients whose Georgian commitment is genuinely investment-grade, with operational substance and a faster path to long-term Georgian status.

What we do#

We coordinate qualifying configuration setup, residence permit application, and the accelerated permanent residence pathway as a long-horizon engagement. Investment residence is rarely a standalone engagement — it typically runs alongside or follows a company setup (LLC, IC, or FIZ structure), Georgian banking (Personal and Corporate Account), and (often) property purchase coordination.

Step 1 — Qualifying configuration assessment. We work through the substance of your Georgian commitment: business operations (LLC scale, employees, lease, operational footprint), International Company status if applicable (Resolution 619 qualification, MoF approval, qualifying employees), Free Industrial Zone activity if applicable (zone selection, operational substance, qualifying activity), financial holdings (brokerage portfolio, Georgian-denominated assets, business equity). The output is a clear identification of which substance elements support the Investment residence permit application and where the configuration may need strengthening before filing.

Step 2 — Configuration setup or strengthening (when needed). For clients whose Georgian footprint isn't yet at investment-grade substance, we coordinate the additional setup: scaling LLC operations to operational substance (lease, Georgian-paid employees, demonstrable business activity), pursuing International Company status if the configuration qualifies under Resolution 619, FIZ resident company setup if zone activity fits the operational profile, financial commitments at scale. Investment residence isn't filed against a paper threshold — the substance has to be there.

Step 3 — Residence permit application. With the qualifying configuration documented, we file the Investment residence permit application at the SDA. The application file is more substantial than property or work residence permit applications — the SDA reviews the operational substance evidence and the investment-grade nature of the commitment. We prepare the documentation pack and accompany you through the process.

Step 4 — Initial physical visit to Georgia. Like all residence permit categories, the initial Investment residence permit application requires your physical presence at the SDA Public Service Hall for biometric capture and supporting documentation submission. Typical visit duration is 2–4 days, often combined with operational milestones (LLC operational visits, IC status documentation handovers, bank meetings) since the broader engagement usually has multiple Georgian touchpoints.

Step 5 — First card collection, ongoing renewals, and the 5-year permanent residence application. First card collection follows the same pattern as other residence permit categories. Annual renewals run remote-via-PoA. After 5 years of continuous lawful residence under the Investment residence permit, the permanent residence application becomes available — we handle the permanent residence engagement when the timing is right, including coordinating any documentation continuity needed across the 5 years.

What's included#

• Pathway confirmation in the consultation (Investment residence vs property, work, IT residence)
• Qualifying configuration assessment of your Georgian footprint
• Configuration setup or strengthening coordination (LLC operational substance, IC status, FIZ resident company, financial commitments at scale) — typically coordinated with Company Setup and Banking engagements
• Power of Attorney drafting and notarisation coordination for the residence permit application
• Investment residence permit application file preparation
• Coordination of the initial Georgia visit (typically combined with operational milestones)
• First card collection (during initial visit if processing speed allows, or via separate trip otherwise)
• Annual renewal handling via Power of Attorney from year 1 onward
• 5-year permanent residence application engagement handling at the end of the accelerated track
• Briefing on Investment residence interaction with HNW Tax Residency Layer 2/3, citizenship pathway, and the broader Georgian operational structure

What you'll need to qualify#

Three things. We confirm all three before recommending the structure.

Investment-grade substance. The Georgian commitment must be genuinely investment-grade — operating LLC with employees and operational footprint, qualifying International Company status with MoF-verified substance, FIZ resident company with zone-defined activity, or financial commitments at scale that demonstrate material Georgian footprint. The SDA's interest is in the substance, not the paper. Configurations that "look investment-grade on paper but don't operate as such" don't satisfy the qualification reliably; we work through realistic substance assessment in the consultation.

Coordinated Georgian footprint. Investment residence typically runs alongside other Georgian operational pieces — Georgian company structure, banking, often property. The application file is stronger when the substance elements reinforce each other rather than appearing in isolation. We coordinate the broader footprint design when Investment residence is part of a multi-engagement Georgian setup.

Capacity for ongoing maintenance. Investment residence requires demonstrated continued substance at each annual renewal cycle. Configurations that satisfy substance at the time of application but can't maintain it (LLC operations winding down, IC status revoked due to substance failure, FIZ activity ceasing) will face renewal challenges. Investment residence is a long-horizon commitment that fits clients with stable forward-looking Georgian operational plans.

We work through all three in the consultation and confirm the application is solid before submission.

When Investment residence is the right pathway#

Investment residence fits readers who:

• Run substantial Georgian operations (LLC at operational scale, qualifying International Company status, FIZ resident company with zone activity)
• Want the 5-year accelerated path to permanent residence rather than the standard 10-year track
• Have or are building a multi-piece Georgian footprint where company + banking + property + residence permit reinforce each other
• Are pursuing the citizenship pathway as a long-horizon goal where the 5-year compression matters
• Have substance and capacity for the operational footprint required at each renewal

If your Georgian footprint is property-focused with no substantial operational component, Property Residence is operationally simpler and faster to set up. If you operate a Georgian IE for foreign-client work (the typical 1% Small Business Status freelancer configuration), Work Residence is the natural fit. If you're a foreign IT specialist meeting specific Article 15(l) NACE/ISCO code framework, IT Residence is the narrower-fit pathway — though most IT founders fit work or investment residence better.

How Investment residence interacts with company setup, banking, and HNW#

The Investment residence permit rarely runs in isolation — it typically anchors a broader Georgian operational structure with multiple pieces.

Company structure as the substance foundation. The qualifying substance for Investment residence usually grounds in a Georgian company structure: LLC at operational scale, International Company status under Resolution 619, or Free Industrial Zone resident company. The company setup runs first or alongside; the Investment residence permit application is filed once the company is operating with demonstrable substance.

Banking as operational support. Substantial Georgian operations require corporate banking for the company's foreign-client revenue, payroll, and operational expenses, plus personal banking for the foreign founder's personal use. Banking often opens via Power of Attorney coordinated with the company setup; the corporate account's operational track record then reinforces the Investment residence permit substance.

HNW Tax Residency double-up potential. Investment-grade Georgian commitments often satisfy Layer 2 of the HNW Tax Residency programme (USD 500,000+ Georgian assets) naturally — substantial LLC equity, IC status holdings, FIZ resident company equity, or financial commitments at scale all satisfy Layer 2. Investment residence satisfies Layer 3 (residence permit). If the Georgian operations also meet Layer 1 (global assets/income), the same Georgian footprint satisfies all three HNW layers concurrently. See HNW Tax Residency.

Citizenship as the long-horizon goal. For foreigners who genuinely plan multi-decade Georgian commitment, the Investment residence's 5-year accelerated permanent residence + subsequent citizenship application creates a meaningful timeline compression versus other pathways. Citizenship application after permanent residence is discretionary; the accelerated stages don't guarantee citizenship outcome but compress the residence permit + permanent residence time.

Why Happy Georgia#

Independent advisory. No tied immigration services, no commission for steering you toward Investment residence when a simpler pathway fits. We recommend the residence permit pathway that matches your situation honestly — including alternatives like property or work residence when those genuinely fit better than Investment despite the 5-year track appeal.

Foreign clients only. Our entire practice is foreigners setting up in Georgia. We've worked through the Investment residence engagement for a Tel Aviv founder running a substantial Georgian VZ LLC pursuing Investment residence as part of long-term Georgian operational expansion, a Singapore-based investor combining IC status holdings with FIZ resident company activity for the multi-piece Georgian footprint, a London-based asset allocator structuring substantial Georgian financial commitments alongside Investment residence application.

Fixed pricing, no tourist tax. Investment residence engagement quoted as a coordinated multi-piece package or as a standalone engagement depending on scope. We quote in EUR, we honor the quote, no surprises later.

Trusted by clients across Western Europe, Israel, the UK, Singapore, and beyond.

Frequently asked questions#

What's the minimum investment threshold for Investment residence?#

There isn't a single paper threshold like the property residence's USD 150,000 number. Investment residence grounds in substance — operational LLC at scale, qualifying International Company status, FIZ resident company with zone activity, or financial commitments at material scale. The SDA's review focuses on whether the substance is genuine and operational, not on whether a specific number is met. In practice, most successful Investment residence applications involve Georgian footprint at USD 300,000+ across business and financial commitments, but the substance assessment is more important than the number.

How does the 5-year accelerated track actually work?#

After 5 years of continuous lawful residence under the Investment residence permit, you can apply for permanent residence — half the standard 10-year requirement that applies to property, work, IT residence permits, and most other categories. The 5-year clock starts when you first hold the Investment residence permit, not when you first set foot in Georgia. Renewal continuity matters; gaps in lawful residence break the continuous count.

Does this lead to Georgian citizenship?#

Eventually, yes — discretionary, requiring permanent residence first plus the Georgian-language and history-and-law tests. After 5 years of Investment residence, you can apply for permanent residence; after permanent residence, citizenship application becomes available. Georgia operates Article 3(2) default-single-citizenship policy, so dual citizenship is exceptional and requires meeting specific exception criteria. The Investment pathway compresses the timeline by 5 years versus standard pathways but doesn't change the citizenship application's discretionary nature.

Can I switch from another residence permit to Investment residence?#

Yes, when the qualifying configuration changes. Clients sometimes start with work residence (because they registered an IE first), expand to LLC with operational scale, and switch to Investment residence at the next renewal cycle. The 5-year accelerated track resets when you switch — you start the 5-year count from the first Investment residence permit, not from prior residence permit time. So the switch makes sense when the operational profile genuinely matches Investment residence and you have time horizon to benefit from the accelerated track.

What if my LLC operations downsize after Investment residence is granted?#

Substance must be maintained for renewal. LLC operations winding down to non-operational scale, IC status revoked due to substance failure, or FIZ resident company ceasing activity all create renewal risk. Clients planning operational changes within the Investment residence period should brief us before the change so we can plan continuity — sometimes via switch to a different residence permit pathway (work or property) to maintain residency, sometimes via configuration adjustment that preserves Investment residence eligibility.

How does Investment residence interact with HNW Tax Residency?#

Often together. Investment-grade Georgian commitments commonly satisfy HNW Layer 2 (USD 500,000+ Georgian assets) automatically, and the Investment residence permit satisfies HNW Layer 3 by definition. If your global wealth or income meets HNW Layer 1 (GEL 3M+ assets or GEL 200k+ income for 3 years), the Georgian footprint behind Investment residence often satisfies all three HNW layers concurrently. We coordinate Investment residence and HNW Tax Residency engagements when both are in scope. See HNW Tax Residency.

What's the typical engagement timeline?#

Typically 12–24 weeks from engagement start to first Investment residence permit card. The longer end of the range covers cases where the qualifying configuration needs setup or strengthening before filing — additional company-setup work, IC status application, FIZ resident company setup, banking expansion. Cases with established operational substance can run 8–12 weeks. The initial physical visit to Georgia is required for biometrics and first card collection regardless of timeline.

Can my family come on the Investment residence permit?#

Family members typically need their own residence permits via family-reunification category (separate framework, grounded by their relationship to the primary holder). We coordinate family permits alongside the primary Investment residence application when family relocation is part of the engagement. The family-reunification permits don't share the primary holder's accelerated track unless specifically structured — the 5-year permanent residence acceleration is tied to the Investment residence permit specifically.

What if the SDA refuses the application?#

Refusals are uncommon for properly substantiated applications, but they happen — typically when the substance evidence doesn't meet SDA expectations or the operational footprint appears constructed-for-residence rather than genuine. We minimise refusal risk through substance discipline at the application preparation stage. Refused applications can be appealed in some configurations or restructured into a different pathway (often property or work residence) that fits the actual configuration better than Investment residence claimed to.

Does Investment residence grant Georgian tax residency?#

Not automatically. Investment residence permit grants residency rights; tax residency is a separate determination based on either physical presence (183-day rule) or HNW programme three-layer satisfaction. Investment residence holders who don't reach 183 days don't become tax residents through residency alone — though the operational substance behind Investment residence often correlates with sufficient Georgian time to reach 183 days organically. See Tax Residency.

Ready to set up?#

A free consultation maps whether Investment residence fits your situation, the operational substance scope (existing footprint vs additional setup needed), and the engagement timeline. The Investment residence pathway is rarely a standalone engagement — it typically runs alongside company setup, banking, and (often) property purchase as a coordinated multi-piece Georgian footprint. The 5-year accelerated permanent residence track is the defining feature for clients with long-horizon Georgian plans. Pricing follows the engagement scope.