Government Introduces Immigration Law Reforms to Parliament
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, April 24, 2025
The government has submitted a new package of immigration-related legislative changes to Parliament. The amendments, prepared by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, affect 18 different laws , including those dealing with international protection, the legal status of foreigners, criminal justice cooperation, and the issuance of identity and residence documents. Other changes apply to police regulations and the administrative and criminal codes.
According to the Ministry, the main goal of the reforms is to tackle illegal migration, prevent misuse of the asylum system, and tighten the rules for granting international protection to foreigners or stateless persons.
One of the key updates is the introduction of expulsion as a new legal and administrative penalty. This would allow authorities to deport foreigners and ban them from re-entering Georgia for a set period. Fines for violating immigration rules would also increase, and the process for deporting individuals who are in the country illegally would become more efficient.
To stop abuse of the asylum process, the reforms introduce an accelerated review for people who don't apply for asylum within one month of arrival. In cases where a foreigner is considered a threat to national security, asylum applications could be reviewed at the border, without letting the person enter Georgia.
The changes would also shorten the time allowed for reviewing and appealing asylum cases. A new electronic system is planned to help deliver decisions and track appeal deadlines more effectively. In addition, foreigners who are facing expulsion, or have already been ordered to leave, would no longer be eligible for a residence permit.
The legislative package has now been handed over to parliamentary committees for further discussion.
