The Georgian Parliament has approved amendments to the Law on Citizenship in the third and final reading.

The explanatory note states that they are aimed at simplifying the procedure for obtaining citizenship and supporting close ties with the homeland of compatriots living abroad.

1.Examinations/tests for knowledge of Georgian language, history and law will have to be taken before applying for citizenship at the Agency for Development of State Services. In case of unsatisfactory results, the Agency will simply not accept the application for consideration, saving its and citizens' resources. Now it is the other way around: first the application and payment of the state duty, then the exams. The amendment will come into force on May 1, 2024: Article 24, paragraphs 6.1 - 6.4.

2. It will be possible to retake the exam at any time an unlimited number of times. If the exam is passed successfully, its results will be valid for 12 months. (Now it is possible to retake the exam only within the framework of the new procedure for obtaining citizenship, in case of a negative result - not more than once a year).

3. In case of denial of citizenship, a new application can be submitted in six months. Now - one year. The amendment will enter into force on January 1, 2024 and will apply to refusals received before that date: Article 26, paragraph 2.

4. The 10-year residency requirement for stateless persons to obtain citizenship in Georgia will be reduced to 5 years, which will fulfill the obligation to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The applicant will have to pass a test on knowledge of Georgian language, history and law. The amendment will enter into force on January 1, 2024: Article 12, paragraph 11. Thus, the law returns to the old norm - the residency requirement was increased to 10 years in 2018.

5. Persons who have physical. mental, intellectual and/or sensory impairments that prevent them from taking the exams are exempted from taking them. Previously, the list was not specified. The amendment will come into force on January 1, 2024: Article 12, p. 3.

6. Applicants who wish to obtain Georgian citizenship for investments or due to special achievements in sports, arts and science will have to be interviewed by the citizenship commission. The amendment will enter into force on January 1, 2024: Article 24, p.6.

In the chats of Georgian natives, who seek restoration or obtaining citizenship, they note that the amendments are of technical nature and do not change the approach to the issue on a fundamental level. They do not say anything about the work of the Commission for granting Georgian citizenship, which has been the most questioned recently.

Active discussion is going on in the Telegram channel ჩვენი სამშობლო - საქართველო/Our homeland is Georgia.

According to the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, from December 1, 2020 to July 12, 2023, 11,007 people were granted citizenship of Georgia.

2020 - 1,838;
2021 - 2,847;
2022 - 3,995;
2023 - 2,327.

Temporary right to restore citizenship was used by 5,193 persons, 5,721 persons were granted citizenship under the exceptional procedure.

In response to the inquiry, the Ministry of Justice does not specify from which countries the persons who received Georgian citizenship were from. Earlier, the ministry noted that it mainly refers to those who have Georgian roots.

Many natives of Georgia or their descendants complain about denials of citizenship, considering them unjustified. The problem is especially acute among those who were forced to leave Abkhazia during the war in the early 90s, lived in other countries and are now seeking Georgian citizenship.