Georgia moves to tighten immigration rules for foreign nationals

Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has put forward a legislative package aimed at tightening immigration rules for foreign nationals, including provisions for deportation and entry bans.

The proposed amendments would primarily affect the Law on International Protection, with corresponding changes to the Criminal Code and the Code of Administrative Offences, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

Under the draft legislation, a specific legal mechanism would be introduced allowing for the deportation of foreigners and barring their re-entry into Georgia as a punitive measure. Additionally, fines for violating residency regulations are set to increase, while procedures for deporting individuals residing illegally in the country will be streamlined.

Tighter restrictions are also being proposed for asylum seekers. One key measure includes an accelerated process for evaluating the applications of those who fail to apply for asylum within a month of arriving in Georgia. Authorities would also be empowered to assess asylum requests directly at the border if the individual’s presence is deemed a threat to national security.

The timeframe for reviewing asylum applications is expected to be shortened, and the process for issuing asylum decisions made more efficient. Furthermore, residence permits will no longer be granted to foreigners who are already subject to deportation proceedings or against whom deportation orders have been issued.

Further details of the draft legislation are expected to be made public once it is published on the website of the Georgian Parliament.

By Aghakazim Guliyev