on the Procedure for Registering Citizens of Georgia and Aliens Residing in Georgia, for Issuing an Identity (Residence) Card and a Passport of a Citizen of Georgia

LAW OF GEORGIA

ON THE PROCEDURES FOR REGISTERING CITIZENS OF GEORGIA AND ALIENS RESIDING IN GEORGIA, FOR ISSUING IDENTITY (RESIDENCE) CARDS AND PASSPORTS OF A CITIZEN OF GEORGIA

Law of Georgia No 181 of 24 June 2004 – LHG I, No 19, 15.7.2004, Art. 93

Chapter I - General Provisions

Article 1

1. Under the Constitution of Georgia and international human and civil rights acts, everyone who lawfully stays in Georgia is guaranteed the right of free movement and free choice of place of residence throughout the country.

2. These rights may be restricted only by law to ensure national security, or public safety, to protect health, to prevent crime, or to administer justice that is essential for a democratic society.

Article 1¹

1. The personal number is a unique identification datum of a person that shall not be changed, except as expressly provided for by the legislation of Georgia.

2. The personal number is assigned to a person when being registered according to the place of residence (including when being registered without indication of the address), or when issuing a Georgian citizenship and/or identity document – an ID card of a citizen of Georgia, a residence card of an alien residing in Georgia, a temporary identification certificate, a neutral ID card, a neutral travel document, a passport of a citizen of Georgia – or in the other cases expressly provided for by law.

3. The procedure for assigning a personal number is determined by an order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 5563 of 20 December 2011 - website, 28.12.2011

Law of Georgia No 2051 of 5 March 2014 - website, 17.3.2014

Chapter II - Registration and Deregistration

Article 2

1. Citizens of Georgia and aliens residing in Georgia shall be registered to ascertain data of citizens of Georgia and aliens residing in Georgia, also to implement civil rights and obligations of citizens.

2. Under this Law, an alien holding a residence permit in Georgia, also a stateless person with status in Georgia shall be considered to be an alien residing in Georgia.

3. Registration or lack of registration may not be the grounds for restricting the constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens of Georgia and aliens residing in Georgia, including for restricting the right to administer property, nor it may be the condition for exercising the above rights and freedoms, except as provided for by the electoral legislation.

4. If so provided for by the legislation of Georgia, a state, local self-government body, any other institution, or a legal person may request a person to submit his/her identity (residence) card or its copy to verify the place of residence. No notarisation of a copy shall be required. If the ‘address’ field in the identity (residence) card is blank, a person may be further requested to submit his/her registration certificate or its copy which requires no notarisation. If it is an electronic identity (residence) card, the place of residence shall be ascertained under the electronic identity (residence) card through verifying the respective information in the electronic database of the Legal Entity under Public Law (LEPL) – the Public Service Development Agency within the Ministry of Justice of Georgia (‘the Agency’).

5. No state, local self-government body, or other institution, or legal person shall demand any person a certificate of place of residence when recruiting employees, performing an act of legal significance, or for other purposes.

Law of Georgia No 579 of 27 October 2000 - LHG I, No 39, 10.11.2000, Art. 112

Law of Georgia No 2629 of 28 December 2005 - LHG I, No 3, 16.1.2006, Art. 23

Law of Georgia No 4937 of 24 June 2011 - website, 14.7.2011

Law of Georgia No 6301 of 25 May 2012 - website, 12.6.2012

Law of Georgia No 6317 of 25 May 2012 - website, 19.6.2012

Law of Georgia No 2051 of 5 March 2014 - website, 17.3.2014

Article 3

1. A citizens of Georgia and an alien residing in Georgia shall be obliged to get registered according to the place of residence, and if they have several places of residence – according to any place of residence. Registration of a person between 14 and 18 years of age according to the place of residence shall be performed, and an identity (residence) card shall be granted to him/her based on the application of the person, or his/her legal representative. Registration of a homeless child under the Law of Georgia on Social Assistance, who is between 14 and 18 years of age (the ‘homeless child’), and/or of a victim under the Law of Georgia on Elimination of Domestic Violence, Protection and Support of Victims of Domestic Violence, who is a minor (the ‘child victim of violence’) according to the place of residence, and/or an identity (residence) card shall be granted to him/her based on the application of a guardianship and custodianship agency as well.

2. Citizens of Georgia shall be obliged to obtain an ID card within six months after they attain the age of 14. Persons under the age of 14 may also obtain an ID card, if so desired.

2¹. Aliens residing in Georgia shall be obliged to obtain a residence card as determined by the legislation of Georgia.

2². To obtain an identity (residence) card, citizens of Georgia and aliens residing in Georgia must be registered as determined by this Law. Citizens of Georgia who have left for any other country for permanent residence under an emigration permit issued under the legislation of Georgia shall not be obliged to get registered in order to obtain an electronic ID card.

3. Persons under the age of 14, including child victims of violence and/or homeless children, also persons under guardianship and custodianship, shall be registered according to the place of residence based on the application of their legal representative, or the head of a guardianship and custodianship agency, head of a preschool childcare institution, head of a general education institution, trustee of a self-government unit, an authorised representative of the administration of a temporary administrative-territorial unit in the territory of the former Autonomous Region of South Ossetia or of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia.

[3. Persons under the age of 14, also persons under guardianship and custodianship, shall be registered according to the place of residence based on an application of their legal representative, the head of a guardianship and custodianship agency, head of an early learning and preschool education institution, head of a general education institution, a trustee of a self-government unit, an authorised representative of the administration of a temporary administrative-territorial unit in the territory of the former Autonomous Region of South Ossetia, or of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia. (Shall become effective from 1 April 2017)]

3¹. Persons under the age of 14, also persons under guardianship and custodianship shall be granted an identity (residence) card based on the application of their legal representatives. Child victims of violence and/or homeless children under the age of 14 shall be granted an identity (residence) card based on the application of the guardianship and custodianship agency as well.

4. When registering birth, minors shall be registered according to their place of residence. Persons shall be considered to be registered according to the place of residence as from their birth registration. When registering birth of minors, if parents or the other legal representative of minors are registered without indication of the address, the minors shall be registered according to the place of actual residence of a parent or other legal representative, as determined by the legislation of Georgia.

5. Under this Law, the place of residence of persons shall be deemed the place they have chosen for residence.

6. Persons under the age of 16, including child victims of violence and/or homeless children, also persons under guardianship and custodianship, shall be registered together with their parents, guardians, custodians, or other legal representatives. They may be registered to another address only with the written consent of a parent, guardian, custodian, or other legal representative. The consent may also be expressed before an authorised person of the Agency by means of electronic communication, as determined by an order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia. Homeless children and/or child victims of violence may also be registered to another address with the consent of the guardianship and custodianship agency.

7. Citizens of Georgia who stay abroad has the right to apply to a diplomatic mission or a consular office of Georgia for consular registration.

8. Citizens of Georgia who stay abroad for more than six months shall be obliged to apply to a diplomatic mission or a consular office of Georgia for consular registration not later than 10 days after the six months expire.

9. Only the citizens of Georgia who stay abroad and who are not registered in Georgia may apply for registration to a diplomatic mission of Georgia abroad, Georgian Interests Section at a diplomatic mission in a third country or a consular office (‘the diplomatic mission or consular office of Georgia abroad’).

10. An electronic ID card shall be granted to the citizens of Georgia staying abroad only if they so desire.

11. In the cases provided for by paragraph 9 of this article, consent of the owner of place of residence abroad shall not be mandatory for registration to an address abroad.

12. Persons registered with consular offices shall be granted a respective consular registration card that is valid only together with the passport of a citizen of Georgia.

13. The procedures and conditions for consular registration and deregistration shall be determined by an order of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.

14. (Deleted – 24.6.2011, No 4937).

15. Information on registration, consular registration, identification details of persons, and information on documents issued shall be recorded in the electronic database of the Agency.

16. The procedures for communicating to the interested parties of the decisions on registration and issuance of ID (residence) cards, as well as for delivering ID (residence) cards to the interested parties shall be determined by an order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia; and the procedure for exercising the above powers by a diplomatic mission or consular office of Georgia abroad shall also be determined by a joint order of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and the Minister of Justice of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 2629 of 28 December 2005 - LHG I, No 3, 16.1.2006, Art. 23

Law of Georgia No 5973 of 21 March 2008 - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art. 60

Law of Georgia No 3355 of 6 July 2010 - LHG I, No 41, 21.7.2010, Art. 255

Law of Georgia No 3653 of 1 October 2010 -LHG I, No 53, 11.10.2010, Art. 337

Law of Georgia No 4049 of 15 December 2010 -LHG I, No 76, 29.12.2010, Art. 493

Law of Georgia No 4937 of 24 June 2011 - website, 14.7.2011

Law of Georgia No 5563 of 20 December 2011 - website, 28.12.2011

Law of Georgia No 5664 of 28 December 2011 - website, 12.1.2012

Law of Georgia No 2480 of 29 May 2014 - website, 29.5.2014

Law of Georgia No 5378 of 8 June 2016 - website, 24.6.2016

Law of Georgia No 5448 of 22 June 2016 - website, 12.7.2016

Article 4

1. If a person changes the place of residence for more than six months, he/she shall be obliged, not later than 10 days after the six months expire, to apply to an authorised territorial office of the Agency for registration in compliance with the requirements of this Law. The procedure shall not apply to citizens of Georgia staying abroad.

2. If a person changes his/her place of residence within Georgia, the date of registration of the person to a new address shall be the date of his/her deregistration.

3. If a person changes his/her place of residence for more than three months due to his/her imprisonment or service of sentence, the administration of a respective facility where the person is held, shall be obliged, not later than 10 days after the three months expire, to apply to a territorial office of the Agency according to the person’s place of registration to inform of the person’s location; this fact shall be recorded accordingly in the database of the Agency.

4. If a person changes his/her place of residence for more than three months due to compulsory or contractual military service, the administration of a respective facility where the person serves, shall be obliged, not later than 10 days after the three months expire, to apply to a territorial office of the Agency according to the person’s place of registration to inform of the person’s location; this fact shall be recorded accordingly in the database of the Agency.

5. If, in the cases provided for paragraphs 3 and 4 of this article, a person, or a person in a childcare orphanage or childcare-education orphanage facility has no place of registration, the administration of the facility shall be obliged, as determined by law, to apply to an authorised territorial office of the Agency for registering the person. The address of the facility shall be recorded as the person’s place of registration. In this case, a person shall not be required to obtain an ID (residence) card when registered.

Law of Georgia No 1569 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 94

Law of Georgia No 181 of 24 June 2004 - LHG I, No 19, 15.7.2004, Art. 93

Law of Georgia No 2629 of 28 December 2005 - LHG I, No 3, 16.1.2006, Art. 23

Law of Georgia No 5973 of 21 March 2008 - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art.60

Law of Georgia No 2213 of 1 December 2009 - LHG I, No 42, 10.12.2009, Art. 315

Law of Georgia No 3619 of 24 September 2010- LHG I, No 51, 29.9.2010, Art. 332

Law of Georgia No 4937 of 24 June 2011 - website, 14.7.2011

Article 5

1. (Deleted).

1¹. Submission of documents under this Law to register a person shall not be mandatory if the information in a document is contained in the electronic database of the Agency.

1². Paragraph 1¹ of this article shall not apply to submission of documents to the diplomatic missions and consular offices of Georgia that are not linked to the electronic database of the Agency.

2. Persons living in a building that is not firmly fixed to the ground, or is not intended for a long-term stay of people, or persons living in a building the address of which cannot be identified, shall get registered without indication of the address according to the populated locality where he/she stays. When registering a minor according to the place of residence at his/her birth registration if he/she has no legal representative or the legal representative is not registered, the minor shall be registered without indication of the address. A person’s actual place of residence (if any) shall be entered into an application form and into the electronic database of the Agency.

3. Registration of a person without indication of the address shall be valid for six months of the registration date. After the time frame expires, the person shall be deemed deregistered which shall be used as the basis for suspending an electronic ID (residence) card. After the registration time frame expires, a person shall be obliged to get re-registered as determined by the legislation of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 181 of 24 June 2004 - LHG I, No 19, 15.7.2004, Art. 93

Law of Georgia No 2629 of 28 December 2005 - LHG I, No 3, 16.1.2006, Art. 23

Law of Georgia No 5973 of 21 March 2008 - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art. 60

Law of Georgia No 806 of 19 December 2008 - LHG I, No 40, 29.12.2008, Art. 267

Law of Georgia No 1391 of 11 July 2009 - LHG I, No 21, 3.8.2009, Art. 109

Law of Georgia No 2213 of 1 December 2009 - LHG I, No 42, 10.12.2009, Art. 315

Law of Georgia No 4937 of 24 June 2011 - website, 14.7.2011

Article 6

A person who submits documents under the legislation of Georgia shall not be denied registration unless otherwise determined by law. When registering, no document other than those required by the legislation of Georgia shall be requested.

Law of Georgia No 5973 of 21 March 2008 - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art.60

Law of Georgia No 806 of 19 December 2008 - LHG I, No 40, 29.12.2008, Art. 267

Article 7

1. Registration and deregistration shall be provided by territorial offices of the Agency.

2. Citizens of Georgia residing abroad may apply for registration to a diplomatic mission or consular office of Georgia abroad.

2¹. A diplomatic mission or consular office of Georgia abroad shall be responsible for consular deregistration of the citizens of Georgia staying abroad, and the Agency, a diplomatic mission or consular office of Georgia abroad shall be responsible for consular registration of the citizens of Georgia staying abroad.

3. The Agency shall be responsible for consular deregistration of citizens staying in Georgia based on the application.

Law of Georgia No 181 of 24 June 2004 - LHG I, No 19, 15.7.2004, Art. 93

Law of Georgia No 2629 of 28 December 2005 - LHG I, No 3, 16.1.2006, Art. 23

Law of Georgia No 5973 of 21 March 2008 - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art.60

Law of Georgia No 3653 of 1 October 2010 - LHG I, No 53, 11.10.2010, Art.337

Law of Georgia No 4049 of 15 December 2010 - LHG I, No 76, 29.12.2010, Art.493

Law of Georgia No 2480 of 29 May 2014 – website, 29.5.2014

Article 8 (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 4937 of 24 June 2011 - website, 14.7.2011

Article 9

When registering a male between the age of 14 and 65, a registration body shall be obliged to notify the date of his registration or deregistration and the new residence address to a municipal government (Gamgeoba)/city hall, and in Tbilisi municipality – to Tbilisi municipal government (Gamgeoba), within 10 days after the registration or deregistration.

Law of Georgia No 181 of 24 June 2004 - LHG I, No 19, 15.7.2004, Art. 93

Law of Georgia No 5973 of 21 March 2008 - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art. 60

Law of Georgia No 2560 of 29 July 2014 – website, 8.8.2014

Article 10

A deceased person shall be deregistered by a territorial office of the Agency, or a diplomatic mission or consular office of Georgia abroad when registering the death, or upon receiving a notice of the death registration of a citizen of Georgia, or a notice of the death of a citizen of Georgia from the authorised bodies of a foreign country through diplomatic channels.

Law of Georgia No 181 of 24 June 2004 - LHG I, No 19, 15.7.2004, Art. 93

Law of Georgia No 5973 of 21 March 2008 - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art.60

Law of Georgia No 3653 of 1 October 2010 - LHG I, No 53, 11.10.2010, Art.337

Law of Georgia No 4937 of 24 June 2011 - website, 14.7.2011

Article 10¹

Rules and procedure for registration and deregistration shall be determined by an order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia, and the procedure, time frames and scope of exercising these powers and/or individual acts necessary for exercising such powers by a diplomatic mission or consular office of Georgia abroad shall also be determined by a joint order of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and the Minister of Justice of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 2629 of 28 December 2005 - LHG I, No 3, 16.1.2006, Art. 23

Law of Georgia No 4937 of 24 June 2011 - website, 14.7.2011

Law of Georgia No 5563 of 20 December 2011 - website, 28.12.2011

Law of Georgia No 2480 of 29 May 2014 – website, 29.5.2014

Article 10²

A person appearing as a witness in an administrative proceeding for registration and deregistration shall be obliged to testify on registration and deregistration issues. The witness who has testified shall be held liable under the Criminal Code of Georgia for giving false testimony to, or misleading the Agency or its territorial office.

Law of Georgia No 4937 of 24 June 2011 - website, 14.7.2011

Chapter III - Procedure for Certifying the Identities of Citizens of Georgia and Aliens Residing in Georgia

Article 11

1. Basic identity documents of citizens of Georgia and aliens residing in Georgia shall be:

a) an ID card of a citizen of Georgia

b) a residence card.

2. A residence card may be permanent or temporary.

3. A temporary residence card shall also be issued to a person with humanitarian status under the procedure provided for by the Law of Georgia on International Protection.

4. An overseas compatriot card shall be the identity document of its holder.

5. Issuance of an overseas compatriot card shall be regulated under the Law of Georgia on Compatriots and Diaspora Organisations.

6. A temporary ID card shall be the identity document of its holder to be issued in the cases and as determined by an order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 5973 of 21 March 2008 - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art.60

Law of Georgia No 5371 of 6 December 2011 - website, 20.12.2011

Law of Georgia No 5563 of 20 December 2011 - website, 28.12.2011

Law of Georgia No 6301 of 25 May 2012 - website, 12.6.2012

Law of Georgia No 2051 of 5 March 2014 - website, 17.3.2014

Law of Georgia No 51 of 1 December 2016 - website, 15.12.2016

Article 11¹

1. If legal relations require identification and certification of identity of a citizen of Georgia or of an alien residing in Georgia, any natural or legal person being a party to the legal relations, who has lawfully obtained details of the ID (residence) card of a respective person from the electronic database of the Agency, may use the details as the identity document to identify the person.

2. A document under the legislation of Georgia which contains the first name, the last name, and the personal number of a citizen of Georgia or an alien residing in Georgia may be used as the identity document to identify a person if the necessary information for certifying the identity is duly verified in the electronic database of the Agency.

Law of Georgia No 1391 of 11 July 2009 - LHG I, No 21, 3.8.2009, Art. 109

Law of Georgia No 5852 of 16 March 2012 - website, 29.3.2012

Article 12

1. An ID card of a citizen of Georgia shall certify the citizenship of Georgia, the identity, and the place of residence of a person.

2. A residence card shall certify the citizenship of an alien residing in Georgia, his/her identity, and the place of residence within Georgia.

3. A temporary residence card issued to a person with international protection may certify his/her citizenship, identity, status, and place of residence in the territory of Georgia.

4. A temporary ID card shall certify the citizenship, identity and status of a person staying in Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 2629 of 28 December 2005 - LHG I, No 3, 16.1.2006, Art. 23

Law of Georgia No 5973 of 21 March 2008 - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art. 60

Law of Georgia No 5371 of 6 December 2011 - website, 20.12.2011

Law of Georgia No 2051 of 5 March 2014 - website, 17.3.2014

Law of Georgia No 51 of 1 December 2016 - website, 15.12.2016

Article 13

1. The Agency shall issue and replace ID (residence) cards through its territorial offices. Citizens of Georgia staying abroad may apply to a diplomatic mission or consular office of Georgia abroad for obtaining or replacing an electronic ID card.

2. Deleted – 29.5.2014, No 2480).

3. Territorial offices of the Agency shall issue ID and residence cards (except for temporary residence cards) on the 10^th business day after submitting documents under this Law, or in an expedited manner, within the time frame as determined by an ordinance of the Government of Georgia. Electronic ID cards shall be issued based on an application filed with a diplomatic mission or consular offices of Georgia abroad within 45 days after filing the application.

4. If there is an inconsistency in issued documents, except as provided for by the legislation of Georgia, the details contained in birth records shall be deemed as accurate details; and the details contained in birth certificates shall be deemed accurate for persons whose birth was registered in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, the former Autonomous Region of South Ossetia, or abroad, and whose birth records are absent.

Law of Georgia No 181 of 24 June 2004 – LHG I, No 19, 15.7.2004, Art. 93

Law of Georgia No 2629 of 28 December 2005 - LHG I, No 3, 16.1.2006, Art. 23

Law of Georgia No 5973 of 21 March 2008 - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art.60

Law of Georgia No 3355 of 6 July 2010 - LHG I, No 41, 21.7.2010, Art. 255

Law of Georgia No 3653 of 1 October 2010 - LHG I, No 53, 11.10.2010, Art.337

Law of Georgia No 4937 of 24 June 2011 - website, 14.7.2011

Law of Georgia No 5563 of 20 December 2011 - website, 28.12.2011

Law of Georgia No 2480 of 29 May 2014 - website, 29.5.2014

Article 14

1. An ID (residence) card of a citizen of Georgia shall consist of two pages; it shall be printed and completed in the Georgian language, and in the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia also in Abkhazian language.

2. An ID card of a citizen of Georgia shall be issued to persons under the age of 18 for four years, and to persons that have attained the age of 18 – for 10 years. ID cards under paragraph 10 of this article to be issued by territorial offices of the Agency, except for electronic ID cards, shall be issued for up to six months as determined by an order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia.

3. Details of an ID card shall be:

a) first name

b) last name

c) date of birth

d) place of birth

e) personal number

f) photo with an official seal of a territorial office of the Agency

g) signature of a card holder

h) name of the issuing authority

i) signature of a person authorised by a territorial office of the Agency

j) embossed seal

k) date of issue

l) validity of a card

m) address

n) date of registration.

3¹. (Deleted – 29.5.2014, No 2480)

4. An ID (residence) card of a citizen of Georgia may contain an electronic data carrier, in which the ID (residence) card details shall be electronically inserted (recorded) (electronic ID (residence) card).

4¹. An electronic ID (residence) card may contain a digital signature certificate, the corresponding closed key and protecting activation data to protect the key from unauthorised use, also certificates and/or keys designated for the protection of electronic ID (residence) cards and/or for the integrity, authenticity and confidentiality of the data inserted (recorded) in it.

5. An electronic data carrier must have sufficient storage capacity and features to ensure data integrity, authenticity, and confidentiality.

6. The technical specifications and standards that an electronic ID (residence) card must meet and the procedure for inserting (recording) the data under paragraphs 7 and 9 of this article in an electronic ID (residence) card shall be determined by an order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia.

6¹. An electronic ID (residence) card shall consist of two pages. It shall be printed and completed in the Georgian and English languages.

7. An electronic ID (residence) card must contain the following details:

a) first name

b) last name

c) date of birth

d) place of birth

d¹) citizenship

d²) gender

e) personal number

f) photo

g) signature of a card holder

h) (deleted – 24.6.2011, No 4937)

i) (deleted – 24.6.2011, No 4937)

j) name of the issuing authority

k) date of issue

l) validity of a card

m) authentication certificate, the corresponding closed key and protecting activation data to protect the key from unauthorised use

n) (deleted – 24.6.2011, No 4937)

8. (Deleted – 29.5.2014, No 2480)

9. Additional information about a person not provided for by this article may be entered (recorded) into an electronic ID (residence) card and appropriate electronic information medium only by consent of the person, within the scope of additional data determined by an order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia.

10. Territorial offices of the Agency that will be authorised to issue electronic ID (residence) cards shall be determined by an order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia. The territorial offices shall issue ID (residence) cards under paragraph 1 of this article if issuance of electronic ID (residence) cards is impossible for objective reasons.

10¹. Diplomatic missions and consular offices of Georgia abroad may accept applications for issuing only electronic ID cards and such applications may be filed only with the diplomatic missions and consular offices that are linked to the electronic database of the Agency.

11. A temporary identity certificate shall be issued for one year. The form of a temporary identity certificate shall be approved by an order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 1569 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 94

Law of Georgia No 181 of 24 June 2004 - LHG I, No 19, 15.7.2004, Art. 93

Law of Georgia No 2629 of 28 December 2005 - LHG I, No 3, 16.1.2006, Art. 23

Law of Georgia No 5973 of 21 March 2008, - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art. 60

Law of Georgia No 3355 of 6 July 2010 - LHG I, No 41, 21.7.2010, Art. 255

Law of Georgia No 3653 of 1 October 2010 - LHG I, No 53, 11.10.2010, Art. 337

Law of Georgia No 4049 of 15 December 2010 - LHG I, No 76, 29.12.2010, Art. 493

Law of Georgia No 4937 of 24 June 2011 - website, 14.7.2011

Law of Georgia No 5563 of 20 December 2011 - website, 28.12.2011

Law of Georgia No 2051 of 5 March 2014 - website, 17.3.2014

Law of Georgia No 2480 of 29 May 2014 - website, 29.5.2014

Article 15

1. A residence card details shall be:

a) first name

b) last name

c) date of birth

d) place of birth

e) personal number

f) photo with the official seal of a territorial office of the Agency

g) citizenship

h) name of the issuing authority

i) signature of a card holder

j) signature of a person authorised by a territorial office of the Agency

k) embossed seal

l) date of issue

m) address

n) date of registration

o) validity of a card.

2. A temporary residence card shall be valid for as long as the residence permit is valid, and a permanent residence card shall be valid for five years.

3. A temporary residence card issued to a refugee shall be valid for three years. A temporary residence card shall be issued to a person with humanitarian status or to a beneficiary of temporary protection for the period of validity of his/her humanitarian status or the status of a beneficiary of temporary protection.

Law of Georgia No 181 of 24 June 2004 - LHG I, No 19, 15.7.2004, Art. 93

Law of Georgia No 2629 of 28 December 2005 - LHG I, No 3, 16.1.2006, Art. 23

Law of Georgia No 5973 of 21 March 2008 - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art.60

Law of Georgia No 4937 of 24 June 2011 - website, 14.7.2011

Law of Georgia No 51 of 1 December 2016 - website, 15.12.2016

Article 16

1. To obtain an ID card of a citizen of Georgia, a person shall be obliged to submit an appropriate request, his/her birth certificate or other identity document, a photo; and if the submitted document or the one kept in the Agency database cannot certify that a person is a citizen of Georgia, and if it is necessary to verify his/her citizenship, the document certifying the citizenship of Georgia shall also be submitted. The list of identity documents that may be submitted and used instead of a birth certificate shall be compiled under an order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia.

2. Submission of the documents under this Law shall not be mandatory to obtain an ID card if the electronic database of the Agency contains the information in a respective document.

3. Paragraph 1 of this article shall not apply to submission of documents under this Law to the diplomatic missions or consular offices of Georgia that are not linked to the electronic database of the Agency.

Law of Georgia No 5973 of 21 March 2008 - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art. 60

Law of Georgia No 1391 of 11 July 2009 - LHG I, No 21, 3.8.2009, Art. 109

Law of Georgia No 4049 of 15 December 2010 - LHG I, No 76, 29.12.2010, Art. 493

Law of Georgia No 4937 of 24 June 2011 - website, 14.7.2011

Article 17

1. To obtain a residence card, a person shall be obliged to submit a document certifying the citizenship of any other state or his/her statelessness, photos, and the document certifying his/her legal residence in Georgia.

1¹. The documents shall be submitted in copies that are translated into the Georgian language, and certified under the legislation of Georgia. The Agency may accept the passport of a foreign national without Georgian translation if it contains the alien’s personal data in Latin transliteration.

2. To obtain a residence card, a person with international protection shall submit only a document certifying the status granted to him/her in the framework of international protection, and the photos.

3. Submission of the documents under this Law shall not be mandatory to obtain a residence card if the electronic database of the Agency contains the information in a respective document.

Law of Georgia No 5973 of 21 March 2008 - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art.60

Law of Georgia No 1391 of 11 July 2009 - LHG I, No 21, 3.8.2009, Art. 109

Law of Georgia No 3355 of 6 July 2010 - LHG I, No 41, 21.7.2010, Art. 255

Law of Georgia No 5371 of 6 December 2011 - website, 20.12.2011

Law of Georgia No 51 of 1 December 2016 - website, 15.12.2016

Article 18

1. A person shall be obliged to replace his/her ID (residence) card if:

a) the validity of a card has expired;

b) the place of residence has changed;

c) the first name or last name has changed;

d) an inaccuracy in the record has been identified;

e) the ID (residence) card has become unfit for use (wear-out, damage) or has been lost.

2. Paragraph 1(b) of this article shall not apply to an electronic ID (residence) card.

3. An electronic ID (residence) card shall be suspended:

a) if so provided for by Article 5(3) of this Law;

b) if a person is deregistered in the cases and as determined under the legislation of Georgia.

4. An ID (residence) card shall be cancelled if:

a) an interested person has failed to pick up the produced ID (residence) card within one year after expiry of the term determined under the legislation of Georgia for issuing identity (residence) cards;

b) an interested person has replaced the ID (residence) card;

c) reasons under paragraph 1(c) and (d) of this article were revealed after the ID (residence) card was issued;

d) a person has submitted forged documents to obtain an ID (residence) card, and which was revealed after the ID (residence) card was issued;

e) a person is deregistered in the cases and as determined by the legislation of Georgia.

5. Additional reasons for replacing, suspending, and cancelling ID (residence) cards may be determined by an order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 1569 of 21 June 2002 - LHG I, No 21, 12.7.2002, Art. 94

Law of Georgia No 2629 of 28 December 2005 - LHG I, No 3, 16.1.2006, Art. 23

Law of Georgia No 4937 of 24 June 2011 - website, 14.7.2011

Law of Georgia No 5563 of 20 December 2011 - website, 28.12.2011

Article 19

1. A person, whose Georgian citizenship has been terminated, shall be obliged to hand in his/her ID card to a territorial office of the Agency, diplomatic mission or consular office of Georgia.

1¹. (Deleted).

2. A foreign national or a stateless person, who no longer resides in Georgia, shall be obliged to hand in his/her residence card to a territorial office of the Agency.

3. An ID (residence) card of a deceased person, also a found ID (residence) card, must be handed in to a territorial office of the Agency. After the ID (residence) card of a deceased person is cancelled, it shall be returned to the person who submitted the card.

Law of Georgia No 181 of 24 June 2004 - LHG I, No 19, 15.7.2004, Art. 93

Law of Georgia No 2629 of 28 December 2005 - LHG I, No 3, 16.1.2006, Art. 23

Law of Georgia No 5973 of 21 March 2008 - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art. 60

Law of Georgia No 2213 of 1 December 2009 - LHG I, No 42, 10.12.2009, Art. 315

Law of Georgia No 4937 of 24 June 2011 - website, 14.7.2011

Article 20

1. It shall be prohibited to seize an ID (residence) card, except as provided for by the legislation, or to pledge an ID (residence) card.

2. Procedures and terms for executing and issuing documents certifying the identity and citizenship of Georgia, also for registering and identifying aliens, shall be determined by an order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia; and the procedure, time frames and scopes for exercising these rights and/or performing individual acts necessary for exercising such rights by a diplomatic mission or consular office of Georgia abroad shall also be determined by a joint order of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and Minister of Justice of Georgia.

2¹. Terms and procedures for delegating representative powers to a third person by electronic communication means in order to enjoy services within powers of the Agency shall be defined by an order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia.

3. The procedure for administrative bodies to use records stored by the Agency and the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, as well as the procedure for issuing and exchanging these records to conduct a criminal prosecution and investigative activities, shall be defined by an ordinance of the Government of Georgia.

4. The Agency may issue personal data related to a person’s registration according to the place of residence or to consular registration, also personal data contained in the identity document under a contract with a business entity or a non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entity under private law as determined by the Law of Georgia on Entrepreneurs, if there is a consent of a person the information refers to. The consent shall be deemed given if from the gist of acts performed/to be performed by the information requesting agency with regard to the respective person or from any other circumstance could be presumed that the person consents to issuance of his/her personal data.

Law of Georgia No 181 of 24 June 2004 - LHG I, No 19, 15.7.2004, Art. 93

Law of Georgia No 5973 of 21 March 2008 - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art. 60

Law of Georgia No 1926 of 3 November 2009 - LHG I, No 35, 19.11.2009, Art. 236

Law of Georgia No 4049 of 15 December 2010 - LHG I, No 76, 29.12.2010, Art. 493

Law of Georgia No 4937 of 24 June 2011 - website, 14.7.2011

Law of Georgia No 5563 of 20 December 2011 - website, 28.12.2011

Law of Georgia No 2480 of 29 May 2014 - website, 29.5.2014

Law of Georgia No 3938 of 8 July 2015 – website, 15.7.2015

Chapter III¹ - Procedure for Issuing a Passport of Citizen of Georgia, a Service Passport of Citizen of Georgia, a Travel Passport of Stateless Person with Status in Georgia, or a Travel Passport of Humanitarian Status Holder and a Travel Document of a Refugee

Law of Georgia No 181 of 24 June 2004 - LHG I, No 19, 15.7.2004, Art. 93

Law of Georgia No 5973 of 21 March 2008 - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art.60

Law of Georgia No 5371 of 6 December 2011 - website, 20.12.2011

Law of Georgia No 6301 of 25 May 2012 - website, 12.6.2012

Law of Georgia No 51 of 1 December 2016 - website, 15.12.2016

Article 20¹

1. A passport of citizens of Georgia (‘the passport’) shall be the identity and the citizenship document of a citizen of Georgia within and beyond the territory of Georgia.

1¹. A travel passport of a stateless person with status in Georgia or a person with humanitarian status (‘the travel passport’) and a travel document of a refugee (‘the travel document’) shall be the documents that certify their identity and civil status both in and beyond the territory of Georgia. Where a travel passport is issued for a person with humanitarian status, the status of its holder shall be indicated on the document.

1². A business passport of citizens of Georgia shall be the document that certifies their identity, citizenship, and status within and beyond the territory of Georgia. Business passports of Georgia shall be a diplomatic passport and a business passport.

2. The passport shall be the property of Georgia and shall be issued to citizens of Georgia for their departure from Georgia, travelling abroad, and entry into Georgia.

2¹. A travel document shall be issued to persons having a refugee status for their departure from Georgia, travelling abroad, and entry into Georgia.

2². A travel document or a travel passport of a person with humanitarian status shall be valid respectively for a refugee or for a person with humanitarian status to depart from Georgia to foreign states (except for the state of his/her citizenship or the state of his/her former permanent residence; or except for the states where his/her condition and/or his/her family members’ condition is not considered safe).

2³. A travel passport shall be issued for a stateless person with status in Georgia or for a person with humanitarian status for his/her departure from Georgia, travelling abroad, and entry into Georgia.

3. The Agency, through its territorial offices, shall issue a passport to citizens of Georgia residing in Georgia, or a travel passport to a stateless person with status in Georgia or to a person with humanitarian status, or a travel document to persons with refugee status.

3¹. Territorial offices of the Agency shall issue a passport to citizens of Georgia staying abroad. Citizens of Georgia staying abroad may file an application for a passport to the diplomatic mission or consular office of Georgia abroad.

4. The Agency shall provide the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia with passport forms.

5. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia shall issue a business passport of a citizen of Georgia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia shall issue a business passport of a citizen of Georgia with biometric data. Based on the data processed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, the Agency shall produce a business passport with biometric data and the Agency or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia shall deliver it to the holder.

5¹. The procedure for storing and keeping record of high-security forms under this Law that are received by territorial offices from the Agency shall be established by an order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia.

5². (Deleted).

6. A travel passport and a travel document shall be issued under the procedure established by this Law for issuing passports (documents under Article 20²(7⁸) of this Law shall not be submitted electronically when issuing travel passports and travel documents).

Law of Georgia No 181 of 24 June 2004 - LHG I, No 19, 15.7.2004, Art. 93

Law of Georgia No 2629 of 28 December 2005 - LHG I, No 3, 16.1.2006, Art. 23

Law of Georgia No 5973 of 21 March 2008 - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art.60

Law of Georgia No 3355 of 6 July 2010 - LHG I, No 41, 21.7.2010, Art. 255

Law of Georgia No 3653 of 1 October 2010 - LHG I, No 53, 11.10.2010, Art.337

Law of Georgia No 4049 of 15 December 2010 - LHG I, No 76, 29.12.2010, Art.493

Law of Georgia No 5371 of 6 December 2011 - website, 20.12.2011

Law of Georgia No 6301 of 25 May 2012 - website, 12.6.2012

Law of Georgia No 2480 of 29 May 2014 - website, 29.5.2014

Law of Georgia No 51 of 1 December 2016 - website, 15.12.2016

Article 20²

1. Citizens of Georgia shall have the right to obtain a passport.

1¹. The group of persons entitled to obtain a business passport and the procedure for issuing business passports shall be defined by an ordinance of the Government of Georgia.

2. Territorial offices of the Agency shall issue passports on the 10^th business day after interested persons submit all documents required by this Law, or in an expedited manner, within the timeframe as determined by an ordinance of the Government of Georgia. Based on an application submitted to a diplomatic mission or consular office of Georgia abroad, passports without biometric data shall be issued within one month and passports with biometric data shall be issued within 45 days after the application is filed.

2¹. In the case under paragraph 8¹(h) of this article, the Agency shall make a decision within a period of one month after the application is filed, and in the case under paragraph 8¹(i) of the same article – within a period of three days.

3. When issuing a passport, no additional documents other than those provided for by this Law shall be requested.

4. Citizens of Georgia of full legal age and capacity, also representatives of minors shall have the right to make an application for granting a passport. A guardianship and custodianship agency shall also have the right to make an application for granting a passport to homeless children and/or child victims of violence.

4¹. Minors who have attained the age of 14 shall also have the right to make an application for a passport if they hold ID cards of a citizen of Georgia.

5. (Deleted).

6. (Deleted).

7. Interested persons shall submit the ID card of a citizen of Georgia, the photo and the service fee payment receipt along with an application form.

7¹. A citizen of Georgia staying abroad, who has obtained the passport or ID card of a citizen of Georgia, also who has at least once got registered according to this Law, may obtain the passport of a citizen of Georgia without presenting the ID card of a citizen of Georgia.

7². Stateless persons with status in Georgia or persons with humanitarian status shall present residence cards instead of ID cards to obtain a travel passport; and persons with refugee status shall present residence cards instead of ID cards to obtain a travel document.

7³. Persons shall not be required to submit a service fee payment receipt to obtain a service passport or a travel document, and persons with humanitarian status shall not be required to submit a service fee payment receipt to obtain a travel passport.

7⁴. Where so provided for by a joint order of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and the Minister of Justice of Georgia or by an order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia, citizens of Georgia staying abroad (including minor citizens of Georgia whose legal representatives are also staying abroad) may apply through their legal representatives for a passport to a territorial office of the Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, diplomatic missions or consular offices of Georgia abroad. Legal representation must be evidenced as determined by the legislation of Georgia.

7⁵. Where so provided for by a joint order of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and the Minister of Justice of Georgia, citizens of Georgia staying abroad may apply for a passport by mail to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia or diplomatic missions or consular offices of Georgia abroad.

7⁶. Submission of documents under paragraph 7 of this article shall not be mandatory if the electronic database of the Agency contains the information in a respective document.

7⁷. Paragraph 7⁶ of this article shall not apply to submission of documents along with an application form to the diplomatic missions and consular offices of Georgia that are not linked to the electronic database of the Agency.

7⁸. Citizens of Georgia staying abroad, who have obtained passports or ID cards of a citizen of Georgia, or who have been registered as determined by this Law; also minor citizens of Georgia having attained the age of 14, who have obtained passports or ID cards of a citizen of Georgia and who can be identified in the electronic database of the Agency, may submit an application form and other documents under the legislation of Georgia in electronic form to obtain a passport, as determined by an order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia.

8. A passport to a minor or a beneficiary of support shall be issued under the consent of his/her legal representative or supporter expressed in the presence of an authorised person of the Agency or a consular official. The consent may be expressed in writing and shall be certified notarially. The consent may also be expressed before an authorised person of the Agency by means of electronic communication. A passport shall be granted to homeless children and/or child victims of violence with the consent of the guardianship and custodianship agency as well.

8¹. Consent of one of the legal representatives expressed as defined in paragraph 8 of this Article shall only suffice if:

a) the minor has attained the age of 16;

b) the minor has not got the other legal representative;

c) the other legal representative has been recognised as a beneficiary of support;

d) the other legal representative has been recognised as missing or declared dead by a court;

e) there is a legally effective court decision on terminating, suspending or restricting parental rights for other legal representative;

f) the other legal representative is wanted under the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia;

g) the other legal representative is unable to express his/her will due to severe illness, which is evidenced by an appropriate certificate;

h) the whereabouts of the other legal representative has been unknown and all reasonable means for the identification of his/her whereabouts have been used up;

i) it is necessary to temporarily take the minor out of Georgia for his/her treatment purposes or for exercising his/her rights and freedoms, and the whereabouts of the other legal representative is unknown, or he/she refuses to give permission for issuing the passport to the prejudice of the minor’s best interests.

8². Minors between the age of 16 and 18 shall require no consent of their legal representatives to obtain a passport if they are in registered marriage.

8³. If a notarised consent of both legal representatives cannot be obtained when issuing a travel document to a minor with refugee or humanitarian status due to the fact that the one of the legal representatives is in a country where the minor is persecuted, or the minor is a child of a single parent, or the other legal representative has died, is a beneficiary of support, or is missing, and if these circumstances cannot be evidenced by an appropriate document/documents, an appropriate certificate issued by the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia may be submitted instead of that document/documents.

8⁴. Minors (who have attained the age of 14) staying abroad shall not be obliged to submit their ID cards to obtain passports.

8⁵. In cases under paragraph 8¹(h, i) of this article, a passport shall be issued to a minor on the basis of a substantiated written decision of an authorised official of the Civil and Population Registration Service of the Agency.

8⁶. The consent or other document evidencing representative powers to issue a passport that is certified by a notary or other competent body of any other country, may be accepted by the authorised bodies of Georgia without legalisation and apostillisation.

9. The procedure for issuing and executing passports, travel passports, or travel documents, the procedure for communicating decisions on issuance of passports, travel passports, or travel documents to interested parties, and the procedure for delivering passports, travel passports, or travel documents to interested parties shall be determined by an order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia; and the procedure, time frames and scopes for exercising these rights and/or performing individual acts necessary for exercising such rights by diplomatic missions or consular offices of Georgia abroad shall also be determined by a joint order of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and Minister of Justice of Georgia.

9¹) The form of a written consent for the issuance of a passport to a minor or a beneficiary of support expressed by his/her legal representatives or supporter in the presence of an authorised person of the Agency or a consular official, or of a consent expressed before an authorised person of the Agency by means of electronic communication shall be approved by the Minister of Justice of Georgia.

10. (Deleted – 20.9.2013, No 1265).

Law of Georgia No 181 of 24 June 2004 - LHG I, No 19, 15.7.2004, Art. 93

Law of Georgia No 2629 of 28 December 2005 - LHG I, No 3, 16.1.2006, Art. 23

Law of Georgia No 5487 of 22 November 2007 - LHG I, No 42, 6.12.2007, Art. 387

Law of Georgia No 5973 of 21 March 2008 - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art. 60

Law of Georgia No 1391 of 11 July 2009 - LHG I, No 21, 3.8.2009, Art. 109

Law of Georgia No 2213 of 1 December 2009 - LHG I, No 42, 10.12.2009, Art. 315

Law of Georgia No 3653 of 1 October 2010 - LHG I, No 53, 11.10.2010, Art.337

Law of Georgia No 3716 of 15 October 2010 - LHG I, No 57, 25.10.2010, Art. 372

Law of Georgia No 4049 of 15 December 2010 - LHG I, No 76, 29.12.2010, Art.493

Law of Georgia No 4937 of 24 June 2011 - website, 14.7.2011

Law of Georgia No 5371 of 6 December 2011 - website, 20.12.2011

Law of Georgia No 5563 of 20 December 2011 - website, 28.12.2011

Law of Georgia No 6301 of 25 May 2012 - website, 12.6.2012

Law of Georgia No 1265 of 20 September 2013 - website, 2.10.2013

Law of Georgia No 2480 of 29 May 2014 - website, 29.5.2014

Law of Georgia No 5563 of 20 December 2011 - website, 28.12.2011

Law of Georgia No 3390 of 20 March 2015 - website, 31.3.2015

Law of Georgia No 3701 of 12 June 2015 - website, 15.6.2015

Law of Georgia No 4845 of 4 March 2016 - website, 22.3.2016

Law of Georgia No 5448 of 22 June 2016 - website, 12.7.2016

Law of Georgia No 51 of 1 December 2016 - website, 15.12.2016

Article 20³

1. (Deleted – 24.6.2011, No 4937).

2. Passports, travel passports, business passports, and travel documents may be issued with biometric data content (biometric passports).

2¹. Biometric passports must contain the following details:

a) first name of a passport holder

b) surname of a passport holder

c) citizenship of a passport holder

d) date of birth of a passport holder

e) personal number of a passport holder

f) photo of a passport holder

g) gender of a passport holder

h) place of birth of a passport holder

i) date of passport issuance

j) validity of a passport

k) name of the issuing authority

l) indication of the passport type

m) country code

n) passport number

o) signature of a passport holder

p) notes (for special comments to be made in the passport).

3. A biometric passport must have a data carrier (chip) that, along with the other data, contains the face image, fingerprints, and specimen signature of a passport holder. Technical specifications of a biometric passport shall be defined by an order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia.

4. The data carrier must have sufficient storage capacity and features to ensure data integrity, authenticity, and confidentiality by an order.

5. In addition to the details under paragraphs 2¹ and 7 of this article, other details may be determined by an order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia.

6. Passports without biometric data may be issued when biometric data cannot be obtained from individuals due to their health problems, physical condition, or other reasons defined by an order of the Chairman of the Agency.

7. Passports shall contain the following details:

a) first name of a passport holder

b) surname of a passport holder

c) citizenship of a passport holder

d) date of birth of a passport holder

e) personal number of a passport holder

f) photo of a passport holder

g) gender of a passport holder

h) place of birth of a passport holder

i) date of passport issuance

j) validity of the passport

k) signature of an authorised officer of a territorial office of the Agency, diplomatic mission or consular office of Georgia abroad

l) signature of a passport holder

m) stamp

n) country code

o) passport number

p) passport type.

Law of Georgia No 181 of 24 June 2004 - LHG I, No 19, 15.7.2004, Art. 93

Law of Georgia No1231 of 6 April 2005 - LHG I, No 18, 27.4.2005, Art. 108

Law of Georgia No 2629 of 28 December 2005 - LHG I, No 3, 16.1.2006, Art. 23

Law of Georgia No 806 of 19 December 2008 - LHG I, No 40, 29.12.2008, Art. 267

Law of Georgia No 2213 of 1 December 2009 - LHG I, No 42, 10.12.2009, Art. 315

Law of Georgia No 4937 of 24 June 2011 - website, 14.7.2011

Law of Georgia No 5371of 6 December 2011 - website, 20.12.2011

Law of Georgia No 5563 of 20 December 2011 - website, 28.12.2011

Law of Georgia No 2480 of 29 May 2014 - website, 29.5.2014

Article 20⁴

1. Passports with biometric data shall be valid for 10 years, and passports with biometric data issued to persons under the age of 18 shall be valid for three years. Where more than one passport with biometric data is held simultaneously, the other and each subsequent passport, as well as passports without biometric data shall be valid for one year.

1¹. Travel documents shall be valid for two years.

1². Travel passports for stateless persons with status in Georgia shall be issued for two years, and for persons with humanitarian status – for 1 year. If the remaining period of validity of a residence permit issued to a person is shorter than the respective period defined by this paragraph, a travel passport shall be issued for the remaining validity period of the residence permit.

1³. For stateless persons with status in Georgia, who held permanent residence cards before the Edict of the President of Georgia on Approval of the Procedure for Establishing the Status of Stateless Persons came into force, travel passports shall be valid for five years.

2. (Deleted).

3. (Deleted).

4. (Deleted).

5. Passports or neutral travel documents may be suspended by a court judgement, as determined by the Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia. Based on a relevant notice on suspending the validity of passports or neutral travel documents, also on cancelling the measure for suspending the validity of passports or neutral travel documents, a relevant record shall be made in the electronic database of the Agency.

6. Suspension of the validity of a passport of a citizen of Georgia shall mean restricting the right of a holder to depart from Georgia, or to travel abroad.

7. If passports, travel passports (including travel passports of persons with humanitarian status), or travel documents failed to be delivered to interested persons as provided by the legislation of Georgia, the documents shall be kept in the respective territorial office of the Agency for one year. After the expiry of this period, passports, travel passports (including travel passports of persons with humanitarian status), and travel documents shall be cancelled and destroyed under the legislation of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 181 of 24 June 2004 - LHG I, No 19, 15.7.2004, Art. 93

Law of Georgia No 1231 of 6 April 2005 - LHG I, No 18, 27.4.2005, Art. 108

Law of Georgia No 2629 of 28 December 2005 - LHG I, No 3, 16.1.2006, Art. 23

Law of Georgia No 5973 of 21 March 2008 - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art. 60

Law of Georgia No 4937 of 24 June 2011 - website, 14.7.2011

Law of Georgia No 4986 of 1 July 2011 - website, 15.7.2011

Law of Georgia No 5371 of 6 December 2011 - website, 20.12.2011

Law of Georgia No 6301 of 25 May 2012 - website, 12.6.2012

Law of Georgia No 2480 of 29 May 2014 - website, 29.5.2014

Law of Georgia No 51 of 1 December 2016 - website, 15.12.2016

Article 20⁵

1. Passports and travel documents shall be replaced by request of individuals as determined by this Law if:

a) the first name and/or the last name is changed;

b) inaccuracies are determined in the records;

c) the pages in the passport or travel document intended for visas have been used up;

d) the passport or the travel document becomes unfit for use (worn-out, damaged), or is lost.

2. When replacing a passport due to the first name and/or last name change, or due to detection of an inaccuracy in the records, when the passport is granted without issuing an ID card in the cases under this Law, the request shall be accompanied with documents evidencing the name change or the inaccuracy (a copy of the first name and/or last name change certificate, a copy of the birth certificate, or a copy of the marriage certificate, etc.).

2¹. Submission of documents under paragraph 2 of this article shall not be mandatory if the electronic database of the Agency contains the information in the respective document.

2². Paragraph 2¹ of this article shall not apply when submitting documents to accompany the request to the diplomatic missions and consular offices of Georgia that are not linked with the electronic database of the Agency.

3. If the passport to be replaced contains a valid consular visa, it shall be returned to the holder together with a new passport.

4. (Deleted).

5. A lost passport shall be deemed invalid from the date of issuance of a new passport.

6. The passport in which arbitrary corrections are made, or signs of forgery, decomposition, etc. could be observed, must be seized from the holder.

7. Persons who make arbitrary corrections in passports, or forge passports, or otherwise violate the procedure determined by this Law shall be held liable under the legislation.

8. In case of revocation of consent for the issuance of a passport to a minor or beneficiary of support expressed according to Article 20²(8 and 9¹) of this Law by one of the legal representatives or the supporter, a passport issued to the minor or beneficiary of support staying in Georgia shall be cancelled.

9. Additional grounds for the replacement, suspension and cancellation of a passport, a travel passport or a travel document may be determined by an order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 181 of 24 June 2004 - LHG I, No 19, 15.7.2004, Art. 93

Law of Georgia No 2629 of 28 December 2005 - LHG I, No 3, 16.1.2006, Art. 23

Law of Georgia No 5973 of 21 March 2008 - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art.60

Law of Georgia No 1391 of 11 July 2009 - LHG I, No 21, 3.8.2009, Art. 109

Law of Georgia No 4937 of 24 June 2011 - website, 14.7.2011

Law of Georgia No 4845 of 4 March 2016 - website, 22.3.2016

Law of Georgia No 51 of 1 December 2016 - website, 15.12.2016

Article 20⁶

1. Persons whose citizenship of Georgia has been terminated under the legislation shall be obliged to hand in their passports to a territorial office of the Agency, diplomatic mission or consular office of Georgia.

2. Documents collected during issuance of a passport shall be destroyed as determined by the legislation. After the replaced passport is cancelled, it shall be returned to the holder together with a new passport.

3. Passports that are not executed under this Law shall be void.

Law of Georgia No 181 of 24 June 2004 - LHG I, No 19, 15.7.2004, Art. 93

Law of Georgia No 2629 of 28 December 2005 - LHG I, No 3, 16.1.2006, Art. 23

Article 20⁷ (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 2629 of 28 December 2005 - LHG I, No 3, 16.1.2006, Art. 23

Law of Georgia No 5973 of 21 March 2008 - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art.60

Law of Georgia No 3355 of 6 July 2010 - LHG I, No 41, 21.7.2010, Art. 255

Article 20⁸ (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 2629 of 28 December 2005 - LHG I, No 3, 16.1.2006, Art. 23

Law of Georgia No 806 of 19 December 2008, - LHG I, No 40, 29.12.2008, Art. 267

Chapter III² - Transitional Provision

Law of Georgia No 5973 of 21 March 2008 - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art.60

Article 20⁹

Citizens of Georgia and aliens residing in Georgia who are not registered as determined by law shall be obliged to get registered not later than 1 July 2012.

Law of Georgia No 5973 of 21 March 2008 - LHG I, No 9, 4.4.2008, Art.60

Law of Georgia No 4937 of 24 June 2011 - website, 14.7.2011

Article 20¹⁰

1. The Agency shall ensure that organisational and technical measures necessary to issue passports, travel passports, business passports, and travel documents with biometric data are implemented.

2. The Agency shall ensure that organisational and technical measures necessary to issue electronic ID (residence) cards are implemented.

Law of Georgia No 806 of 19 December 2008 - LHG I, No 40, 29.12.2008, Art. 267

Law of Georgia No 4937 of 24 June 2011 - website, 14.7.2011

Law of Georgia No 5371 of 6 December 2011 - website, 20.12.2011

Article 20¹¹

1. Valid passports of a citizen of Georgia issued under Annex No 2 to Order No 652 of 16 April 2005 of the Minister of Justice of Georgia on Approving the Form of Passports of a Citizen of Georgia shall be declared invalid as from 1 January 2011.

2. A passport under paragraph 1 of this article shall remain valid if:

a) its holder is abroad – until the holders returns to Georgia, or obtains a new passport of a citizen of Georgia abroad;

b) a valid foreign visa is in the passport – until the visa expires; the holder may cross the border of Georgia with this passport only together with a biometric passport of a citizen of Georgia.

Law of Georgia No 3355 of 6 July 2010 - LHG I, No 41, 21.7.2010, Art. 255

Article 20¹²

The procedure for consular officials to exercise powers delegated by the Agency shall be defined by a joint order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia before 15 October 2010.

Law of Georgia No 3653 of 1 October 2010 - LHG I, No 53, 11.10.2010, Art.337

Article 20¹³

1. Until Georgian jurisdiction over the territories of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region (former Autonomous Region of South Ossetia) is fully restored, neutral ID cards and/or neutral travel documents shall be issued to persons legitimately residing in the territories of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region (former Autonomous Region of South Ossetia), if so desired.

2. Persons who have been issued ID cards of a citizen of Georgia and/or passports of a citizen of Georgia shall not be authorized to obtain neutral ID cards and/or neutral travel documents.

3. Neutral ID cards and/or neutral travel documents shall be issued by the Agency that exercises powers through its authorised territorial offices.

4. When reviewing the issuance of neutral ID cards and/or neutral travel documents, the procedure for interaction of the Agency’s authorised territorial office with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia and the State Security Service of Georgia to identify circumstances that impede the issuance of important and appropriate documents for the case in terms of national security and public safety shall be defined by an ordinance of the Government of Georgia.

5. Additional limitations on issuance of neutral ID cards and/or neutral travel documents in terms of national security and public safety may be imposed by an order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia.

6. Blank forms of neutral ID cards or neutral travel documents, and their descriptions, as well as the procedures for executing, issuing, and cancelling neutral ID cards and neutral travel documents shall be defined by an order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia.

7. Article 2(4-5) and Article 11¹ of this Law shall apply to neutral ID cards.

Law of Georgia No 4986 of 1 July 2011 - website, 15.7.2011

Law of Georgia No 3938 of 8 July 2015 – website, 15.7.2015

Article 20¹⁴

1. Passports to persons who were recognised as legally incompetent by court before 1 April 2015 and whose individual examination has not been conducted shall be issued under notarised consent of their legal representatives expressed in writing in the presence of an authorised person of the Agency or a consular official, or under consent expressed by means of electronic communication before an authorised person of the Agency, as determined by an order of the Minister of Justice of Georgia.

2. Consent of either of the parents expressed as provided for in Article 20²(8), except for the cases specified in Article 20²(8¹), shall suffice if the other parent was recognised as legally incompetent by court before 1 April 2015 and his/her individual examination has not been conducted.

3. If a notarised consent of both legal representatives cannot be obtained for issuing a travel document or a travel passport for a minor with refugee or humanitarian status due to the fact that the other legal representative is in a country where the minor is persecuted or in a country bearing a risk of serious harm for him/her, or the minor does not have another legal representative, or the latter has died or is missing, or was recognised as legally incompetent by court before 1 April 2015 and his/her individual examination has not been conducted, and if these circumstances cannot be evidenced by an appropriate document, an appropriate certificate issued by the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia may be submitted instead of that document.

Law of Georgia No 3390 of 20 March 2015 - website, 31.3.2015

Law of Georgia No 3701 of 12 June 2015 - website, 15.6.2015

Law of Georgia No 51 of 1 December 2016 - website, 15.12.2016

Chapter IV - Final Provisions

Article 21 (Deleted)

Law of Georgia No 1772 of 24 June 2005 - LHG I, No 39, 16.7.2005, Art. 263

Article 22

1. Violation of the provisions of this Law shall give rise to liability under the legislation of Georgia.

2. Persons who notify an authorised registration body of the change of their place of residence, and who meet other requirements under this Law may not be held liable for having no registration.

Article 22¹

Article 14(3)(n) and Article 15(n) of this Law shall take effect as from 1 May 2006.

Law of Georgia No 2629 of 28 December 2005 - LHG I, No 3, 16.1.2005, Art. 23

President of Georgia                                                                                                            Eduard Shevardnadze

Tbilisi

27 June 1996

No 323-IIს