Frequently asked questions: buying property in Georgia

Yes. Foreign individuals can buy apartments, houses, commercial property and non-agricultural land in Georgia on broadly the same terms as Georgian citizens. The main restriction is agricultural land: a foreign individual can generally acquire it only by inheritance. Most investors buy city or resort apartments in Batumi or Tbilisi, which are non-agricultural, so the restriction does not affect them.

Sources:⁠^S1 Organic Law on Agricultural Land Ownership, Art. 4.

We follow seven steps: (1) a consultation on your budget, goal and timeline; (2) a shortlist of projects that have passed our legal, financial and investment checks; (3) due diligence on the specific unit and contract; (4) reservation, contract and payment; (5) registration of your ownership with the National Agency of Public Registry (NAPR); (6) renovation and furnishing if the unit is unfinished; (7) rental management and regular performance reviews.

Sources:⁠^S18 SPG "Explore Georgia" page (Your Investment Journey).

For a standard purchase, a valid passport is the core document. If someone signs on your behalf, they need a notarized power of attorney; the Public Service Hall cannot certify one. If it is signed abroad, it needs an apostille or legalization, plus a Georgian translation notarized in Georgia; alternatively, you can sign it at a Georgian consulate. If you don't speak Georgian and sign in person, the contract must be filed with a Georgian translation (see "Do I need a notary or a lawyer?"). Your bank will also ask for proof of the source of your funds when you transfer the money. We send you a checklist for your specific project.

Sources:⁠^S24 Law of Georgia on Notaries, Arts. 42 and 55;⁠^S25 General Administrative Code, Art. 73;⁠^S23 Public Registry Instruction No. 487, Art. 56;⁠^S17 HCCH Apostille Convention status table.

These are the three finish levels used in Georgian new builds. Black frame: the structure, external walls and windows, with no internal finishing. White frame: plastered walls, screed and basic utility connections, ready for final finishing. Turnkey (green frame or fully renovated): finished and often furnished, ready to live in or rent. Black and white frame units usually cost less per m² but need a renovation budget and supervision. Turnkey units can earn rental income sooner.

Sources:⁠^S18 SPG FAQ and listing pages (finish levels by project).

Ownership is recorded in the Public Registry kept by NAPR. The state fee to register a change of ownership is GEL 150 for 4 working days, GEL 270 for 1 working day, or GEL 350 for registration on the day you apply. Once registration is complete, you can download an extract showing you as the owner.

Sources:⁠^S2 NAPR fees and terms.

Ask for a current Public Registry extract for the land plot or unit. It shows the registered owner and any mortgage, lien or seizure. NAPR issues extracts for GEL 20 (1 working day), or GEL 13 when requested online. As part of our legal check we also review the developer's land title, construction permit and project registration before recommending a project.

Sources:⁠^S2 NAPR fees (extracts);⁠^S18 SPG Legal Assessment.

It can be, provided the developer and the contract have been checked properly. The main risks are construction delays, a developer's financial difficulty, and contracts that don't protect the buyer. Before you pay, check the land title and permits, the developer's track record and actual construction progress, the payment schedule, the handover date and the penalties for delay, and when and how your ownership right will be registered. Our full checklist is in our article Buying off-plan in Batumi: a 12-point due-diligence checklist.

Sources:⁠^S18 SPG three-assessment framework;⁠^S2 NAPR (registration of rights and encumbrances).

Georgian law does not require a notary for a standard sale agreement. The parties' signatures can be certified by the NAPR official when the agreement is filed for registration (NAPR fee: GEL 7). That official only identifies the signatories; they don't review whether the contract is lawful, which is a good reason to have it checked independently, especially for off-plan purchases. If you don't speak Georgian, the contract must be filed with a Georgian translation, and the translator signs the translation in front of the NAPR official before you do. In practice, use a bilingual contract and bring a translator. If you sign before a notary instead, the notary must use an interpreter. A power of attorney must always be notarized.

Sources:⁠^S22 Civil Code of Georgia, Arts. 183 and 311¹;⁠^S23 Public Registry Instruction No. 487, Arts. 55–58;⁠^S2 NAPR fees;⁠^S24 Law of Georgia on Notaries, Art. 6(2).

Yes. A registered owner can sell freely, to Georgian or foreign buyers. How easy and profitable a resale is depends on location, building quality and reputation, view, finish, rental history and market demand, so we assess exit potential before we recommend a unit. Tax on any gain is explained under "Costs and taxes".

Sources:⁠^S18 SPG Investment Assessment;⁠^S16 tax on resale.

Georgia does not levy a separate property transfer tax or stamp duty. The main state cost is the NAPR registration fee (GEL 150–350, depending on speed). Budget also for a translation and translator if you don't speak Georgian, notary, apostille and translation costs if you use a power of attorney, an optional independent legal review, a certified valuation if you are applying for residency, and furnishing or renovation for unfinished units.

Sources:⁠^S4 Tax Code of Georgia, Art. 6 (list of national and local taxes);⁠^S2 NAPR fees.

Property tax in Georgia depends on family income, not nationality. For individuals, buildings and apartments are exempt if the family's total income in the previous calendar year did not exceed GEL 100,000. Above that, the annual rate is 0.8%–1% of the property's market value. Land is taxed separately, whatever the family's income. These rules come from Law № 1874-VIმს-XIმპ amending the Tax Code of Georgia, adopted on 30 September 2026; it applies to the property tax declared in 2026. Owners should get local tax advice on filing. Full breakdown: Property taxes and costs in Georgia for foreign owners.

Sources:⁠^S5 Law of Georgia № 1874-VIმს-XIმპ amending the Tax Code (30 Sep 2026);⁠^S20 Tax Code of Georgia, consolidated Georgian text, Arts. 202(5) and 206(1)(a);⁠^S21 Parliament of Georgia, 30 Sep 2026.

An individual who rents out a residential property for residential use can pay 5% of gross rental income, with no deductions. To use this rate, the landlord must be registered in the Revenue Service's register for this regime. Otherwise the general 20% personal income tax rate applies to net income. If SPG manages your unit, we can explain the registration process.

Sources:⁠^S4 Tax Code, Art. 81;⁠^S6 TaxConsultant.ge.

For individuals, a gain on selling a residential apartment or house owned for more than two years is generally exempt from personal income tax. If you sell within two years, the gain is generally taxed at 5%. Different rules can apply if property trading is treated as an entrepreneurial activity, so check your case with a tax adviser.

Sources:⁠^S4 Tax Code, Arts. 81(3) and 82(1)(f.a);⁠^S16 TP Solution.

Typical ongoing costs are the building service or maintenance charge, utilities, insurance, property tax if your family income exceeds the threshold, rental management fees if you let the unit, and periodic refurbishment.

Sources:⁠^S18 SPG listings;⁠^S4 Tax Code (property tax).

It can. Since 1 March 2026, a foreigner who owns non-agricultural real estate in Georgia with a certified market value above $150,000 (in GEL equivalent) can apply for a short-term residence permit. It is issued for one year and is renewable while you keep the property. If you already hold a permit issued under the earlier rules, you can keep renewing it while you keep the property; new applications must meet the $150,000 rule.

Sources:⁠^S7 Law No. 863-IIმს-XIმპ amending the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons;⁠^S8 Public Service Development Agency;⁠^S9 Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons;⁠^S10 EIG.

The value is the property's market value as certified by a valuer from an accredited body, not the price you paid. The permit can extend to your spouse and children. The application goes to the Public Service Development Agency (at the Public Service Hall or online), in person or through an authorized representative, and you must be lawfully in Georgia when you apply. The state fee is GEL 300 for a decision in 30 days, with faster options at GEL 450 (20 days) or GEL 600 (10 days).

Sources:;⁠^S7⁠^S8 Public Service Development Agency (documents, state fees);⁠^S9 (application, Art. 17);⁠^S10 EIG (family).

It is a separate route. A foreigner who owns non-agricultural property with a certified market value above $300,000, or who has made a qualifying investment of at least $300,000, can apply for an investment residence permit of up to five years. If the conditions are maintained, it can lead to permanent residence. It has additional document requirements, so plan it with a licensed immigration lawyer.

Sources:⁠^S8 Public Service Development Agency, residence permits.

No. Property ownership does not by itself give you Georgian citizenship. Citizenship is governed by the Organic Law on Georgian Citizenship and has its own conditions, such as residence requirements. A residence permit is not citizenship.

Sources:⁠^S11 Organic Law of Georgia on Georgian Citizenship.

Payment plans vary by project. Current listings on spg-realty.com show down payments from about 10% to 30%. Many offer interest-free developer installments during construction, sometimes with a further payment at handover. Terms change often, so we confirm the current plan in writing for each unit.

Sources:⁠^S18 SPG listing pages, Oct 2026.

Some listings show "mortgage with bank" as a payment option, and Georgian banks can lend to non-residents under their own credit criteria (income proof, down payment, valuation). Expect a larger down payment and more paperwork than for residents.

Sources:⁠^S18 SPG listing pages (payment methods).

Payments are normally made by international bank transfer to the developer's or seller's account named in the contract. Never pay into a personal account that isn't in the contract. For a ready property, link payment to registration: for example, pay when the sale is filed for registration, or use a notary deposit, or bank escrow (for example Terabank, which serves non-residents; usually GEL only). These are options, not a standard requirement. For off-plan purchases, tie installments to construction milestones. NAPR's Smart Contract service is available only to Georgian citizens, can't be used through a power of attorney and works in GEL only. Your bank will ask where the funds came from, so keep your documents ready.

Sources:⁠^S24 Law of Georgia on Notaries, Arts. 38(1)(n) and 54;⁠^S26 Notary Chamber of Georgia;⁠^S27 Terabank escrow service;⁠^S3 NAPR Smart Contract FAQ;.⁠^S18

There is no guaranteed return. As an independent benchmark, Global Property Guide puts Georgia's average gross rental yield at about 7.25% (Q3 2026): 7.28% in Batumi and 7.23% in Tbilisi. Gross yield is before taxes, management, maintenance, vacancy and other costs. As a general rule of thumb, net yields are about 1.5–2 percentage points lower; this is the same source's general note, not a Georgia-specific figure. Your result depends on the unit, price, location, finish, management and season. Worked example: Rental yields in Georgia 2026: gross vs net explained.

Sources:⁠^S13 Global Property Guide.

They suit different strategies. Batumi is a Black Sea resort city, so it suits short-term and holiday rentals with strong summer demand and quieter winters. Tbilisi, the capital, has year-round demand from residents, businesses, students and expatriates, so it suits long-term letting. On the buyer side, foreign buyers made up 52% of Batumi apartment transactions in August 2026, against 14% in Tbilisi. Full comparison: Batumi vs Tbilisi: where should you invest in 2026?

Sources:⁠^S13 GPG (city averages);⁠^S14 Colliers Georgia, Aug 2026;⁠^S12 GNTA (tourism).

Yes. SPG offers rental management, including preparation, marketing, guest or tenant handling and maintenance coordination. Clients follow income, expenses and returns on SPG's rental-management platform.

Sources:⁠^S18 SPG FAQ and About pages.

Yes. Many of our clients buy remotely. You can sign through a representative holding a power of attorney. It must be notarized (the Public Service Hall can't certify one); if it is signed abroad, it needs an apostille or legalization plus a Georgian translation notarized in Georgia, or you can sign it at a Georgian consulate. You then pay by bank transfer and receive your registration extract electronically. Whether your country uses the apostille or consular legalization depends on its membership of the Hague Apostille Convention. Step by step: How to buy property in Georgia remotely.

Sources:⁠^S24 Law of Georgia on Notaries, Arts. 42 and 55;⁠^S25 General Administrative Code, Art. 73;⁠^S23 Public Registry Instruction No. 487, Art. 56;⁠^S17 HCCH status table;⁠^S2 NAPR.

We arrange live video viewings and send photo and video updates on construction progress. You can also check a project's registry data yourself through an online NAPR extract.

Sources:⁠^S2 NAPR online extracts;⁠^S18 SPG services.

Yes. For black-frame and white-frame purchases, SPG coordinates planning, finishing and furnishing, and prepares the unit for rental or resale, with updates you can approve remotely.

Sources:⁠^S18 SPG FAQ (renovation support).

Every project passes three assessments before we recommend it. Legal Assessment: ownership documents, land title, construction permits, project registration, contract structure and the developer's legal status. Financial Assessment: the developer's stability, funding, construction progress and delivery record. Investment & Profit Assessment: location, rental demand, expected occupancy, resale potential and fit with your budget. If a project fails one of these, we don't offer it.

Sources:⁠^S18 SPG About Us and Explore Georgia pages.

Many of our listings are sold at the developer's price with "no commission" for the buyer. To start, message us on WhatsApp at +995 511 229 942, or request a tailored offer on any listing page. Our team works in Arabic, English, French, Russian and Georgian.

Sources:⁠^S18 SPG listing pages and contact details.