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GEORGIAN CITIZENSHIP FOR FOREIGNERS: HOW DOES IT WORK?
Kristine Pataraia
Daily Georgian Times
March 18 2008
Georgia
Canadian citizen Gregory Levonian, 43, filed for Georgia citizenship
on January 15, 2007. He passed his interview, cleared the criminal
background check and swore allegiance to his new homeland in just
four months.
"Well, I didn't think it was possible (or that if it was, I would
have the patience to wade through the bureaucracy) but it turned
out be relatively straightforward. I applied for it, and today,
I received Georgian Citizenship!" says Levonian.
While obtaining citizenship is a complicated time-consuming procedure
in many countries, Georgia seems to be a lucky exception in this
regard. The lack of red tape and quick response encourages many,
like Levonian, to apply for dual citizenship.
"The whole process was most civilized and professional. I know for
a fact that the Canadian Government treats immigrants much worse,"
he said.
Statistical figures show that the number of foreigners granted
Georgian citizenship almost doubled from 2635 in 2006, to 5243 in
2007. In just two months this year, 580 more qualified for Georgian
citizenship. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said there are a small
number of denials but did not go into details.
Dual citizenship is a new practice for Georgia. The initiative,
proposed by President Saakashvili was intended to encourage ethnic
Georgians living abroad to return home.
Georgian citizenship is sometimes granted to people who are not
ethnically Georgians but had once lived on Georgia territory for a
long time. Many left country for various reasons, and now want to
return to live in Georgia.
Mindia Sanadze, Head of the Passport and Civil Affairs Office of the
Foreign Ministry Consular Department, thinks that granting Georgian
Citizenship to such non-ethnic Georgians is good politics, because
those people lived in Georgia and contributed to creating Georgian
culture. "They really deserve Georgian citizenship," he said. The
majority of such people began returning after Mikhail Saakashvili
became the Georgian president.
The Georgian Constitution states that applicants are granted
Georgian citizenship based on two main criteria: applicant should
make a contribution to the country (Georgia); or, granting Georgian
citizenship to the foreigner should be in Georgia's national interests.
However, the Georgian government requires little in order to meet
these requirements, and most applicants do not have to do extraordinary
service to the country in order to obtain citizenship.
There are several state institutions, which participate in the
procedure of granting citizenship to foreigners. The first and
foremost is the Consular Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Georgia. The Ministry of Justice is also a participator. Procedures at
these Ministries are taken in close cooperation with the Ministry of
Internal Affairs and the recently added Special Office of Georgia's
External Intelligence Service, where applicants' documents are sent
for examination and review.
An application for citizenship to the national of the foreign state
should be considered within no more than three months. But, in certain
cases when the individual must pass administrative denaturalization
procedures before being granted citizenship, it can take from three
to six months, but not more.
For Levonian, the process of applying for Georgian citizenship
consisted of five pages: basic personal data, a small autobiography,
a small essay on why he wanted citizenship, a declaration of loyalty,
and a translation of his passport. "In my case, probably because of
my Armenian last name I think, I was asked to be interviewed by the
Interior Ministry. The interview lasted about 15 minutes, about 5
minutes of which was spent confirming the facts in my application,"
adds Gregory.
The majority of applicants for Georgian citizenship are from Russia.
Others are from Israel, Azerbaijan, and Turkey. But Sanadze
distinguishes between two categories of Turks. Turkish-Meskhs, who
rarely submit applications and Turks exiled from the Adjara Region
(Georgia) long ago. There are also many ethnic Georgians living in
Iran. As for Chinese immigrants, they rarely apply for citizenship.
More often they ask for permanent residency- which refers to a person's
visa status (the person is allowed to reside indefinitely within a
country despite not having citizenship). Permanent resident citizens
usually have the same rights as citizens, but they may not vote or
apply for public sector employment.
Applicants will not be granted citizenship if their real objective
does not coincide with their stated objective. "Granting citizenship
shouldn't be based on self-interest and gain," stresses Sanadze.
Applicants are also denied citizenship if he/she could be dangerous
for the country and its interests. All applicants go through a criminal
background check. If the applicant was once sentenced for any serious
offence, he will be denied citizenship; however, petty crimes are not
an obstacle. Fraudulent documentation is another reason for denial,
and Sanadze claims that there are many such cases.
If an applicant is denied Georgian citizenship he/she has the right
to apply again after one year.
Foreigners apply for Georgian citizenship for various reasons. Many
cite love for the country and a desire to live here as their main
determinants. Most foreigners who apply for Georgian citizenship
are somehow connected with Georgia, either through relatives here,
a Georgian spouse, etc.
"They love Georgia, and they want to feel Georgian, absorb Georgian
culture, and art. They often even change their religions," says
Sanadze.
Besides becoming Georgian, citizenship can bring some more practical
benefits. Gregory Levonian cites visa-free travel as one example:
"It allows me to freely travel back and forth to Georgia, knowing no
matter how the Visa laws change, I'll always be able to come live in
my house. Also, a Georgian passport allows me to visit many countries
where a Canadian passport makes things difficult. Uzbekistan and
Belarus are two examples."
Kristine Pataraia
Daily Georgian Times
March 18 2008
Georgia
Canadian citizen Gregory Levonian, 43, filed for Georgia citizenship
on January 15, 2007. He passed his interview, cleared the criminal
background check and swore allegiance to his new homeland in just
four months.
"Well, I didn't think it was possible (or that if it was, I would
have the patience to wade through the bureaucracy) but it turned
out be relatively straightforward. I applied for it, and today,
I received Georgian Citizenship!" says Levonian.
While obtaining citizenship is a complicated time-consuming procedure
in many countries, Georgia seems to be a lucky exception in this
regard. The lack of red tape and quick response encourages many,
like Levonian, to apply for dual citizenship.
"The whole process was most civilized and professional. I know for
a fact that the Canadian Government treats immigrants much worse,"
he said.
Statistical figures show that the number of foreigners granted
Georgian citizenship almost doubled from 2635 in 2006, to 5243 in
2007. In just two months this year, 580 more qualified for Georgian
citizenship. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said there are a small
number of denials but did not go into details.
Dual citizenship is a new practice for Georgia. The initiative,
proposed by President Saakashvili was intended to encourage ethnic
Georgians living abroad to return home.
Georgian citizenship is sometimes granted to people who are not
ethnically Georgians but had once lived on Georgia territory for a
long time. Many left country for various reasons, and now want to
return to live in Georgia.
Mindia Sanadze, Head of the Passport and Civil Affairs Office of the
Foreign Ministry Consular Department, thinks that granting Georgian
Citizenship to such non-ethnic Georgians is good politics, because
those people lived in Georgia and contributed to creating Georgian
culture. "They really deserve Georgian citizenship," he said. The
majority of such people began returning after Mikhail Saakashvili
became the Georgian president.
The Georgian Constitution states that applicants are granted
Georgian citizenship based on two main criteria: applicant should
make a contribution to the country (Georgia); or, granting Georgian
citizenship to the foreigner should be in Georgia's national interests.
However, the Georgian government requires little in order to meet
these requirements, and most applicants do not have to do extraordinary
service to the country in order to obtain citizenship.
There are several state institutions, which participate in the
procedure of granting citizenship to foreigners. The first and
foremost is the Consular Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Georgia. The Ministry of Justice is also a participator. Procedures at
these Ministries are taken in close cooperation with the Ministry of
Internal Affairs and the recently added Special Office of Georgia's
External Intelligence Service, where applicants' documents are sent
for examination and review.
An application for citizenship to the national of the foreign state
should be considered within no more than three months. But, in certain
cases when the individual must pass administrative denaturalization
procedures before being granted citizenship, it can take from three
to six months, but not more.
For Levonian, the process of applying for Georgian citizenship
consisted of five pages: basic personal data, a small autobiography,
a small essay on why he wanted citizenship, a declaration of loyalty,
and a translation of his passport. "In my case, probably because of
my Armenian last name I think, I was asked to be interviewed by the
Interior Ministry. The interview lasted about 15 minutes, about 5
minutes of which was spent confirming the facts in my application,"
adds Gregory.
The majority of applicants for Georgian citizenship are from Russia.
Others are from Israel, Azerbaijan, and Turkey. But Sanadze
distinguishes between two categories of Turks. Turkish-Meskhs, who
rarely submit applications and Turks exiled from the Adjara Region
(Georgia) long ago. There are also many ethnic Georgians living in
Iran. As for Chinese immigrants, they rarely apply for citizenship.
More often they ask for permanent residency- which refers to a person's
visa status (the person is allowed to reside indefinitely within a
country despite not having citizenship). Permanent resident citizens
usually have the same rights as citizens, but they may not vote or
apply for public sector employment.
Applicants will not be granted citizenship if their real objective
does not coincide with their stated objective. "Granting citizenship
shouldn't be based on self-interest and gain," stresses Sanadze.
Applicants are also denied citizenship if he/she could be dangerous
for the country and its interests. All applicants go through a criminal
background check. If the applicant was once sentenced for any serious
offence, he will be denied citizenship; however, petty crimes are not
an obstacle. Fraudulent documentation is another reason for denial,
and Sanadze claims that there are many such cases.
If an applicant is denied Georgian citizenship he/she has the right
to apply again after one year.
Foreigners apply for Georgian citizenship for various reasons. Many
cite love for the country and a desire to live here as their main
determinants. Most foreigners who apply for Georgian citizenship
are somehow connected with Georgia, either through relatives here,
a Georgian spouse, etc.
"They love Georgia, and they want to feel Georgian, absorb Georgian
culture, and art. They often even change their religions," says
Sanadze.
Besides becoming Georgian, citizenship can bring some more practical
benefits. Gregory Levonian cites visa-free travel as one example:
"It allows me to freely travel back and forth to Georgia, knowing no
matter how the Visa laws change, I'll always be able to come live in
my house. Also, a Georgian passport allows me to visit many countries
where a Canadian passport makes things difficult. Uzbekistan and
Belarus are two examples."