Builds on
Guide 03: Georgia’s Black Sea Coast
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Georgia is genuinely unusual in how few barriers it places between a foreign buyer and a title deed. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing to know — here’s the actual process, the documents you’ll need, and the tax rules that apply once you own.
Why Georgia is unusually open to foreign buyers
Foreigners can purchase non-agricultural property in Georgia on exactly the same legal footing as Georgian citizens — full freehold ownership, no residency requirement, no special foreign-buyer tax, and no restriction on later selling, renting, gifting, or bequeathing the property. Ownership is registered electronically through the Public Service Hall, and once confirmed, the buyer receives a digital extract that’s recognized as proof of title both domestically and internationally. The one meaningful restriction is agricultural land, which foreign individuals and foreign-owned entities generally cannot purchase directly.
The purchase process, step by step
Step 1
Property search and selection
Identify the specific unit or property, whether through a developer directly or a licensed agent — this is also the point to start clarifying the investment vehicle involved, as covered in
Guide 02
.
Step 2
Due diligence and tax ID registration
A lawyer checks the Public Registry extract to confirm the property isn’t classified as agricultural and carries no existing liens or mortgages. In parallel, apply for a Georgian tax identification number — this can be done before you’ve even selected a property, which saves a day or two later in the process.
Step 3
Purchase agreement
The sale-and-purchase agreement must be bilingual — Georgian plus a language you understand — and is typically notarized. This is the contract that will spell out the payment schedule discussed in
our timeline guide
for pre-completion purchases.
Step 4
Power of attorney, if buying remotely
If you won’t be in Georgia in person, a notarized power of attorney allows a lawyer to sign and complete the transaction on your behalf — a routine, well-established practice for foreign buyers here.
Step 5
Payment transfer
Funds move via international bank transfer, sometimes through an escrow account for added security. Build in a few extra days for currency conversion and international wire processing timelines, which vary by bank.
Step 6
Registration and title certificate
Once documents are submitted, the Public Service Hall registers the change of ownership — this step is electronic and typically fast. You’ll receive a Title Certificate confirming your ownership rights.
Step 7
Residence permit application, if eligible
Optional, and separate from the purchase itself: property valued above a set threshold can qualify you for a renewable residence permit. That minimum was raised to $150,000 for new applicants from March 2026 — confirm the current figure, since it has already changed once.
What you’ll need
-
Valid passport
— the primary identification document for the entire process. -
Georgian tax identification number
— inexpensive and fast to obtain, and worth arranging before you’ve finalized a property. -
Proof of funds / source of funds documentation
— bank statements or income verification, ideally translated and notarized in advance to avoid delays. -
Notarized power of attorney
— only if you’re not completing the purchase in person. -
A local bank account
— not strictly required, but advisable if you plan to receive rental income or manage ongoing costs locally.
Taxes and ongoing costs
Capital gains tax
Residential property held more than two years is generally exempt on resale. Sold within two years, profit is typically taxed — confirm the current rate with a local accountant, as sources vary between 5% and 20% depending on property classification.
Rental income tax
A flat 5% applies to rental income when registered as an individual taxpayer on residential property — considerably simpler than tiered income tax brackets. Commercial property is generally taxed at the standard 20% rate.
Annual property tax
Personal-use property that isn’t generating rental income is often exempt from annual property tax entirely. Where it does apply, it’s typically modest — confirm your specific situation with a local accountant, since it varies by municipality and household income.
Registration and legal fees
Title registration itself is inexpensive — often under $150. Full legal fees for a complete purchase, including a lawyer’s due diligence and contract work, commonly total well under $1,000.
None of this replaces a conversation with a licensed Georgian lawyer — property law details do shift (the residency threshold alone has already changed once this year), so treat this as a starting point for that conversation, not a substitute for it.