Georgia D-Category Immigration Visas: D1-D6 Rules in 2026

Georgia's D-category visas are immigration visas for longer-term purposes such as work, specified professional activity, study, family reunification and property ownership.

The categories changed materially during 2026, especially because the Labour Migration Law introduced a new right-to-work regime that now interacts with the D1 visa.

Current D1-D6 categories

Under the current Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons:

D1 covers an alien coming for work and specified entrepreneurial activity after obtaining the required right to work; the statute also allows D1 in certain government-defined cases outside the Labour Migration Law.
D2 covers specified scientific, sports, cultural or educational missions, freelancers, internships, volunteers and media workers carrying out official duties.
D3 covers adults coming or staying for study or research at an authorised educational institution and specified international study programmes.
D4 covers family reunification.
D5 covers qualifying ownership of Georgian non-agricultural real property with a market value exceeding USD 150,000 equivalent in GEL, together with the spouse and child/children.
D6 covers specified minor students and, in the circumstances set by the statute, their parents/legal representatives and minor siblings.

Applicants should use the current consolidated statute rather than an older visa-category summary.

D1 sequencing changed in 2026

For a labour immigrant outside Georgia who obtains the right to work, Article 13⁵ of the Labour Migration Law requires an application for a D1 immigration visa within 30 calendar days after obtaining that right.

A labour immigrant already in Georgia must, under the same article, apply for a work residence permit or qualifying IT residence permit within 10 calendar days after obtaining the right to work, subject to the statutory exceptions.

The correct order is therefore important. Older guidance that describes D1 simply as a work visa without the right-to-work step can now be incomplete.

D5: check the current statute, not an old threshold

The current consolidated law sets the D5 real-property threshold at more than USD 150,000 equivalent in GEL for qualifying non-agricultural real property.

At the time of this October 2026 review, a GeoConsul information page still displayed an older USD 35,000 property figure in part of its general immigration-visa checklist.

Where an official information page and the current consolidated statute appear inconsistent, verify the current legal rule and filing checklist directly before submitting the application. This guide follows the current consolidated law.

General visa documentation

GeoConsul's published immigration-visa guidance lists general materials such as:

a qualifying travel document;
visa application;
evidence of sufficient financial means;
applicable fee;
photo;
health insurance;
accommodation evidence; and
evidence of the purpose of the visit.

The authority may request additional documents or an interview.

Category-specific evidence is required depending on the purpose.

Foreign-issued documents

GeoConsul states that documents issued in another state may need apostille or legalisation and certified translation, subject to specified exceptions and applicable rules.

Do not assume the same authentication chain applies to every issuing country or document.

D visa, work right and residence permit are separate concepts

A D visa is an immigration entry/stay instrument. A right to work under the Labour Migration Law and a residence permit under the aliens legislation are related but legally distinct.

A correct filing strategy therefore maps the sequence across all three where the case requires them.

For a category and sequencing assessment, see Global Mobility & Visa Advisory, Residency & Migration Law, or contact TK Counsel.