Life in Georgia

Georgia (or Sakartvelo, which translates as “Land of the Kartvelians”) is a Caucasus country bordered by Russia, Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.

Georgia is a hospitable country, both in terms of local friendliness and the relative ease with which one might apply to become a resident or citizen. For many, Georgia remains an unexplored nation, although it boasts loads of attractive countryside dotted with Unesco-listed castles and monasteries, while the city, Tbilisi, is traditional but cosmopolitan, with a tiny but close-knit population of Western immigrants.

It was one of the earliest countries to adopt Christianity, as seen by the innumerable cathedrals and centuries-old churches over the country, some of which are millennia old.

Georgia has an old tradition, and its people are rightly proud of their ancestry and culture. It’s heartwarming to watch how young and old people work hard to preserve and carry on all the traditions. Perhaps this is why the indigenous culture and language have persisted so well despite the passing of so many battles, invasions, and occupations.

The Georgian government issued an order in 2014 allowing people of 95 countries to remain here visa-free for a year, giving you a fantastic opportunity to assess if the country meets your expectations before committing to living in Georgia in the long term.

If you are interested in conducting business in Georgia, you may explore the relevant pages or proceed right to our most popular service – registering an IE in Georgia.

In Georgian, there is a proverb that goes something like this: “A guest is an angel sent by God.” This exemplifies both the Georgian hospitality tradition and approach to foreigners and expats.

If you’ve been to Georgia, it was most likely for a vacation or a business trip, during which you experienced the country’s legendary friendliness. However, don’t expect to be treated like royalty once you become a resident here. There will be fewer invitations and offers to tour you around from Georgian households. This is natural and sensible, given that you are now a member of the community and must adjust and begin figuring things out for yourself. But don’t imagine for a second that Georgians will abandon you; they will still assist you and stay your buddy in times of need.

Even though the western immigrant group is small, it functions as its own town inside a country, with members helping one another.

Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital and most popular tourist destination, is accessible by daily flights from Kiev, Istanbul, and other major European cities. If you’re looking for flights to Tbilisi, those two are the top airports to come in Europe. Another alternative is to check for low-cost airlines that fly to Kutaisi airport, which is located in another commercially important city in Georgia. In general, low-cost flights (such as those operated by Pegasus or Wizzair) fly to Kutaisi.

You may also take a bus from any neighboring nation to Tbilisi.

Do not expect that everyone will be fluent in English. Georgia has its own language, which is written in Georgian script and is uniquely spoken by Georgians. It is unlike any other language in the world. Because of its guttural tones, it may appear difficult to learn at first, but foreigners can learn it. There are compiled lists of phrases and sayings to get you started; after you’ve learnt a few, you’ll be right at home.

• Gamarjoba – Hi
• kho – Yes
• Ara – No
• Kargi – OK
• Madloba – Thanks
• Arapris – You’re welcome!
• Gaumarjos – Cheers!
• Me var …. – I am …
• Laparakob inglisurad – Do you speak English?
• Sad aris … – Where is …?
• Numbers, from one to ten: erti, ori, sami, otkhi, khuti, ekvsi, shvidi, rva, tskhra, ati.

Though Georgia has local shops and bazaars that offer fresh goods, the state relies largely on imports, so costs may be higher than expected. Coconut oil or milk, organic goods, almond milk or flour, Asian spices or pastes, and Italian pesto are all examples of this. Clothes can also be pricey when compared to other European cities. Even low-priced brands may have exorbitant costs here in comparison to the cost of life.

The absence of a diverse range of commodities in Georgia has produced a need for items from other nations, particularly the United States. Several multinational corporations ship to Georgia from various online stores in the United States, Germany, China, and the United Kingdom. It takes around a week to receive your things.

The most difficult element of transferring to a new nation is frequently finding a cheap and desirable house, and Georgia is no exception.

The cost of renting an apartment is determined by its location, quality, and size; typically, central neighborhoods are more expensive than districts on the outskirts of a town or city. The majority of the owners list monthly fees in US dollars and expect you to pay in that currency, although a minority may want Georgian lari.

Buying an apartment in Georgia is highly expensive, and it is not suggested unless you want to make it your permanent home or for investment purposes.

Shota Rustaveli is Tbilisi’s major thoroughfare. It traverses the majority of the city’s “points of interest.” What I mean by “areas of interest” are places where you can find pubs, museums, theaters, shopping malls, stores, traditional neighborhoods, and so on.

This boulevard runs from Freedom Square to the Medical Square metro station. Although the name of the avenue changes, I believe it to be the same avenue because it travels in the same direction. The center section includes the area between Freedom Square on May 26th and Trinity Church (making a triangle on the map).

There are two subway lines. One follows the whole Rustaveli and continues to the city’s northern outskirts, while the other leads you to the end of the Saburtalo area. The Saburtalo sector, particularly the portions closest to the Technical University Metro, is the most contemporary and expensive neighborhood. There are several boutiques and chic restaurants there, as well as a more expensive residential area.

Depending on your chosen degree of comfort, closeness to the metro, and availability to share an apartment or not, it is possible to live in the trendiest and most central locations at extremely inexpensive costs. For this reason, I believe it is not worthwhile to live far from the city center, because prices seldom fall significantly and the metro and bus cease operating at midnight (except Saturday).

With that in mind, the money you might save by living outside of the city center will be spent on cabs in the middle of the night.

Marjanishvili is a neighborhood in the center that is served by a subway line. It is also a more residential region, which is normally fairly peaceful at night, with the exception of Fabrika’s surrounds.

Vake begins at the end of Rustaveli Avenue and extends all the way to Vake Park. The entire region is also residential and peaceful at night, despite being near to the city core. The only criticism is that the Vake area lacks its own subway stop.

All of these neighborhoods are well served by public transportation, feature a basic market, and are close to the city center. Do not be scared if you still locate that wonderful area that is not so near to the center. In Tbilisi, you can purchase a used electric or gas scooter for extremely cheap, and you don’t need a license to operate one.

You may even walk if you live near a metro station such as Freedom Square, Rustaveli, or Marjanishvili. The city shrinks dramatically, and it is simple to travel around by foot.

The country’s immigration regulations are quite simple, especially for individuals coming from the United States, the European Union, Israel, or Switzerland. It permits for dual citizenship, but you must first demonstrate that you are an asset to Georgia, which can take up to two months. The criteria may involve investing in the nation, purchasing property, marrying a Georgian, establishing a business here, or holding a long-term work.

A Georgian residency permit allows a foreigner to enter and stay in Georgia for the duration of the document’s validity, as well as invite another foreigner to the nation. To get a residence permit, you must apply in person or online at the Public Service Hall. Although the essential documentation must be in Georgian, an application done in English can be authorized. Permits are granted for a variety of purposes, including job, study, permanent residency, investment, and family reunification.

Georgia has one of the oddest, yet easiest, utility bill payment processes. The country is filled with pay boxes where you may select the service you want to pay for, slip in the cash, and finish. Easy! You won’t have to stand in line at the post office or bank this way. If you want to visit one of Georgia’s many attractive towns, you may even buy train tickets at particular pay boxes.

Oh, the Georgian food! One of the finest things about Georgia, according to ten out of ten tourists, is the cuisine and culture around the table.

The major courses are as follows:

• Khinkali – comparable to Chinese dumplings
• Khachapuri – offered in a variety of types The adjaruli, with local white salty cheese over bread and a raw egg put on top of the cooking cheese
• Badrijani nigvzit – fried eggplant with walnut sauce
• Lobio – spicy bean soup
• Lobiani – just like khachapuri, but packed with beans paste
• Kababi – just like usual kebab, but usually made of pork and beef.
• Mtsvadi – Georgian national BBQ
• Satsivi – chicken in a walnut sauce
• Chakapuli – lamb or beef stew, with tarragon and Georgian unique sour plums

I’m not a food critic, therefore I’m having trouble characterizing the dishes. There are several specialist articles available on Google. Georgian food is among the most underestimated and unknown. Every country in the globe should have a Georgian restaurant.

I prefer to say that, aside from the exquisite meals, the culture that occurs around the table is what fascinates tourists the most about Georgian food. The meetings are usually cheerful, full of laughing, polyphonic singing, and toasts for anything and everyone, and are always coordinated by a tamada, the night’s toasts leader.

Tables that are always loaded with food and wine glasses that never seem to stop filling up and are always supplied in a variety of options. Saperavi red wine is one of the most popular options, but the amber wine is the most fascinating and distinctive.

Healthcare in Georgia is expensive, and immigrants are not entitled to subsidized or free services, so obtaining a comprehensive insurance coverage is essential. Depending on your monthly budget, there are several healthcare insurance firms to pick from.