The Parliament, in the I reading, unanimously supported, with 81 votes, the draft law on Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons.

The draft law was presented by the Chair of the EU Integration Committee, Levan Makhashvili.

According to the draft, a new C5 category ordinary visa is introduced. This category of multiple-entry short-term visa will be issued with a validity period of 5 years and will allow a stay in Georgia for up to 1 year.

As explained by the presenter, this visa category will be granted to individuals arriving in Georgia from safe countries for tourism purposes, who will also be permitted to carry out activities exclusively for the benefit of a non-resident, provided that such activities are related to operations conducted by the non-resident outside Georgia.

The visa will also be issued to the applicant’s spouse and minor children.

“As a result of geopolitical competition, migration flows have significantly changed. In particular, against the backdrop of developments in the Middle East, new migration trends have emerged. Georgia has the opportunity to attract high-income remote workers through an appealing visa regime”, - stated Levan Makhashvili.

According to him, instead of applying repeatedly for short-term visas, visitors will be able to enter the country multiple times through a single application, upon payment of the visa fee, and conduct their activities from within Georgia.

“High-income visitors typically spend more in the country, which increases revenues from tourism, strengthens the service sector—including hotels, restaurants, and other businesses—and ensures additional inflows of foreign currency into the economy”, - he added.

He further noted that the C5 visa category creates additional opportunities for attracting investment and plays an important role in improving the country’s international image.

The proposed amendments also stipulate that decisions on refusal to issue a Georgian visa will not be subject to appeal.

As a result of the draft law, corresponding amendments will also be introduced to the Laws of Georgia on Consular Fees and on State Duties, under which the fee for reviewing and issuing a C5 category visa will range from no less than USD 20 to no more than USD 500.