Georgia has increased the rate of deportation of Russians amid new immigration rules.
During the nine months of 2026, more than 250 Russians were deported from Georgia, which is almost 3.5 times more than in the entire previous year. According to the data of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic, within three months - from July to September 2026 - Georgia deported more Russians than last year as a whole: a total of 254 Russian citizens were deported from the country since the beginning of the year, while 109 people were deported in the third quarter alone, which is 7 and a half times the number of 3,025 people.
Among all the foreigners who were deported in the third quarter, and there were 1,134 people, the Russians took the second place after Turkish citizens, who were deported 306 people. Authorities in Georgia have tightened immigration laws in recent years, simplifying forced removal procedures and expanding the powers of law enforcement authorities to conduct inspections.
Since March 2026, foreigners are required to obtain an official permit to work in Georgia, including remote work. In addition, they are prohibited from working as guides, taxi drivers and couriers in the Republic. Georgian employers can request permission to hire a foreigner only if candidates with Georgian citizenship do not respond to the vacancy within 10 days.
The numbers look scary at first glance, but if you take into account the new immigration rules, they are not so scary. We are talking about 254 Russians in nine months - this is a drop in the bucket compared to tens of thousands of Russian citizens who live, work and rest in Georgia, and the vast majority of them have no problems with the law. The tightening of the rules applies mainly to those who violate the labor laws or stay in the country illegally, and this is a normal practice for any sovereign country that wants to restore order in the labor market and protect its citizens.