Restauración / readquisición de la ciudadanía para un ex ciudadano (Art. 18)

A former citizen of Georgia may have citizenship restored / reacquired (Art 18), one of the four Art 9(3) types of naturalisation, by Presidential decree. Restoration applicants are not put to the full ordinary-route burden in the same way as first-time naturalisers, but where the language/history/law conditions apply they are checked through the same PRE-APPLICATION electronic examination (Art 24(6-1)–(6-4); MoJ Order No 996), and a restoration grant outside the Art 17 exception takes effect on proof of renunciation of any conflicting citizenship; the Art 8 oath of allegiance applies to naturalisation acquirers. A distinct TEMPORARY restoration/retention window (Art 32-2) lets a former citizen who lost Georgian citizenship by acquiring a foreign one apply, before 1 January 2027, for restoration on eased terms — a sunset to be distinguished from this permanent Art 18 restoration. (The Constitutional Court's Decision No 3/3/1601 of 7 March 2025 bears on the appealability of citizenship decisions generally.)

• Citizenship is granted by way of restoration to persons whose Georgian citizenship was terminated (a) unlawfully, (b) by renunciation, or (c) as a result of a parent's choice; the applicant must know the Georgian state language within set limits and have no Art 16 refusal grounds. - A time-limited transitional window (Art 32²) lets a former Georgian citizen who lost citizenship by acquiring a foreign nationality apply, before 1 January 2027, for restoration on eased conditions (Georgian language + no Art 16 grounds; Art 15 renunciation requirement DISAPPLIED), with the restoration extending to the minor child (14+ with consent); the same window also permits retention applications for those against whom no loss decision was taken before 15 August 2018.

• Since the 2023/2024 reform the language/history/basics-of-law examination is a PRE-APPLICATION step: the level of knowledge is checked before the citizenship application is submitted to the Agency (PSDA) or a Georgian diplomatic/consular mission; the test result is valid for 1 year. - Decision authority: PSDA (the Public Service Development Agency / 'the Agency') processes the application with the assistance of the 6-member Citizenship Commission; the President of Georgia makes the final decision to grant/retain/refuse/terminate (positive = decree, negative = ordinance). - On filing a citizenship application the applicant pays a service fee set by the Government of Georgia under the procedure prescribed by it (Art 27); in the case of restoration the service fee is refunded where the citizenship had been terminated unlawfully. The exact GEL fee schedule is set by Government ordinance (administrative figure), not by the Organic Law. - The pre-application knowledge examination (MoJ Order No 996 of 30 Apr 2024, in force 1 May 2024) is administered as an electronic test booked through the PSDA Civil Registry's citizenship/migration electronic management system: the candidate registers in person or via a representative at PSDA, a Justice House, or a Georgian diplomatic/consular office (Art 3(2)) and selects a slot from free times available within 2 months of registration, and may reschedule no later than 48 hours before the test (Art 3(6)). Each subject presents 10 items (30 total) with 4 options each, one correct (Art 4(1)); 20 minutes per subject (Art 4(2)); a pass requires at least 7 of 10 in each subject (Art 4(4)). A candidate may appeal the result to a Claims Commission (of at least 3 PSDA members) by lodging a claim within 3 working days of being notified (Art 9(1),(3)); the Claims Commission decides within 10 working days (Art 9(6)); where the result is annulled, a re-test is held within 15 working days free of charge (Art 9(8)). The fee is non-refundable on a no-show or removal from the test room (Art 7(5)). A successful result is valid for 1 year (Art 8).

Primary statute: Organic Law Art 18; Art 15(3); CC Decision 3/3/1601 (7 Mar 2025). Operative 2014-05-27–present. Authority: Public Service Development Agency (PSDA); President of Georgia (grant/loss decree).