The requirements of the citizenship examination are defined by Articles 12, 24 and 29 of the Organic Law of Georgia on Citizenship. The examination subjects — the state language, the history of Georgia and the basic foundations of law — are embedded in the requirements of ordinary naturalisation, while the manner of verification is regulated by Article 24 together with the agency commission. This page explains what is examined, when and how the examination result takes effect, and how a negative decision can be challenged.
The examination subjects and their place in the naturalisation system
Under sub-paragraphs "b" and "c" of paragraph 1 of Article 12, an adult person receives citizenship by the ordinary procedure if, within the established limits, they know the state language of Georgia and, within the established limits, the history of Georgia and the basic foundations of law. The limits of knowledge are established by a separate statute — the examination programme is built on that statute.
Article 12 also defines exceptions: for a recipient of support the knowledge requirements do not apply; a person with a firm physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment is likewise released from these requirements where the impairment makes verification impossible.
Who conducts the verification and how — Article 24
Applications on naturalisation and the preservation of citizenship are examined by the Public Service Development Agency with the assistance of a commission. The commission consists of 6 members, of whom 2 (including the chair) are appointed from among the agency's staff, 2 from the State Security Service and 2 from the administration of the President. In a split vote the chair's voice is decisive.
The supplementary norms of Article 24 regulate the practical rules of verification: the level of knowledge of the language, history and law is checked before the application is submitted to the agency or to a diplomatic mission or consular post abroad, and the agency ensures this check; the commission decides on the exemption of a person with an impairment; a result that confers the right to submit an application is valid for 1 year; the submission procedure, the manner of verification and the service fee are determined by an order of the Minister of Justice.
The commission's role and the stages of the procedure — Article 24
The commission's rules of operation are defined by a statute approved by the commission itself; it has a secretariat, and a member's status terminates automatically upon leaving the organisation the member represents. The commission ensures the establishment of the existence of the conditions for the preservation of citizenship and for granting citizenship to a citizen of another country by the exceptional procedure, and on the basis of its decision the agency prepares the respective conclusion. On every form of grant or refusal of citizenship the agency's conclusions are sent to the President for the final decision.
The fee side is also limited by law: the service fee for the examination check must not exceed the highest rate of the accelerated service for the ordinary grant procedure that was in force on 7 June 2023 — this requirement is written directly into the law and prohibits an excessive charge.
Challenging the decision — Article 29
In its original wording, the first paragraph of Article 29 left presidential decisions — other than those on termination of citizenship — beyond judicial challenge. However, by the Constitutional Court's decision of 7 March 2025 that norm has been declared invalid: the normative content that excluded the possibility of challenging in court negative decisions on the grant of citizenship through naturalisation no longer operates. A conclusion or decision of the agency that independently produces legal effects is an administrative-legal act.
Frequently asked questions
Below we answer the questions most frequently asked about citizenship.
Which subjects does the examination cover?
Three — the state language, the history of Georgia and the basic foundations of law; the limits of knowledge are set by the respective statute.
When must the examination be taken?
Before submitting the application — the level of knowledge is checked before applying to the agency or to a mission abroad, and the result is valid for 1 year.
Who is exempt from the examination?
Recipients of support are released from the requirements, and in the case of a firm impairment the commission decides on the exemption.
Can a refusal be challenged?
Yes — after the Constitutional Court's 2025 decision, a negative naturalisation decision can be challenged in court.
The application is examined by the agency with the assistance of a commission: the commission consists of 6 members appointed by the chair of the agency — 2 members from agency staff, 2 from the State Security Service and 2 from the administration of the President of Georgia; where votes divide, the chair’s vote is decisive. This architecture frames the exam result as well: the level of knowledge is only one element of the overall decision taken by a multi-member commission.
Who and when checks the level of knowledge?
The level of knowledge of the state language, Georgian history and the basic foundations of law is checked before the application is submitted to the agency or, abroad, to a diplomatic representation or consular post; the check is ensured by the agency.
How We Help on Legal.ge
The Legal.ge team will assist with the legal side of examination preparation: we will determine your position towards the requirements and exceptions, defend a request for exemption before the commission, and challenge a negative decision in court. Contact us — we will prepare you in time and with the right documents.