What grounds exist for refugee status?

Refugee status is granted to a person outside the country of origin who has a well-founded fear of becoming a victim of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.

For which period is humanitarian status granted?

Humanitarian status is granted for one year and may be extended by decision of the ministry for the same period, more than once, if the circumstances justifying the status continue to exist.

Can a refusal be appealed?

Yes. The decision is sent with an indication of the appeal procedure, together with information on the possibility of using free legal aid. The appeal takes place before the court under the established procedure.

What happens to family members?

Where the applications of family members rest on the same ground, the decision on international protection extends to every family member.

Refugee Status Determination in Georgia

Forms of International Protection in Georgia

The granting of refugee or humanitarian status in Georgia is regulated by the law on refugees and international protection. Under that law, three forms of international protection exist in Georgia: refugee status, humanitarian status and the status of a person under temporary protection. Each form rests on its own grounds and entails different legal consequences, so before preparing an application it is important to analyse precisely to which category the person's situation belongs. A correctly chosen ground increases the chance of a positive decision and determines the person's rights during the stay in Georgia.