Extending a Georgian visa is never automatic: the Law of Georgia on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons permits an extension only for specific visa categories and only when the conditions of the original visa continue to be met. This page explains which visas can be extended, who decides the question, where the documents are filed, and on what grounds an extension may be refused. One point deserves emphasis at the outset: the right to request an extension applies to a closed list of categories, and holders of visas outside that list must find a different legal solution before their stay expires.
What the law says about visa extensions
The rules are set out in the Law of Georgia on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons. Under its article 9, an alien in Georgia may request an extension only for short-term diplomatic and special visas and for D3 and D5 category immigration visas, provided the conditions for the respective visa are still satisfied. The detailed procedure for issuing, extending and terminating a visa is established by the Government of Georgia, which may also set administrative appeal deadlines different from those of the General Administrative Code. The extension regimes of other states — including the Schengen area or the United States system — have no effect in Georgia; only Georgian legislation governs this question.
Which visas can be extended — and which cannot
An extension is available only for short-term diplomatic and special visas and for D3 and D5 category immigration visas. Ordinary C-category visas are not on this list: the law provides no right to extend them, so when such a visa expires, the alien should consider leaving Georgia or securing a different legal basis. For D5 visas the law adds a meaningful relief: on extension, the alien is exempt from submitting a renewed market valuation of the immovable property — a significant simplification for those present on the basis of ownership of real estate.
Special features of extending a D3 visa
The right to extend a D3 visa belongs to persons coming to Georgia to conduct research at an authorised educational institution and to persons coming to study within international programmes, provided the ground for extension does not provide for staying longer than 3 months. The law grants this group additional protections: the stay during the administrative proceedings counts as justified, the fine is waived, and until a final decision the alien may not be expelled. At the same time, under an amendment in force since 1 October 2025, appealing a refusal does not prevent the interior ministry's authorised body from examining or executing expulsion.
Who decides, and where documents are filed
Decisions on extending diplomatic and special visas, as well as D3 and D5 immigration visas, are made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia. The Ministry receives the documentation for diplomatic and special visas, while Justice Houses and the Public Service Development Agency receive it for D3 and D5 visas; the Agency's competence may be transferred to a municipality under a delegation agreement. On examination, the provisions of chapters II and III of the law apply, so the general entry and stay requirements remain operative at this stage as well.
Validity periods and refusal grounds
It helps to know the periods the law attaches to different visas. A single-entry short-term visa is issued for the days indicated in the application, but no more than 30 days. A multiple-entry short-term visa may carry up to 5 years of validity, yet entry and stay together must not exceed 90 calendar days in any 180-day period — except C5, which carries 5 years of validity and a 1-year stay. A long-term visa is issued for 90 calendar days or 1 year, the 1-year version only for D5; an alien lawfully in Georgia applies for an immigration visa no later than 45 days before the stay expires. Refusal grounds include missing documents, an entry ban or unpaid fine, false or incomplete data, lack of insurance or funds, threats to security or public order, foreign-policy considerations, and a well-founded suspicion of remaining without a legal basis. Refusals resting on security or foreign-policy grounds are not appealable, and a C5 visa may be refused on grounds of immigration policy, likewise without appeal.
Frequently asked questions
Below we answer the questions our clients most often raise about visa extensions in Georgia.
Can I extend an ordinary C-category visa?
No. The law allows extensions only for short-term diplomatic and special visas and for D3 and D5 visas. When an ordinary visa expires, plan to leave Georgia or rely on a different legal basis, such as a residence permit.
What happens while my application is pending and my visa has expired?
If you filed a D3 extension application, your stay during the proceedings counts as justified, you are released from the fine, and you cannot be expelled before a final decision. Note, however, that since 1 October 2025 an appeal against a refusal no longer prevents the interior ministry from examining or executing expulsion.
Where do I file documents to extend a D3 or D5 visa?
Justice Houses and the Public Service Development Agency receive the documentation for D3 and D5 extensions, and the Agency's function may be delegated to a municipality; diplomatic and special visa documents go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Is a new property valuation needed to extend a D5 visa?
No. When a D5 category visa is extended, the alien is exempt from the obligation to submit a renewed market valuation of the immovable property.
How We Help on Legal.ge
The Legal.ge team helps you prepare the extension application, identify the documents the procedure requires, and assess whether your situation still satisfies the statutory conditions. In a written consultation we review your specific visa category, the relevant deadlines and the risks of refusal. Contact us through the Legal.ge website and get an answer before your administrative proceedings begin.