Buying Property in Georgia as a Chinese Citizen (2026)
Georgia gives Chinese passport holders one of the most generous visa-free allowances anywhere — up to 365 days. Combined with full foreign ownership rights and no purchase tax, it makes Georgia unusually easy to buy into. Here is what applies, and the limit worth knowing.
Chinese citizens can enter Georgia without a visa for stays of up to 365 days and can buy property there with full ownership rights, no purchase tax and no nationality-based restrictions. That combination is unusual: most countries offer foreigners one or the other, rarely both. Georgia granted visa-free access to Chinese passport holders in 2024, and the arrangement is reciprocal — Georgian citizens travel to China visa-free under a bilateral agreement from May 2024.
What does visa-free actually allow?
Entry for tourism and short-stay purposes, for a period that can extend to a full year. That is long enough to view properties without time pressure, complete a purchase, oversee a renovation and settle a tenant — the kind of timeline that normally requires a residence permit elsewhere.
The limit worth knowing: visa-free entry is for tourism and short stays, and working for pay or conducting business activity during that stay is not permitted on a tourist entry. Owning and letting property is not the same as working in the country, but if your plans extend to operating a business in Georgia, that is a separate permission and a separate conversation.
Visa arrangements change. Confirm current entry rules with official Georgian sources before travelling.
What are the ownership rules?
Identical to those for any foreign national. You can buy apartments, houses and commercial property on a freehold basis. The one meaningful exclusion is agricultural land. You will need a passport and a Georgian tax ID, issued the same day at the Revenue Service; the contract is signed before a notary and registered at the National Agency of Public Registry, typically within days.
Kavlian connects you with vetted Georgian agents who work with international buyers. It costs you nothing to ask what a specific building actually earns.
Does buying lead to residency?
It can, though with a visa-free allowance of up to a year the calculation is different than it is for most nationalities. The property-based residence permit requires appraised holdings of USD 150,000 or above, a threshold that rose from USD 100,000 on 1 March 2026. A separate investor route at USD 300,000 gives a five-year permit covering spouse and minor children.
| Route | Threshold | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-free entry | None | Stays of up to 365 days, tourism and short stay |
| Property residence permit | USD 150,000 appraised | Up to 1 year, renewable while you own |
| Investor permit | USD 300,000 | 5 years, spouse and minor children included |
The property threshold applies to total registered holdings rather than a single purchase, so multiple apartments can be combined if each is registered and valued by an accredited appraiser. See our residency guide.
What should you look at?
Tbilisi offers year-round rental demand from students, professionals and long-term residents. Batumi is a seasonal Black Sea market where summer carries the year. Georgia's mountain resorts are a third option with a different seasonal shape — see Gudauri and Bakuriani.
Whichever market, two checks matter more than the listing photographs:
- The registry extract, before any deposit and again on the signing day — how to read it.
- The finishing level. A low price per square metre often means an unfinished apartment — black frame and white frame explained.
Taxes and running costs
No purchase tax. A flat 5% on residential rental income for individuals. No capital gains tax on residential property held more than two years. Property tax is linked to household income rather than property value, which means many foreign owners owe nothing — our guide to what ownership costs sets out the full annual picture.
FAQ
Can I buy without travelling to Georgia?
Yes, through a power of attorney — though with a year of visa-free access available, most buyers prefer to see the property.
Do I need a Georgian bank account?
Not strictly, but it simplifies paying the seller and the bills. See opening an account as a foreigner.
Can I let the apartment out?
Yes. Letting is ordinary ownership, not business activity requiring a work permission, and rental income is taxed at the flat individual rate.
Who manages it while I am away?
A local manager, typically at 10-20% of rent for long lets and 20-25% for short — see managing remotely.
Start with the market, not a single listing
Kavlian matches international buyers with vetted Georgian specialists, free of charge. Talk to a specialist or browse apartments in Tbilisi and Batumi.
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