Study in Georgia New Rules for International Student Enrollment

The Government of Georgia has adopted important new regulations governing the admission and enrollment of foreign citizens and stateless persons in Georgian higher educational institutions. Established under Government Decrees No. 435 and No. 437, adopted on September 8, 2026, these changes introduce updated requirements and procedures concerning the admission and enrollment of international students.

We request the students to carefully review the study in Georgia new rules and familiarize themselves with the new requirements and procedures established therein. These regulations directly concern the recruitment and enrollment process of international students at the University. Please note that the new regulations are fully and strictly taken into consideration when advising and informing prospective students, preparing documentation, and submitting applications. This is critical to prevent the provision of inaccurate information or any deficiencies related to the preparation and submission of applications.

Study in Georgia New Rules for Language Proficiency Standards: Decree No. 435

Decree No. 435 firmly establishes the foreign language proficiency levels required to study in Georgia.

• Bachelor’s, Veterinary, Integrated Master’s, and Diploma Medical/Dental Programs: Students must confirm proficiency at the B1 level.
• Master’s Educational Programs: Students must confirm proficiency at the B2 level.
• Professional Educational Programs: Students must confirm proficiency at no less than the B1 level.

Agencies must ensure applicants provide one of the internationally recognized certificates explicitly accepted by the government:

• The submitted document certifying foreign-language proficiency must be valid at the time of submission based on the issuing organization’s established validity period.
• If the issuing organization does not specify a validity period, no more than three years may have elapsed between the document’s issuance and its submission.
• Alternatively, students can choose to pass a language examination organized by the National Assessment and Examinations Center.
• Students intending to study in a Georgian-language program are required to pass the State Language Examination.

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) standardizes English proficiency levels across major testing systems. Here is how the B1 (Intermediate) and B2 (Upper-Intermediate) thresholds map to the most widely accepted exams based on official 2026 concordance data.

English Proficiency Test Conversion Tables

English Proficiency Test	B1 (Intermediate)	B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
IELTS Academic	4.0 – 5.0	5.5 – 6.5
TOEFL iBT (Legacy 0–120)	42 – 71	72 – 94
TOEFL iBT (New 1–6 Scale)*	3	4
PTE Academic	43 – 58	59 – 75
Cambridge English Scale	140 – 159	160 – 179

Study in Georgia New Rules for Admission Windows and Compliance: Decree No. 437

The government has explicitly tied a student’s academic progress to their immigration status.

• A higher educational institution is authorized to terminate a student’s status if they do not complete one academic year within an academic year of enrollment and fail to obtain the corresponding credits.
• If an enrolled student does not obtain a residence permit within 90 days, the university is entitled to suspend their status.
• Universities are legally required to submit enrollment information to the relevant electronic system within three working days.
• This electronic information is immediately accessible to the State Services Development Agency and other administrative bodies to determine and enforce the student’s legal right to stay in Georgia.

Why the Government Made These Regulations

The Georgian Government implemented Decrees No. 435 and No. 437 to standardize academic quality and enforce stringent immigration compliance. By legally standardizing the minimum required language levels (B1 and B2) and specifying exactly which international certificates are acceptable, the government ensures that foreign students possess the academic communication skills necessary to genuinely succeed in rigorous degree programs.

Furthermore, the operational rules are designed to prevent the misuse of Georgian student visas. By requiring universities to electronically log student statuses within three days and linking this data directly with the State Services Development Agency, national authorities can actively monitor whether individuals are genuinely pursuing their studies. The regulation authorizing the termination of a student’s status for those who fail to earn academic credits or secure a valid residence permit within 90 days specifically prevents non-students from exploiting university admission solely to maintain residency in the country.

Study in Georgia New Rules Official Reference Links

You can review the official texts of both September 8, 2026 decrees directly on the Legislative Herald of Georgia (Matsne) website:

Decree No. 435 (Language Proficiency Standards)

Decree No. 437 (Admission Windows & Compliance)

Both links open the original, legally binding Georgian documents. Note that Matsne offers a built-in translation toggle at the top of the page if you need to view the English versions.

Looking to Study in Georgia? Read our Study in Georgia Full Guide