Barriers in obtaining visas for parents are causing a dampener on Georgia's growth in international students
In the current academic year, Caucasus University welcomed 300 foreign students into non-medical programs, marking a significant increase in international student enrolment. However, a growing concern is looming over Georgia's visa policies for family members of these international students.
The visa policy in Georgia for family members of international students is currently unclear, presenting challenges that could negatively impact international student enrollment in the country. While Georgia attracts a record number of international students, restrictive or ambiguous visa regulations for their family members, especially parents, create barriers that may undermine its growing reputation as an education hub.
The lack of clear, supportive visas for family members of international students complicates their ability to join or stay with students during their studies. This reduces the attractiveness of Georgia as a destination for students who consider family presence important. Existing immigration services in Georgia often focus on temporary business, specialty occupation, or family-based immigration, but detailed guidance specifically addressing family members of international students is limited or not well-established, causing uncertainty in visa application processes.
The negative consequences of these unclear policies include potential declines in enrollment or international students choosing alternative countries with friendlier family visa rules. Legal assistance from immigration lawyers in Atlanta emphasizes visa types for families such as marriage-based adjustment or relative petitions, but these may not be directly analogous or easily applicable within Georgia’s student family visa context.
Kakha Shengelia, President of Caucasus University, stated that this issue threatens Georgia's reputation as a welcoming destination. He emphasized that a more inclusive and consistent visa policy would not only support students and their families but also boost Georgia's standing in education and tourism. Shengelia suggested that with proper support, the number of international students could potentially rise to 50,000 or even 70,000.
In the 2024-2025 academic year, 37,100 foreign students enrolled in local universities, marking a 21% annual increase. The economic contribution of these international students through tuition fees and living expenses is approximately USD 400 million annually. Caucasus University hosts approximately 1,500 international students, with around 30% being from India. In addition to students from India, Caucasus University also welcomes students from across Europe, Africa, and Asia. India is the largest source of international students in Georgia, accounting for 55% of the total.
Medical programs remain popular, but interest in IT, business, and psychology is rising, signaling diversification in Georgia's academic offerings. Shengelia stated that this issue is not just about graduation day, but about showing the world that Georgia is serious about being a competitive, compassionate player in global education. He stressed that clear guidelines and more flexibility from the government are needed to address the issue of frequent visa rejections for family members of foreign students.
The lack of clarity on visa policy for student family members could potentially divert prospective students to neighboring countries with more inviting regulations. Shengelia believes that Georgia's global appeal in education could be enhanced by a more inclusive and consistent visa policy. Jordan and Israel are the second and third largest sources of international students in Georgia, with 7% and 6% respectively.
In conclusion, unclear visa guidelines for family members of international students in Georgia represent a growing concern that could impact the country’s international student numbers and reputation. More transparent and accommodating visa policies for families would be important to sustaining Georgia’s international higher education growth.
- The increasing popularity of online education and lifelong learning could potentially attract more international students to Georgia, but only if there is policy and legislation reform in Georgia's visa policy for family members of these international students, ensuring a more welcoming environment for both students and their families.
- Improving Georgia's visa policy for family members of international students can boost the country's reputation as a hub not only for education-and-self-development and learning, but also for politics and tourism, as more students and their families feel supported in their decision to relocate.
- Aiming to reach 50,000 or even 70,000 international students, Caucasus University and other local universities must consider addressing the issue of unclear visa policies for family members of international students as part of their general-news agendas, recognizing the vital role of lifelong-learning and education-and-self-development in fostering a diverse and inclusive learning community.
