Buying · step-by-step guide

How to Buy an Apartment in Batumi as a Foreigner in 2026: Step-by-Step Guide

Updated 22 July 2026 · 8 min read · By Dmitry Morev, real estate agent in Batumi

Georgia is one of the world's simplest countries for a foreigner to buy property. There is no purchase tax, no residency requirement, and title is registered within 1–4 working days with nothing but your passport. This guide walks the entire path from choosing a flat to holding the keys — including a fully remote deal.

What foreigners can and cannot buy

Foreign citizens buy apartments, houses and commercial property in Georgia with the same rights as locals: ownership is registered directly in your name, with no local companies or nominees required. The only restriction is agricultural land, which cannot be sold to foreigners. For apartments in Batumi this is irrelevant.

What it costs: prices and fees

Entry-level prices per square metre in new builds as of mid-2026: Old Town and the boulevard — from $1,800; New Boulevard — from $1,200; Makhinjauri — from $1,000; Gonio — from $900. A rental studio starts around $40,000–50,000; a 1-bedroom by the sea from $60,000–90,000.

The transaction costs are a pleasant surprise:

Step 1. Define your goal

The same apartment can be a wonderful home and a weak investment — or the other way round. So answer honestly first: living, renting out, or wintering? The district, format and budget follow from that. Rentals favour New Boulevard and the seafront; living favours Makhinjauri and the Old Town; wintering needs a market, a clinic and heating within walking distance.

Step 2. Choose the property and check it

Viewings can be in person or by video call. Before any deposit, check:

• Public Registry extract — who owns it, any liens or encumbrances. Available online in minutes;
• Building permit — for new builds and off-plan projects;
• The developer's track record — delivered buildings, delays, court cases;
• Real running costs — service charge (typically $0.5–1/m² per month) and utilities.

Step 3. Reservation and contract

A deposit of $1,000–3,000 takes the property off the market and counts toward the price. The sale contract is drawn up in Georgian and usually duplicated in English or Russian. You can sign in person or by power of attorney.

Step 4. Payment: transfer, cash, installments

You can pay by bank transfer (including from abroad), in cash at the developer's office — and with some developers, in crypto. The market standard for new builds is an interest-free developer installment plan over 12–24 months: 20–30% down, the rest in equal payments until handover. Georgian banks lend to non-residents selectively and at high rates, so installments are almost always the better deal.

Step 5. Registration: 1–4 days — and it's yours

Title is registered at the House of Justice (Public Service Hall). All you need is your passport. Standard registration takes 4 working days; expedited — 1 day. From that moment you are the full legal owner, with a Public Registry record you can verify online from anywhere in the world.

Can you buy — and sell — entirely online?

Yes, and it's standard market practice rather than an exotic option. Here's how it works:

1. Viewings happen over live video — you "walk" through the flat, ask questions, check the view and the courtyard;
2. A power of attorney is issued at a notary in your country or at a Georgian consulate, naming your representative (your agent or lawyer);
3. The representative signs the contract and files the documents at the House of Justice, with every step recorded on video;
4. You transfer the money directly to the seller or developer — the representative never touches it;
5. You verify your ownership record online in the Public Registry.

Selling works as a mirror image: when you decide to exit, the flat can also be sold remotely under the same power of attorney, without flying to Georgia. The buyer's money goes straight to your account. For an investor this matters: both the entry and the exit require no physical presence.

The bonuses after you buy

• Residence permit: for property valued at $150,000+ by market appraisal (threshold in force since 1 March 2026; several properties can be combined). Citizens of many countries don't need it at all — visa-free stay in Georgia is up to 1 year;
• Rental income tax is just 5%; Airbnb and Booking need no licences;
• Resale after 2 years of ownership — no capital gains tax;
• Annual property tax for non-residents with no Georgian income is usually zero.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Believing "guaranteed 12%+ yields" — the honest range for Batumi is 6–8% net;
• Buying off-plan without checking the building permit and the developer's history;
• Not asking what will be built on the neighbouring plot — a "sea view" sometimes lasts until the next construction site;
• Forgetting the service charge when calculating rental returns.