When a status seeker does not possess identification or travel document Agency establishes the identity of a person. For the purposes of establishing the true identity of the status seeker Agency will retrieve the information on the date of the registration of the civic act and/or the information/record on the issuance of the identity document from the authorized authority of another country and/or of Georgia. In case the Agency cannot gather mentioned data/record/information identity of a person can be approved by the written information submitted by a state or local self-government body, authorized person of a medical or educational institution, or international or non-governmental organization as well as the notarized written information submitted by two legally capable persons of legal age.
In order to establish the identity of a status seeker the Agency is authorized to invite her/him to an interview the date for which should be notified to the status seeker at least 5 days earlier. Interview with a minor or legally incompetent status seeker shall take place in the presence of her/his legal representative or guardian/custodian.
In order for the Agency to gather the necessary information for delivering a decision on granting the stateless status, it is authorized to use the help of diplomatic representations of Georgia abroad and the consulate establishments, other state authorities, and international or non-governmental organizations. The agency is also entitled to request information from state bodies regarding the compatibility of the issue of granting the stateless status to an applicant and the interest of protecting state security and public order. The state authorities are obliged to present the requested information within the period of 30 calendar days. In case of non-compliance with this timeframe, it shall be considered that there is no ground for refusing the applicant to be granted the status.
The status seeker is entitled to the right to benefit from the free-of-charge translation services from the Agency within the administrative proceedings for the determination of the status. She/he also has a right to be provided with the legal assistance of international or non-governmental organizations.
While administrative proceedings for the determination of the status are pending the period of residing in Georgia illegally shall be considered permissible. A status seeker who resides in Georgia without legal basis, shall not be expelled from the country during the administrative proceedings on the status determination. The Agency shall issue a temporary identification card to the status seeker for 1 year. Delivering the decision on granting or refusing to grant a status shall result in the annulment of the temporary identification card.
A status can be approved without the above procedures to the person:
- Who was permanently living in Georgia for 31 March 1993, was not considered a citizen of Georgia and had not stopped permanent registration in Georgia after 31 March 1993;
- Whose Georgian citizenship had been terminated because of renouncing Georgian citizenship.
