Apartment in Tbilisi-Vake
Sought-after district with park, cafés and high prices.
Moving to Georgia with a family. Choose the school before the flat.
In short
Families moving to Georgia should pick the school first and the neighbourhood second. Tbilisi has the widest choice of German and international schools; the directories of the ZfA, the IB and Cambridge International show whether a school is recognised. Spouses and children can obtain their own residence permit for family reunification, which rests on a family member's own residence permit. Every family member needs private health cover.
Compare school typesFees, waiting lists and curricula change every year. Ask the school directly before you choose a flat.
What families should checkSchool types
Three routes to a qualification.
The right school depends mostly on where your child will study later: in Germany, in another country or in an English-language system.
German qualification
A link to the German system.
- Check at
- auslandsschulwesen.de and auslandsschulnetz.de
- Look for
- German school abroad with a German qualification, or a DSD school with the language diploma
- Suits
- families returning after a few years
International Baccalaureate
One qualification, many countries.
- Check at
- the school finder on ibo.org
- Look for
- programme: PYP, MYP or Diploma Programme
- Suits
- families who may move on
Cambridge International
British curriculum, taught in English.
- Check at
- the school finder on cambridgeinternational.org
- Look for
- stages up to IGCSE or A Level
- Suits
- children with good English
We do not rate schools. The directories only show whether a school is recognised or authorised. Teaching, class sizes and fees are for you to judge on a visit.
Before you move
What families should settle first.
The order saves money: school and residence decide the neighbourhood, and the neighbourhood decides the flat.
School first
Ask about places, entrance tests, the language of teaching and the journey to school. Many international schools keep waiting lists. Ask to see the authorisation in the official directory, not only on the school's own website.
Tbilisi or Batumi
Tbilisi has a far wider choice of German and international schools. Batumi has only a few. If you are buying there, check first that a suitable school is within reach.
Residence for the family
Citizens of the EU and the UK can stay visa-free for up to a year, children included; the German Foreign Office gives 360 days for Germans. For a longer stay, Art. 15(c) of the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons provides a residence permit for family reunification for relatives of a foreigner who holds a residence permit. The permit through property ownership expressly includes the spouse and children under Art. 15(j). Applications go to the Public Service Hall and must be made before the visa-free period ends.
The right neighbourhood
Vake lies around Vake Park, with schools and embassies nearby, and is among the most expensive districts. Saburtalo has its own metro line, and prices are often below Vake's. Didi Dighomi in the north offers large new-build estates but has no metro station of its own.
Health and insurance
The state healthcare programme is meant for Georgian citizens. Budget for private health cover for every family member, and ask about paediatricians and vaccinations near the flat.
Buy, or rent first
Many families rent near the school for the first year and buy only once school and neighbourhood have proved right. That avoids buying in the wrong place.
Frequently asked questions
Questions from families.
Schools, residence, neighbourhoods and insurance: what parents ask before the move.
Is there a German school in Tbilisi?
The Central Agency for German Schools Abroad (auslandsschulwesen.de) and the Auslandsschulnetz list which schools in Tbilisi offer a German qualification or the German Language Diploma. Check a school's status there, then ask the school directly about places and fees.
How do I find an international school in Batumi?
Search the directories on ibo.org and cambridgeinternational.org for schools in Georgia and look for Batumi. The choice there is smaller than in Tbilisi, so settle the school question before buying a flat.
Can my children get a residence permit?
Yes, through the residence permit for family reunification under Art. 15(c) of the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons. It is for relatives of a foreigner who holds a residence permit, for example a parent. With the permit through property ownership, the spouse and children are included under Art. 15(j). Apply before the visa-free period ends. The Public Service Hall lists the documents required.
Which areas of Tbilisi suit families?
Vake, Saburtalo and Didi Dighomi are the names many families hear. Vake is green and central, Saburtalo well connected, and Didi Dighomi offers newer estates with more space. In daily life, the school run matters most.
Are children covered by Georgian state healthcare?
As a rule, no. The state programme is aimed at Georgian citizens. Children of foreign families need private or international health insurance.
Last reviewed on 2 November 2026. Sources: Central Agency for German Schools Abroad (auslandsschulwesen.de) and Auslandsschulnetz, International Baccalaureate Organization (ibo.org): school finder, Cambridge International Education (cambridgeinternational.org): school finder, Law of Georgia on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons, Art. 15 and 16 (matsne.gov.ge), German Foreign Office: Georgia travel and safety advice, as of 1 November 2026, Public Service Development Agency (sda.gov.ge): residence permits. This guide is not legal or tax advice.
Read next
More on living in Georgia.
Two family neighbourhoods in Tbilisi and the overview of moving to Georgia.
Start with the school.
Once school and neighbourhood are settled, the catalogue shows the projects that fit.