Residency in Georgia: Routes, New Labour Permit Rules and How the Process Works

Georgia is still one of the easiest countries in the region to arrive in: citizens of many countries can enter without a visa and stay for up to a year. But staying longer, working, running a business or studying is a different matter. Those activities require the right residence status, and the rules changed noticeably in 2025 and 2026.

This guide explains how residency in Georgia works, which routes exist, what changed, when a work permit is and is not needed, and what a realistic step-by-step process looks like.

This article is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Georgian rules have been amended several times recently, so always confirm the current requirements for your nationality and situation with the Public Service Development Agency (sda.gov.ge) or a qualified local professional.

How residency in Georgia works

There are two separate questions that people often mix up:

• Can I enter and stay? Many nationalities can enter visa-free and stay for a long period as visitors. Others need a visa or e-visa. Check the rules for your passport before you travel.
• Can I live, work or study here legally? That needs a residence permit (often called a TRC, for temporary residence card). Depending on your activity, you may also need a labour permit (see below).

Residence permits are handled by the Public Service Development Agency, which operates under the Ministry of Justice and accepts applications online and through the Public Service Halls. Temporary permits are issued for a limited period and are normally extended under the same conditions on which they were granted.

A tourist stay, however long, does not by itself give you the right to work or build a long-term status, so it is worth choosing a route before your visa-free time runs out.

The main residence routes in 2026

The right route depends on why you are moving and where your income comes from.

• Employment. A Georgian employer supports a work residence permit. The employer has to meet evidence requirements such as company turnover. Amendments approved in July 2026 simplified the paperwork for very new companies, although in that case the permit is reported to be limited to a maximum of six months.
• Self-employed, freelancers and Individual Entrepreneurs. You apply yourself. Whether you also need a labour permit first depends on who your customers are (see the section below).
• IT specialists. A dedicated IT residence permit has existed since September 2025, reported to run for up to three years and to be available to family members too.
• Study. From 1 September 2026, applicants must be enrolled at a higher-education institution officially authorized in Georgia and submit a certificate from the university confirming enrolment and the length of study. School students are reportedly no longer eligible for this permit.
• Property or investment. The minimum real-estate investment for the short-term permit was reported to rise to US$150,000 from March 2026, and a separate investor permit is reported at US$300,000 or more. Thresholds change, so verify before buying anything.
• Family. A new permit for the spouse of a Georgian citizen was reported from 1 September 2026, with a marriage-authenticity review. Certain family categories applying for permanent residence now need proof of legal stay and a legal source of income.
• Permanent residence. Available after a qualifying period of legal residence, with its own conditions.

Some of these details are reported by secondary sources and are still being implemented, so treat them as a map of what to check, not as final rules.

What changed in 2025–2026

1. A labour permit requirement was introduced (1 March 2026). Foreigners employed by Georgian businesses, and self-employed foreigners operating in Georgia, were required to obtain authorization to carry out labour activity (the "right to labour activity") before a work residence permit or a D1 visa could be issued.

2. The scope was narrowed on 16 April 2026. Amendments passed by Parliament exempted several groups, including people who serve only non-resident clients. For many online entrepreneurs, the permit is no longer required. The exact lists are in the next section.

3. A two-step procedure for those who still need it. Reported steps: first the labour permit through the labour-migration portal, then the residence permit. If you are already in Georgia, the residence application is reported to be due within about 10 days of the labour permit. If you are abroad, a D1 visa application follows. The reported fee is GEL 200 for a decision within 30 days, or GEL 400 for expedited handling in about 10 working days.

4. Transition deadlines. Self-employed foreigners who were already active when the rules started were expected to apply from 1 May 2026, with full regularization by 1 January 2027.

5. Absence limits. A self-employed permit is reported to end if you spend more than six consecutive months outside Georgia.

6. Employer rules adjusted again in July 2026, including turnover evidence and simplified documents for companies registered in the previous three months.

7. Tighter study and family rules from 1 September 2026, as described above.

If you read older forum posts that say you only need to show up with a passport and a rental contract, or posts from early 2026 that say every freelancer needs a labour permit, they are probably outdated.

Do you need a labour permit? When yes, and when no

The practical test is who your customers are and where the activity happens.

Usually not needed:

• An online business that serves clients abroad. You provide services to a non-resident person or company, and the work is connected to that client's business outside Georgia. According to Georgian legal sources, this applies even if you are physically in Georgia while you work.
• Remote work for a Georgian employer where the job does not require you to enter Georgia.
• Founders and shareholders of a Georgian LLC. The term "partner" was removed from the definition of a self-employed foreigner, and managers of larger companies (accounting categories 1 to 3) are exempt too.
• Short-term professional activity tied to a specific project, event or service. The list of qualifying activities and maximum durations is still to be set by the government.

Usually needed:

• A business that serves customers in Georgia, for example an Individual Entrepreneur selling goods or services to Georgian clients or operating a local shop or service.
• Working for a Georgian employer inside Georgia.
• Directors of the smallest companies (category 4), which is where most new companies start.
• Mixed models. If you serve foreign and Georgian clients, plan on needing the permit.

Three caveats. First, the 1% Small Business Status is a tax regime: it does not decide whether you need a labour permit. Second, not needing a labour permit is not the same as having the right to live in Georgia. If you want to stay long term, you should still hold a residence permit, and the April amendments allow residence permits for people whose activity falls outside the labour-migration law, with the detailed conditions to be set by a government ordinance. Third, implementation is still being clarified and sources differ on edge cases, so confirm your own situation before you start trading or pay for a permit you may not need.

How the process can work, step by step

1. Define your purpose and nationality. Work, business, IT, study, family or investment each lead to a different permit and a different file.
2. Check your entry status. Confirm whether you are visa-free, need an e-visa or must apply for a D1 visa from abroad.
3. Check whether you need the labour permit. Use the test above. If you do, employees are usually registered by their employer, while self-employed applicants apply personally and state their field of activity.
4. Prepare your documents. Typically a valid passport, a photo, proof of your purpose (employment contract, enrolment certificate, business documents or property papers), proof of accommodation and the fee receipt. Foreign documents often need an apostille and a certified translation; our apostille and document legalisation checklist explains how this works country by country.
5. Apply to the Public Service Development Agency, online or at a Public Service Hall, and pay the fee. Faster processing options exist for an extra fee.
6. Follow up and collect your card. Keep copies of every submission and reference number.
7. Plan the renewal. Temporary permits are extended under the same conditions, so keep your employment, enrolment or business activity in order and avoid long absences.

Alongside the permit, many people also sort out a local address, a bank account and, for entrepreneurs, a tax registration. Our guide to your first 30 days abroad covers the settling-in side.

A real example: from India to Georgia

Timelines and documents look very different from one applicant to the next, so a real case helps. Prakash C. relocated from India to Georgia with our support, and he describes it this way:

"Antonov & Partners made my relocation from India to Georgia much easier. Their agent clearly explained the TRC requirements, coordinated with the local team, and supported me throughout the residency process. They also helped me find suitable accommodation, which removed a major source of stress.

Three things stand out in his experience. He understood the TRC requirements before applying, a local team handled the in-country steps, and accommodation was solved in parallel, which matters because most applications need a verifiable address. Every case is different, and results depend on the authorities, but a clear plan at the start is what prevents most delays.

Entrepreneurs: the 1% tax regime is not a residence permit

If you came to Georgia because of the headline 1% rate, keep three things separate: the tax regime, the labour permit and the residence permit. Small Business Status is a tax regime for eligible Individual Entrepreneurs. It does not replace a residence permit, it does not decide whether you need a labour permit, and it does not change where you are personally tax resident. An online business serving only clients abroad generally does not need the labour permit, while a business selling to Georgian customers does. Read our guides on opening a business in Georgia and on protecting your wealth with a Georgian company and bank account, and check how the rules apply to your activity before you start trading.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Treating visa-free entry as permission to work. Entry status and work authorization are different things.
• Starting a local business before getting the labour permit when you need one. Penalties and refusals are possible.
• Paying for a labour permit you may not need. Check the April 2026 exemptions first.
• Relying on outdated information. Georgian rules were amended in September 2025, March 2026, April 2026, July 2026 and September 2026.
• Missing short deadlines, such as the window to apply for the residence permit after the labour permit.
• Bringing documents that are not apostilled or properly translated.
• Buying property on old thresholds, or assuming a purchase automatically gives you residence.
• Spending long periods abroad and putting a permit at risk.
• Choosing a route that does not match your real situation, which can lead to a refusal and lost time.

How Antonov & Partners helps

Our Georgia program is built around the practical side of the move:

• Route assessment, comparing the permit options for your nationality, income and goals, including whether you need the labour permit.
• Document preparation, including apostille, legalization and translations through our Job & Legalization Assistance.
• Coordination with our local team for filings and follow-up.
• Housing in Tbilisi, through our rental solutions, including lease review and neighbourhood orientation.
• Settling-in support, such as banking, registration and practical arrival steps.

See the full scope under Residency & Relocation Support, or start with an International Mobility Consultancy session to compare Georgia with other destinations. If you are still deciding who to work with, our checklist for choosing a relocation consultant and avoiding visa scams explains what to look for.

We are upfront about limits. Government authorities decide every application, and Antonov & Partners does not guarantee a residence permit, visa, bank account or any other third-party outcome.

Plan your move to Georgia

Rules are moving quickly, and a wrong first step can cost months. Tell us your nationality, your reason for moving, who your customers are and your timeline, and we will come back with realistic options and next steps.

Book your personalized consultation today

Frequently Asked Questions About Residency in Georgia

Do I need a residence permit to live in Georgia?

It depends on your nationality and how long you plan to stay. Many nationalities can stay as visitors for a long period without a visa, but working, studying or settling long term generally requires a residence permit.

Do I need a work permit to run an online business from Georgia?

Generally not if you serve only clients outside Georgia, because services for non-resident clients connected to their business abroad were exempted by the April 2026 amendments. If you sell to Georgian customers, work for a Georgian employer in Georgia or direct a small (category 4) company, you generally do need one. Check your own case first.

How long does a residence permit take?

The agency publishes standard and faster processing options, and the labour permit has its own timeline. Total time depends on your route, your documents and the authority's workload, so plan for several weeks and confirm current times.

Can Antonov & Partners guarantee my residence permit?

No. Decisions belong to the Georgian authorities. We help you choose the right route, prepare a complete file and coordinate the process.