Residence permits in Georgia for founders, investors and remote workers (2026)

2. Temporary residence permits

The Public Service Development Agency (SDA) issues the permits. The main routes for people moving for business or work:

• Work permit: registration with the labour ministry, monthly income of at least five times the subsistence minimum, and employer turnover of GEL 50,000 per foreign employee (GEL 35,000 in education and medicine).
• IT permit: at least two years of IT experience and income of at least USD 25,000 a year, received at least twice at 30-day intervals. Initially valid for three years.
• Investment permit: an audited investment of USD 300,000, or property worth more than USD 300,000 (not agricultural land). The investment route needs turnover of USD 50,000 in year one, USD 100,000 in year two and USD 120,000 in years three to five. Valid up to five years, extendable.
• Short-term permit for property owners: property worth more than USD 150,000 (not agricultural land). Valid one year, renewable.
• Study and family reunification: an institution’s certificate or proof of kinship, plus income of at least twice the subsistence minimum.

Most temporary permits can be renewed up to 12 years in total (Law on the Legal Status of Aliens, Art. 16). None of the permit types is based on simply registering a company or an individual entrepreneur.

3. Permanent and unlimited residence

• Permanent residence: for parents or minor children of Georgian citizens, a citizen’s spouse after five years on a spouse permit, or after ten years on temporary permits (study and medical time excluded).
• Unlimited residence: for investment permit holders after five years, with proof of turnover or five years of property ownership.

There is no permanent residence "by investment" on day one. The USD 300,000 investment leads first to a temporary investment permit, and to unlimited residence only after five years.

4. The 2026 right to work

Since 2026, the Law on Labour Migration allows a foreigner to be employed or self-employed in Georgia only with a right to work plus a work or IT residence permit or a D1 visa (Arts. 131–139). "Self-employed" covers foreigners without permanent residence who earn income from trade, services, partnership or contracting. The rules apply from 1 March 2026; for people already self-employed on that date, enforcement started on 1 May 2026.

• Decision: within 30 days. Then a D1 visa within 30 days if you are abroad, or a work or IT residence permit within 10 days if you are in Georgia.
• Scope: tied to one employer for employees, or to one speciality and field for the self-employed.
• Loss: the right ends if a self-employed person is outside Georgia for more than six months.
• Fee: capped at GEL 500 by law (Art. 134).
• Fine for working without it: GEL 2,000 for the worker, the self-employed person or the employer, rising for repeat breaches (Art. 161).
• Exempt: among others, investment permit holders; permanent residents fall outside the regime.

5. How to apply, and what it costs

Apply online, at a Public Service Hall or at an SDA office. The basic file is the application form, a passport copy, proof of lawful stay in Georgia, a photo and proof of the fee. SDA publishes fees by processing time:

• Work, study, family, investment and short-term permits: GEL 300 (30 days), GEL 450 (20 days), GEL 600 (10 days).
• IT permit: GEL 500, GEL 750 or GEL 1,000 on the same timescales.
• Permanent residence: GEL 500 (30 days) or GEL 650 (20 days).

Apply at least 40 days before your lawful stay ends, except for the investment, short-term and IT permits. Refusal grounds include security concerns, false or forged documents and a pending criminal case. After a refusal, you can reapply on the same basis after one month (Arts. 18–19).

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. Public Service Development Agency: residence permits
2. Law of Georgia on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons (Legislative Herald of Georgia)
3. Government Ordinance No. 255 of 2015: countries with one-year visa-free stay (Legislative Herald of Georgia)
4. Law of Georgia on Labour Migration (Legislative Herald of Georgia)