Georgia digital nomad visa

How it works in 2026

Georgia launched its Covid-era programme for remote workers in August 2020 while borders were closed, and it carried the requirement of $2,000 a month in income or $24,000 in savings. After visa-free entry was restored the programme lost its purpose and is no longer listed on the official visa portal. Today citizens of 95+ countries, including Russia, enter Georgia visa-free and may stay up to 365 days, with no need to prove income.

What changed in 2026

Since 1 January 2026 all foreigners entering must have health and accident insurance with coverage of at least GEL 30,000, about $11,530, for the whole stay. The policy can be Georgian or foreign, in Georgian or English.

Since 1 March 2026 Georgia has required a labour activity permit for foreigners without permanent residence. It is needed by those working for a Georgian employer, including remotely, and by those self-employed in Georgia, including sole traders; for the self-employed the requirement applies from 1 May 2026.

Who needs a work permit

Temporary residence on its own no longer gives the right to work or do business in Georgia: both a work permit and the corresponding visa or residence permit are needed.

How to get a work permit

Applications are filed online on the Labour Ministry's labour migration portal, and the decision is made by the state employment promotion agency. A self-employed person applies personally and provides personal data, education and experience, the entrepreneur registration number and a description of the activity in Georgia. An existing business attaches a Revenue Service turnover statement, a new one attaches a business plan with investment and projected turnover. After filing and payment a mandatory video interview with an agency representative follows.

The fee is GEL 200, about $77, for review within 30 calendar days, or GEL 400, about $154, for expedited review within 10 business days. Before applying for an employee, the employer posts the vacancy on the state employment portal for at least 10 business days. The first permit is issued for six months to a year, renewed annually for the first 5 years, and after 5 years of continuous work for up to 5 years. IT specialists may receive a first permit of up to 3 years.

A work permit alone does not give the right to live in the country. Someone in Georgia applies for a work residence permit within 10 days of receiving it, and someone abroad applies for a work visa within 30 days.

Fines and deadlines for those already working

Working without a permit is fined GEL 2,000, about $769, for the first offence and GEL 4,000, about $1,537, for a repeat, with higher amounts after that. Fines apply to the foreigner, the employer and the self-employed alike. Self-employed people already working in Georgia had to apply by 1 May 2026, and those working under an employment contract must regularise their status by 1 January 2027. After a refusal you can reapply no earlier than one month later, and an appeal must be filed within a month.

Taxes

A person becomes a Georgian tax resident after spending more than 183 days in the country within 12 months. An individual's foreign-source income is not taxed in Georgia, but the tax authority may treat income for work performed in Georgia as Georgian-source. So many freelancers register as sole traders with small business status, while employees of foreign companies review their situation with a tax adviser in advance. We calculate taxes in your country of citizenship separately.

A sole trader with 1% tax

A sole trader with small business status pays 1% of turnover if annual turnover does not exceed GEL 500,000, about $192,030, and the activity is not on the exclusion list. If a micro business exceeds GEL 30,000, there are 15 calendar days to apply for small business status, otherwise income is taxed at the standard 20%. From 2026 a foreign entrepreneur needs a work permit in addition to registration.

Cost of living and moving

Lari are converted at the National Bank of Georgia rate of 5 October 2026, 2.6039 lari per dollar, and rounded up.

If you need more than 365 days

The 365-day period is tied to a single entry: after leaving the country and re-entering, the count starts again. But if someone lives in Georgia for years on visa-free entries, the border service may refuse entry, so for permanent life it is safer to obtain a status.

The visa-free period is 365 days. Those living in Georgia permanently are better off with a residence permit: for work with a labour permit, for their own business, study, family, or as a property owner. Since 1 March 2026 the property owner permit is granted for property worth at least $150,000 at market valuation, but on its own it does not give the right to work. We choose the basis to match what you will do in Georgia. All grounds, fees and timelines are on the page Georgian residence permit.

Documents and steps

1. A passport with ample validity and a health insurance policy for the whole trip.
2. Visa-free entry and registering your housing.
3. For freelancers, registering as a sole trader at the Public Service Hall and applying for small business status.
4. A labour activity permit if you are self-employed or work for a Georgian employer.
5. A Georgian bank account and the sole trader's monthly tax returns.

Timeline by step

Why entry or a permit may be refused

• No health insurance policy for the whole stay, or coverage below GEL 30,000.
• Previous overstays in Georgia.
• The border service doubts the purpose of the trip.
• For a work permit, incomplete documents on the activity or employer.

Who it suits and who it does not

Georgia suits employees of foreign companies and those wanting to live in the country for up to a year without bureaucracy, as well as freelancers ready to register as sole traders and obtain a work permit for the 1% tax. It does not suit those needing EU status or a path to another passport, or those planning to work for local clients without a permit.

Family

A spouse and children whose citizenship is on the visa-free list also stay in Georgia for up to 365 days, and each needs their own insurance policy. If the family stays long term, relatives obtain residence permits for family reunification following the applicant. A spouse may not work for a Georgian employer or client without their own work permit, even remotely.

Alternatives

What we do

Murblz specialists check entry rules for your citizenship, choose insurance, register you as a sole trader with small business status, arrange the work permit and residence if you stay long-term. A consultant will calculate the cost in the chat, and we fix the estimate in writing.

Why Georgia works for remote workers

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