Georgia's New Work Permit Rules for Foreign Nationals: What You Need to Know in 2026

 

If you are a foreign national living or planning to work in Georgia, March 2026 marks a significant turning point. New labour migration rules — adopted by parliament in June 2025 and detailed in a government decree published on 20 February 2026 — introduce Georgia's first-ever mandatory work permit system. Whether you run your own company, freelance, or are employed by a local business, these changes almost certainly affect you.

In This Article

1. Who Is Affected by the New Rules?
2. What About Digital Nomads?
3. How to Apply for a Work Permit
4. After the Permit: Visas and Residency
5. Duration, Extensions and Sector Rules
6. Fines and Penalties for Non-Compliance
7. Restricted Sectors and Zero Quotas
8. Transition Deadlines for Those Already in Georgia
9. Special Note for Company Directors and Entrepreneurs
10. Practical Advice from companyregistration.ge

Who Is Affected by the New Rules?

The core change introduced by the new legislation is straightforward: foreign nationals who do not hold permanent residency in Georgia must now obtain a work permit from the Ministry of Labour before engaging in any work-related activity. This is a first in Georgian law — previously, no such permit category existed.

Permanent residency, for context, can be obtained after ten continuous years of living in Georgia on a temporary residence permit (periods of study, medical treatment, or diplomatic service do not count). Spouses or underage children of Georgian citizens, and parents of minor Georgian citizens, may qualify on different grounds.

The new rules apply to a notably broad range of people, including:

• Foreign nationals employed by a Georgian company under an employment contract, including remote employees working for a locally registered employer;
• Self-employed individuals — freelancers, independent contractors, and sole traders — who carry out any income-generating activity in Georgia;
• Foreign nationals engaged in entrepreneurial activity, including partners in Georgian partnerships;
• Company directors and founders of Georgian legal entities who themselves do not hold permanent residency.

Certain categories are exempt. Refugees, asylum seekers, holders of investment-based residence permits, diplomatic staff, internationally accredited journalists, and employees of international organisations are not covered by the permit requirement. Those protected under international agreements to which Georgia is a party are also excluded.

What About Digital Nomads Working Remotely for Foreign Clients?

This is where the legislation is deliberately ambiguous — and where legal interpretation matters. The law covers anyone who "carries out labour activity in Georgia," but it does not explicitly address foreign nationals who work entirely for companies or clients based outside of Georgia.

Nika Simonishvili, a lawyer and former chair of the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA), has argued that the law is primarily aimed at those participating in Georgia's domestic labour market — not at someone remotely serving a client in, say, Thailand or Germany from a Tbilisi café. His reasoning: if you are not occupying a position in the Georgian economy, the rationale for state intervention is much weaker.

That said, until official guidance or case law clarifies this point, there is genuine legal uncertainty. If your income comes entirely from abroad and you have no Georgian employer or Georgian clients, you are likely in a grey zone rather than a prohibited one. However, if you have registered a Georgian individual entrepreneurship (IE) and issue Georgian invoices — even to foreign clients — you may well be treated as self-employed under Georgian law and subject to the permit requirement.

Our practical advice: if you are unsure, seek legal counsel before 1 May 2026 (the compliance deadline for self-employed individuals).

How to Apply for a Work Permit in Georgia

Work permits are issued by the Employment Promotion Agency, which sits under the Ministry of Labour. The procedure differs significantly depending on whether you are self-employed or employed by a local company.

If You Are Self-Employed

You apply personally through the Labour Migration Electronic System at labourmigration.moh.gov.ge. You will need to submit your personal details, educational background, professional history, and a description of the nature and scope of your activities. If you are planning to start a business, a full business plan is required. If you are already operating, relevant documentation about your existing activity must be provided.

Before your application is finalised, you will also be required to complete a video interview with the agency. The recording of this interview must be attached to your submission.

Processing times and fees are as follows:

Work Permit Application Fees – Self-Employed

Processing Track	Timeframe	Fee (GEL)	Fee (USD approx.)
Standard	30 calendar days	₾200	~$75
Expedited	10 business days	₾400	~$150

If You Are Employed Under a Contract with a Georgian Employer

The responsibility for obtaining your work permit falls on your employer, not on you directly. However, the process involves several steps that extend the timeline significantly compared to a simple administrative application.

First, at least 10 business days before applying for your permit, your employer must advertise the position on the state's labour market information system at worknet.moh.gov.ge. The agency then has another 10 business days to propose local (Georgian) candidates for the role.

Only if the agency fails to put forward a local candidate — or if the employer rejects a proposed candidate with a documented justification — can the employer proceed to apply for your work permit. If the employer rejects a state-recommended candidate, the agency will review the reasoning within three business days. It can either approve the employer's decision and allow the process to continue, or it can deem the refusal unjustified and block the work permit entirely.

This mechanism represents, as legal experts have noted, a considerable extension of state authority into private hiring decisions. Employer fees and processing timelines mirror those for self-employed applicants.

A Work Permit Alone Is Not Enough: Visa and Residence Permit Requirements

This is a point many people miss. Obtaining a work permit does not, by itself, give you the legal right to work in Georgia. You must also hold a valid visa or a relevant residence permit.

For the purposes of the new rules, the relevant documents are:

• A D1 category immigration visa — for those who are not yet in Georgia when the work permit is issued;
• A work residence permit — for those already in the country;
• A residence permit for employment in information technology (IT) — a specific category for tech sector workers, which carries more favourable conditions.

If you are abroad when your work permit is approved, you must apply for the D1 immigration visa within 30 days of the permit's issuance. If you are already in Georgia, you must apply for the relevant residence permit within 10 days of receiving the work permit.

There is one notable exception: if your work is carried out entirely remotely and does not require you to be physically present in Georgian territory, the visa and residence permit obligation does not apply.

How Long Is a Work Permit Valid — and Can You Switch Jobs?

The initial work permit is valid for between six months and one year. For the first five years, renewals can only be granted for a maximum of one year at a time. After five continuous years, the permit can be extended for periods of up to five years.

Workers in the IT sector receive more favourable treatment: their first permit can be valid for up to three years, and each subsequent extension may also be granted for up to three years.

To renew, you must submit an application at least 30 calendar days before expiry. The renewal fee is ₾200 ($75).

Changing Jobs or Adding a Sector

A Georgia work permit is not a universal authorisation to work anywhere in any field. For self-employed individuals, each permit is tied to a specific sector. If you want to add a new sector or change your field of activity, you must submit a new application to the agency.

For those on employment contracts, any change of employer requires the new employer to go through the full application process from scratch — including the 10-day job posting requirement.

Employers are also required to update the Labour Ministry's electronic database within five calendar days whenever an employment contract with a foreign permit-holder is terminated, amended, or extended.

What Happens If You Don't Comply? Fines and Penalties

The Georgian government has attached real financial consequences to violations of the new rules. These apply to employees, employers, and self-employed individuals alike.

Fines for Violations of Work Permit Regulations

Violation	1st Offence	2nd Offence	Subsequent
Working without a permit (employee, employer, or self-employed)	₾2,000 (~$750)	₾4,000 (~$1,500)	₾12,000 (~$4,500)
Failing to update the database on contract termination/amendment	₾1,000 (~$370)	₾2,000 (~$750)	₾6,000 (~$2,245)
Changing employer / sector without renewing permit	₾2,000 (~$750)	₾4,000 (~$1,500)	₾12,000 (~$4,500)

Given that many foreign nationals in Georgia operate as individual entrepreneurs or small business owners, the risk of inadvertently falling into non-compliance is real. The fines are not trivial — ₾12,000 at the third offence represents more than three times the average Georgian monthly salary.

Restricted Sectors: Some Fields Are Effectively Closed to Foreigners

One of the most consequential elements of the government's 20 February 2026 decree is the introduction of annual quotas by profession. The state can set these quotas at any level — including zero.

For 2026, the government has already set a zero quota — meaning foreign nationals without permanent residency are entirely excluded — in the following sectors:

• Food delivery services;
• Passenger transport (taxi driving);
• Tour guiding.

These sectors have seen a notable growth in foreign workers in recent years, particularly delivery services, where large numbers of workers from South Asian countries have been employed. The zero-quota decision will effectively end their ability to work in these roles legally.

For mountain and ski guiding, the quota has been set at 200 persons annually — a limited opening rather than a full closure, but still a cap that did not previously exist.

The government has reserved the right to adjust these quotas annually, meaning sectors that are open today could be restricted in future years.

Key Transition Deadlines for Those Already Living and Working in Georgia

The legislation recognises that many foreign nationals are already operating in Georgia under the old rules. Transition periods have been built in — but they are not open-ended.

• Self-employed individuals who are actively operating in Georgia as of 1 March 2026 must achieve full compliance — including obtaining a work permit — by 1 May 2026. That is a two-month window.
• Foreign nationals employed under a Georgian employment contract, whose registration is already active in the Labour Ministry's database as of 1 March 2026, have a longer runway: they must obtain both a work permit and the appropriate residence permit (if not already held) by 1 January 2027.

If you are self-employed, the 1 May 2026 deadline is effectively immediate. The application process — including the mandatory video interview and document preparation — takes time, so it is advisable to begin now rather than in April.

A Specific Warning for Foreign Company Directors and Founders in Georgia

This is a detail that has caught many foreign entrepreneurs off guard. The new law's definition of "self-employed" is broad enough to cover foreign nationals who have founded or co-founded a Georgian legal entity and who actively manage or participate in that company's operations.

In practice, this means that if you are a foreign national who set up an LLC (შპს) or other company in Georgia and you are its director — or you are actively involved in its day-to-day operations — you are likely required to obtain a work permit for yourself. The permit covers your own activity, not just any foreign employees you might hire (though they would also require separate permits).

This creates an additional compliance layer for the thousands of foreign entrepreneurs who have established Georgian companies in recent years, often precisely because the previous environment was so permissive. If you registered a company through us or another provider and are now actively managing it from Georgia, this rule applies to you.

It is worth noting that holders of investment-based residence permits are exempt from the work permit requirement — this is one route through which high-value investors can continue to operate without navigating the new bureaucracy. If you hold or are eligible for this type of permit, it is worth confirming your status with a legal adviser.

Practical Advice for Foreign Nationals Navigating the New System

Georgia remains one of the most accessible and business-friendly environments for company formation in the region. The new labour rules are a significant shift in philosophy — from near-total openness to a managed system with permits, quotas, and fees — but they do not close Georgia off. They do, however, require proactive compliance.

Here is what we recommend for different situations:

If you are a freelancer or individual entrepreneur

Start your work permit application as soon as possible via labourmigration.moh.gov.ge. Gather your professional history, a description of your activities, and — if you have a Georgian IE or company — supporting business documents. Opt for expedited processing if your deadline is tight. Remember the 1 May 2026 compliance date.

If you are a director or partner in a Georgian company

Seek specific legal advice on whether your role and level of activity trigger the permit requirement. The law is new, and its application to company directors is not always straightforward. In the meantime, ensure that all employee registrations and contracts are up to date in the Labour Ministry's system.

If you are employed by a Georgian company

Talk to your employer now. The process — with mandatory job posting periods and potential agency review — takes considerably longer than the permit fees alone suggest. Allow at least four to six weeks from initial job posting to permit issuance, assuming no complications. Your deadline for existing registered employees is 1 January 2027, but earlier action is always preferable.

If you are considering registering a Georgian company as a foreign national

The new rules are an additional factor to consider, but they do not eliminate the substantial benefits of Georgian company registration — low flat tax rates, simple bookkeeping, and access to international banking. Planning your structure carefully from the outset (including which residency permit category suits you best) can help you navigate the new landscape efficiently.

At companyregistration.ge, we help foreign nationals and international entrepreneurs establish and manage Georgian entities. If you have questions about how the new labour rules interact with your existing or planned business structure, we are available for consultation.

Summary: Key Dates and Numbers

• 1 March 2026 — New rules come into force.
• 1 May 2026 — Deadline for self-employed individuals already active in Georgia.
• 1 January 2027 — Deadline for foreign employees already registered in the Labour Ministry's database.
• ₾200 / $75 — Standard permit application fee (30-day processing).
• ₾400 / $150 — Expedited permit fee (10 business days).
• ₾2,000 / $750 — Fine for working without a permit (first offence).
• ₾12,000 / $4,500 — Fine for repeat violations.
• Zero quota — Delivery, taxi, and tour guide sectors closed to foreign nationals without permanent residency.
• IT sector — More favourable rules: initial permit up to 3 years, renewable for up to 3 years.

Frequently Asked Questions