Davit Omsarashvili
For years, citizens of the EU, the US, and more than 90 other countries could enter Georgia visa-free simply as tourists. They could work or start a business for a full year without needing any additional documents or permits.
However, starting March 1, 2026, this approach changed fundamentally.
Simply put: staying in the country legally no longer gives you the right to work. If the visa-free regime automatically allowed you to work before, this is no longer the case.
According to the government’s new rules, foreigners who want to work in Georgia must go through a special procedure to get an official “Right to Work” from the state. This new system is much stricter and relies on specific quotas and rules.
In this blog, we will simply explain exactly what has changed and what you need to know about the new regulations for employing foreigners in Georgia.
What Did the 2026 Reform Change and Who is Affected?
Labor migration in Georgia is regulated by a special law. This law applies to both Georgian citizens going to work abroad and foreigners coming to work here.
In 2026, radical changes were made to this law, and its scope was significantly expanded.
Previously, the law only applied to foreigners who physically went to a specific local employer in Georgia. Now, the regulations are much broader. The new rules fully apply to remote workers, self-employed individuals, and freelancers—meaning any foreigner doing economic activity in Georgia and earning income from it.
Government Resolution No. 70
To put all this into practice, the government approved a special rule on February 20, 2026. Put simply, this resolution is the main document that explains the new rules of the game in detail.
This is where all the technical details are written down for anyone who wants to work: exactly what steps you need to take to get a work permit, who is exempt, how much it costs, and when your right to work can be canceled.
Step 1: How to Get the Right to Work
Starting in March 2026, working legally has become a two-step process. The first and most important step is getting a work permit from the Employment Agency. Remember: working without this permit is against the law!
The process is completely online through a special portal (labourmigration.moh.gov.ge). The rules depend on whether you are an employee or a freelancer:
If you are hired by a company: Your future employer uploads the application and documents to the portal. It is important to remember that this permit is tied only to this specific company. If you leave your job and start working somewhere else, you will have to get a new permit.
If you are self-employed or a freelancer: In this case, you do everything yourself. Along with registering on the portal, you will need proof that you are actually doing business (for example, a turnover certificate from the Revenue Service, or a detailed business plan if you are just starting). Also, be ready for a mandatory video interview with the Agency.
The Agency makes a decision within a maximum of 30 days. If your documents are incomplete, you will get an extra 10 days to fix them.
A rejection can happen for various reasons (e.g., missing documents or a filled quota). If you are rejected, you can appeal in court within 1 month. However, keep in mind: appealing in court does not give you the right to start working or extend your stay in the country.
Who is Exempt from Getting a Work Permit?
Even though the new rules cover almost all economic activities, the law makes exceptions for specific social or professional groups. These exceptions are in place to fulfill international obligations, protect investors, and ensure national security. Exempt groups include:
- People with international protection status.
- Holders of permanent and investment visas.
- Diplomats and representatives of international missions.
- Accredited journalists.
- People protected by international treaties.
- “Digital Nomads” with no local economic ties: This means foreigners who are physically in Georgia but work remotely exclusively for foreign companies, and have no business connections or clients in Georgia. Because they do not compete with the local workforce and do not make money from the Georgian economy (instead, they spend foreign currency in the country), they do not need a permit.
Step 2: The Immigration Visa and Strict Deadlines
Getting the right to work is only half the process. It is important to know: a work permit does not automatically give you the right to live in Georgia. Under the new law, tourist and work purposes are strictly separated. The work permit is just the “green light” to get an Immigration Visa (Category D1) or a residence permit.
As soon as you get the right to work from the Employment Agency, the clock starts ticking. Your next steps depend on where you are at that moment:
- If you are abroad: You have 30 calendar days to apply for a D1 Immigration Visa electronically (at www.geoconsul.gov.ge) or at an embassy.
- If you are already in Georgia (e.g., as a tourist or under an old status): Your time is much more limited! You have only 10 calendar days to apply directly to the Public Service Hall (State Services Development Agency) for a Work Residence Permit.
Important: These deadlines are critical. If you miss the 30-day or 10-day limit, or if the government denies your visa, the work permit you got in the first step will be automatically canceled. You will have to start the whole process over again.
Step 3: Work Residence Permit and New Financial Rules
The main and final goal of this whole immigration process is to get a Work Residence Permit (TRP), which is issued by the Public Service Hall.
Keep two important details in mind here: you can only apply online if you are physically in Georgia. Also, as mentioned earlier, if you came to the country just as a tourist (with a C visa), you cannot ask for a residence permit directly—you will definitely need a category D (Immigration) visa to change your status.
The Main Barrier: Financial Requirements
The strictest part of the 2026 reform is the new financial rules. The government has a simple goal: to make sure the foreign employee is actually creating economic value and has enough money to support themselves.
To get a residence permit, you must meet two financial conditions at the same time:
- Your Personal Income: Your monthly salary (or income from a business) must not be less than 5 times the subsistence minimum set in Georgia.
- The Company’s Annual Turnover: To prevent the use of fake companies, the state also checks the employer’s income. The company’s annual turnover must be at least 50,000 GEL for each foreign employee. (For example: if a company wants to hire 3 foreigners and get them residence permits, the company’s proven annual turnover must be at least 150,000 GEL).
Employer Obligations, Monitoring, and Sanctions
The 2026 legal reform significantly shifted the center of gravity to the employer’s responsibility. The state’s logic is simple: preventing illegal migration is most effective where the economic benefit is created. Because of this, local employers now have several strict duties, and failing to follow them carries huge financial risks.
First of all, the employer must sign a labor contract with the foreigner that fully complies with the Georgian Labor Code. The contract must be in writing, for a specific term (open-ended contracts are restricted), and in two languages: Georgian and a language understood by the immigrant (their native language or another). The contract must include essential details: detailed personal information, the employer’s full details, the complete address of the workplace, and the rights and duties of both parties.
As soon as the employment starts, the employer has a duty to register them. Within a maximum of 30 calendar days from signing the contract, they must register the foreign employee in the Ministry of Health’s unified electronic database for labor migration. This is not a one-time duty: any changes (extending the contract, changing conditions, or ending it) must also be updated in the database within 30 days. Inspecting agencies have access to this specific database.
Two agencies are responsible for enforcing the law: the Labor Inspection Office (checking labor rights and migration rules at the workplace) and the relevant departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (migration control and checking legal stay in the country).
The administrative sanctions introduced by the new regulations are unprecedentedly high.
Ultimately, employing a foreigner in Georgia is no longer a simple, five-minute task. This process now requires advance planning, communication with state agencies, and strict compliance with deadlines. The key question now is how strictly the executive authorities will enforce this law.