Georgia – the one with the Caucasus, not the peaches – used to be the easiest move on the map: land, get a stamp, register a business, done. It’s still cheap, friendly and fast. But 2026 added three layers of paperwork: mandatory insurance on entry, a right to work, and the work residence permit that follows it.
This guide covers the practical side of the first 90 days: permits, registration, bank, flat, insurance and a monthly budget. It’s general information as of September 2026, not advice. For the tax detail (1% regime, Estonian-style company tax, HNWI status), see the Georgia country guide.
Which permit fits you#
| Route | Who it’s for | Key requirement (as of 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-free stay | EU, UK, US and many other passports | Up to one year per stay; health and accident insurance of at least GEL 30,000 for the whole stay |
| Right to work + work residence permit | Freelancers, individual entrepreneurs, founders, employees of Georgian companies | Right to work from the State Employment Support Agency (GEL 200 / 30 days or GEL 400 / 10 working days), then a work residence permit (from GEL 300) with income and turnover conditions |
| IT residence permit | IT professionals | At least USD 25,000 IT income over the last year; fee from GEL 500 |
| Property residence permit | Buyers of real estate | Property worth at least USD 150,000 (raised from USD 100,000 on 1 March 2026); covers spouse and children |
| Investment residence permit | Investors | USD 300,000 invested; holders are exempt from the right-to-work rules |
| HNWI tax residency | Wealthy individuals | A tax status, not a visa: GEL 3 million assets or GEL 200,000 income plus USD 500,000 Georgian property and a local link |
Visa-free days are a right to stay, not a right to work. If you earn money from work done in Georgia, plan for the right to work plus a residence permit from day one. Remote nomads who only work for foreign employers are in a greyer zone – our digital nomad visa guide compares the options elsewhere.
Your first 90 days#
From arrival to residency certificate
Before you go: insurance and exit
Buy health and accident insurance with at least GEL 30,000 cover that runs for your entire stay, including arrival and departure days, in English or Georgian. Map your exit at home first: deregistration, leaving Germany and, if you hold company shares, exit tax.
Before you go: documents and business plan
Get apostilled documents (see the checklist below) and write a short business plan. New self-employed applicants for the right to work submit one; existing businesses show a turnover statement from the Revenue Service.
Week 1: SIM, flat, address
Pick up a SIM from Magti, Silknet or Cellfie at the airport or any shop – you need a local number for almost everything. Book a furnished short-term place for the first weeks and view long-term flats in person.
Week 1: register as individual entrepreneur
At the Public Service Hall you register as an individual entrepreneur (IE), usually within a day or two, also through a representative. Keep the registration extract handy – the right-to-work portal and your bank will ask for your details.
Week 2: apply for the right to work
Apply on labourmigration.moh.gov.ge: GEL 200 for a decision within 30 calendar days, GEL 400 for 10 working days. Self-employed applicants have a mandatory video interview. The right is tied to your field of activity. Don’t start working until it’s granted – the fine is GEL 2,000, doubled on repeat.
Week 2: small business status and bank account
Apply for small business status with the Revenue Service (rs.ge) so your IE pays 1% of turnover up to GEL 500,000. Open an account in person at TBC Bank or Bank of Georgia with your passport, IE extract and proof of business: contracts, invoices, a website.
Month 1: work residence permit
Within 10 days of receiving the right to work, apply for a work residence permit via the Public Service Development Agency (Public Service Hall or online). Fees as of 2026: GEL 300 (30 days), GEL 450 (20 days) or GEL 600 (10 days). Income and turnover conditions apply, so bring bank statements and contracts.
Month 1: sign the lease, sort utilities
Sign a written lease in Georgian and English. Put electricity, gas, water and internet in your name or agree in writing who pays. Winter heating on gas can double your bills.
Month 3: health cover, driving licence, schools
Replace travel insurance with a proper local or international health plan. A foreign licence generally works for up to a year (the UK Foreign Office confirms this for UK licences); after that, exchange it at the Service Agency (GEL 15, in person). Families should book international school visits early – Tbilisi has several with British, American or IB curricula, and places fill up.
Month 6+: tax residency certificate
Once you’ve spent 183 days in Georgia within a continuous 12-month period ending in the tax year, request a tax residency certificate from the Revenue Service. It’s your proof for your old country and for treaty claims.
Finding a flat#
Tbilisi is the main market; Batumi on the Black Sea is cheaper outside the summer season. Rents are usually quoted in US dollars and paid in lari, a habit from the 1990s. Furnished flats are the norm.
| Area | Vibe | 1-bedroom (USD / month) | 2-bedroom (USD / month) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vake | Leafy, upscale, parks | 500–900 | 800–1,400 |
| Vera | Central, cafés, older buildings | 400–700 | 600–1,000 |
| Old Tbilisi / Sololaki | Historic, touristy, steep streets | 450–800 | 700–1,200 |
| Saburtalo | Modern blocks, metro, good value | 350–600 | 500–900 |
| Batumi (central) | Seaside, seasonal | 300–600 | 450–900 |
Estimate as of September 2026 for furnished flats, based on 2026 listings and expat rental guides; Batumi is our rough estimate. At the National Bank of Georgia rate of late September 2026, USD 100 is about GEL 261.
- Deposit. Usually one month’s rent, sometimes the first and last month.
- Agents. Common and often charge around half a month’s rent. Ask up front who pays.
- Contract. Always written, bilingual, with an inventory and photos. Check the owner in the Public Registry before you pay.
- Scams. Below-market listings that “just got rented” when you call, and requests for deposits before a viewing. Never pay for a flat you haven’t seen.
What it costs per month#
| Item | Single (GEL) | Couple (GEL) |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (furnished, central) | 1,300–2,300 | 1,800–3,600 |
| Utilities | 150–350 | 200–450 |
| Mobile and internet | 60–100 | 90–140 |
| Groceries | 600–900 | 1,000–1,500 |
| Health insurance | 100–300 | 200–600 |
| Transport (metro, bus, taxi apps) | 50–150 | 100–250 |
| Eating out and other | 600–1,200 | 1,000–2,000 |
| Total | 2,900–5,300 (≈ €950–1,800) | 4,400–8,500 (≈ €1,500–2,900) |
Estimate as of September 2026, based on the rent ranges above and typical local prices, converted at about GEL 3 per euro. International health insurance with full cover costs more, and a car adds a lot.
Documents to bring#
Georgia: what to pack besides wine glasses
Tick them off – your progress is saved in this browser only.
Valid for your whole planned stay, with spare pages. Every application starts with it.
Policy of at least GEL 30,000 covering every day of your stay, in English or Georgian, printed or as PDF.
A business plan for a new activity, or turnover statements for an existing one – needed for the right to work.
Bank statements and client contracts. They help with the work residence permit’s income conditions and with bank KYC.
Marriage and birth certificates if your family comes along, and degrees if your work needs them. Get apostilles at home, translations in Georgia.
Some permits and employers ask for one. Get a recent, apostilled copy before you go.
Your licence plus, for a later exchange, an apostilled certificate from the issuing authority confirming it’s valid and not suspended – no older than 90 days when you submit it.
A few passport photos; many offices take digital ones, some don’t.
The traps#
What catches newcomers
Visa-free is not a work permit.
A year of visa-free stay lets you live in Georgia, not work there. Since 2026 you need the right to work and then a residence permit.
An IE is not a right to work.
Registering as an individual entrepreneur gives you a business, not permission to run it. Working without the right has been fined since enforcement started on 1 May 2026: GEL 2,000, doubled on repeat.
Insurance must cover every day.
The GEL 30,000 policy has to run from arrival to departure. Buy a new one before the old one lapses, not after.
Foreign income isn’t the same as foreign clients.
Georgia exempts foreign-source income, but work you do while sitting in Tbilisi is Georgian-source. That’s why freelancers use the IE and 1% regime.
Banks do real KYC.
Expect questions on source of funds and your business. Some nationalities and non-resident companies get refused.
Politics can move fast.
Large protests since 2024 and tense EU relations. Keep a second bank account and a Plan B country.
Taxes and days#
Georgian tax residency is a day count: 183 days in any continuous 12-month period ending in the tax year. Your old country runs its own tests, and a flat you kept there can outweigh any Georgian certificate. Read tax residency explained and, if you come from Germany, leaving Germany. The day tracker keeps the count honest.
This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Want your move checked end to end? Book a strategy session or compare Georgia with other countries in the Jurisdiction Finder.
FAQ#
Can I live in Georgia for a year without a visa?
If your passport qualifies – EU, UK, US and many others do – yes, up to a year per stay, with health and accident insurance of at least GEL 30,000. It doesn’t allow you to work in Georgia.
Do I need a work permit as a freelancer in Georgia?
If you work from Georgia as an individual entrepreneur or for Georgian clients, yes: since 1 March 2026 you need the right to work and then a work residence permit. Pure remote employees of foreign companies are a grey zone, so get it checked.
How much does the right to work cost?
As of 2026, GEL 200 with a decision within 30 calendar days or GEL 400 within 10 working days. The work residence permit costs GEL 300 to 600 on top, depending on speed.
Can I open a Georgian bank account as a foreigner?
Yes, usually in person at TBC Bank or Bank of Georgia. Bring your passport, IE registration and proof of income or business. Approval isn’t automatic.
When do I become tax-resident in Georgia?
After 183 days in any continuous 12-month period ending in the tax year. Then you can request a residency certificate from the Revenue Service. Details: Georgia country guide.
Can I use my foreign driving licence?
For the first year, generally yes – the UK Foreign Office confirms up to a year for UK licences. After that, exchange it at the Service Agency: GEL 15, done in minutes, but you need an apostilled confirmation from the issuing authority and a medical certificate.
Sources#
- Law of Georgia on Labour Migration – Legislative Herald (matsne.gov.ge)
- Embassy of Georgia to Norway – new rules for employed and self-employed aliens from 1 March 2026
- Embassy of Georgia to Norway – mandatory insurance for tourists entering Georgia
- Public Service Development Agency – migration and residence permits
- Service Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs – exchange of a foreign driving licence
- National Bank of Georgia – official exchange rates
- UK Foreign Office – Georgia entry requirements
- UK Foreign Office – Georgia safety and security
- KPMG – Georgia introduces mandatory work authorization (2026)
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries – Georgia, residence
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries – Georgia, taxes on personal income
- Andersen Georgia – HNWI tax residency
- Georgia Expats – renting an apartment in Tbilisi (rent ranges, secondary)
