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News on legislation on foreign citizens and migration

Georgia Tightens Controls as Digital Nomad Era Faces Regulatory Shift

On June 26, 2025, Georgia passed amendments requiring mandatory work permits for foreign nationals starting March 1, 2026. The law addresses the gap between registered and actual foreign workers. Violations incur fines of 2,000 GEL. This shifts Georgia to a regulated migration system.
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Georgia Tightens Controls as Digital Nomad Era Faces Regulatory Shift

The Remote Work Paradise

For years, Georgia positioned itself as one of the world's most accessible destinations for remote workers. Citizens from over 90 countries could enter visa-free and stay up to 365 days—a policy virtually unmatched globally. Tbilisi attracted a growing community of freelancers and entrepreneurs with affordable living costs and favorable tax structures. The country's Individual Entrepreneur status offered qualifying foreign workers a 1% tax rate on revenues up to approximately $165,000 annually, creating what many considered a remote work paradise at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.

The Regulation Gap

By 2023, Georgia's permissive system created unintended consequences. While official registration captured approximately 42,000 foreign workers as of 2025, government estimates suggested the actual number of foreign labor migrants staying six months or longer reached approximately 239,000. This nearly six-fold gap between official records and reality exposed a regulatory blind spot. The Georgian government lacked authority to refuse employment permits that might harm local workers, leading to what officials described in explanatory notes as an influx of unqualified labor that negatively impacted domestic employment conditions.

Parliament Acts

On June 26, 2025, Georgia's Parliament adopted sweeping amendments to the Law on Labour Migration and the Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners in a third reading. The reforms introduce a mandatory work permit system requiring most foreign nationals—including employees, self-employed individuals, registered entrepreneurs, and remote workers for Georgian startups—to obtain government-issued authorization before engaging in any employment or business activity within Georgia.

New Permit Requirements

The new framework creates a two-stage process. Foreign workers must first secure a "right to labor/entrepreneurial activity" permit from the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health, and Social Affairs—a review that can take up to 30 calendar days. Only after obtaining this permit can they apply for the required D1 immigration visa or work residence permit. Individual entrepreneurs previously operating through simple online registration now fall under the definition of "self-employed foreigner" and must independently navigate the permit system. Exemptions exist for refugees, asylum seekers, diplomatic mission employees, accredited foreign journalists, and holders of investment or permanent residence permits.

Implementation Timeline Set

The law takes effect March 1, 2026. Foreign workers already registered in the labor migration system on that date receive a transition period extending to January 1, 2027, to obtain required permits and matching residence documentation. Enforcement mechanisms include fines of 2,000 Georgian lari (approximately $740) for both unauthorized foreign workers and their employers for first offenses, with penalties doubling for repeat violations within one year and tripling thereafter. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and regulatory bodies gained authority to conduct workplace inspections and impose financial penalties for violations.

The Cost of Compliance

The regulatory shift fundamentally alters Georgia's value proposition for registered remote workers and entrepreneurs. What was once a nearly paperwork-free destination for those using the Individual Entrepreneur tax scheme now requires advance planning, government approval, and compliance monitoring. The administrative burden falls particularly hard on small businesses and startups that previously hired foreign talent informally. Foreign nationals performing labor activity fully remotely without entering Georgian territory or establishing local business registration may not require permits, though this distinction awaits clarification during implementation.

From Open Door to Controlled Entry

Georgia appeared prominently in digital nomad destination rankings during early 2025, with Lonely Planet featuring the country in its remote work destinations list and Euronews in February 2025 highlighting Georgia alongside Portugal and Hungary as popular nomad hotspots. The country still maintains its visa-free entry policy for 90+ nationalities and its favorable 1% tax structure for qualifying entrepreneurs. However, for those who previously registered as Individual Entrepreneurs to access the tax benefits—the core of Georgia's appeal to digital nomads—the freedom to work without government oversight ends with the new permit requirements.

A New Era of Oversight

Georgia's shift from regulatory permissiveness to controlled labor migration mirrors broader global trends toward formalizing remote work arrangements. The reforms aim to protect domestic workers, improve statistical tracking, and formalize previously grey-market employment relationships. For foreign professionals who relied on Georgia's Individual Entrepreneur system, the changes mean the country transitions from an accessible remote work hub to a more traditional immigration system requiring advance authorization and ongoing compliance. The actual impact on digital nomad flows to Georgia will emerge through 2026 as the permit system becomes operational and enforcement begins.

Sources & Verification

Source 1 — Parliament of Georgia (matsne.gov.ge) –

Official legal database confirming Law on Labour Migration framework

Source 2 — Georgian Government Explanatory Notes (2025) –

Statistical data citing 42,000 registered vs. 239,000 estimated foreign workers

Source 3 — Eurofast Legal Advisory (July 2025)

Detailed analysis of June 26, 2025 parliamentary amendments, March 1, 2026 effective date

Source 4 — VisaVerge.com (August 2025)

Reporting on work permit requirements, transition periods, and enforcement mechanisms

Source 5 — IBCCS Tax Georgia (November 2025)

Legal advisory firm detailing Special Labour Permit requirements and penalties

Source 6 — Euronews (February 2025)

Reporting on Georgia's prominence in digital nomad destinations

Source 7 — Multiple legal advisory sources

AACC, JUST Advisors, F-CHAIN reporting consistent implementation dates and requirements

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Working in Georgia Without a Permit Is Now Illegal: What Foreigners Must Do

Working in Georgia Without a Permit Is Now Illegal: What Foreigners Must Do

Do foreigners now need a work permit to work in Georgia?

Yes. From March 1, 2026, most foreign nationals without a permanent residence permit must obtain a Right to Labour Activity permit before starting any paid work, freelance activity, or business operation in Georgia. This requirement applies regardless of whether the foreigner already holds a valid visa or temporary residence permit. The permit is issued by the State Employment Promotion Agency under the Law on Labour Migration of Georgia.

Who is exempt from Georgia's new work permit requirement?

Exemptions under the Law on Labour Migration of Georgia apply to recognized refugees, asylum seekers, employees of accredited diplomatic missions and international organizations, accredited foreign journalists, and holders of valid investment residence permits or permanent residence permits. Foreign nationals performing work entirely remotely with no Georgian economic footprint — no local clients, no Georgian business registration — may also fall outside the scope of the requirement, though this distinction is pending full regulatory clarification.

How do I apply for a work permit in Georgia as a self-employed foreigner or individual entrepreneur?

Self-employed foreigners apply independently through the electronic Labour Migration portal at www.labourmigration.moh.gov.ge. The application requires personal and professional documentation, a business plan or proof of existing business activity, and payment of the service fee. Applicants must also complete a mandatory video interview with the State Employment Promotion Agency. The standard processing time is 30 calendar days; an expedited 10-working-day track is available at double the fee.

What are the fines for working in Georgia without a work permit?

Under the Law on Labour Migration of Georgia, both the foreign worker and the employing company face fines of 2,000 GEL for a first offence. Penalties increase for repeated violations within a 12-month period, doubling on the second offence and tripling thereafter. The same fines apply to self-employed foreigners operating without the required permit.

What is the deadline for foreigners already working in Georgia to get a work permit?

Foreign nationals who were registered in Georgia's Labour Migration system with active status as of March 1, 2026 have until January 1, 2027 to regularize their status by obtaining the Right to Labour Activity permit and corresponding residence documentation. Self-employed foreigners already conducting business as of March 1, 2026 face enforcement from May 1, 2026 onwards under the transitional provisions of Government Decree №70.

Does a valid Georgian residence permit automatically allow a foreigner to work?

No. Under the rules effective March 1, 2026, holding a residence permit does not automatically confer the right to work or conduct business. A separate Right to Labour Activity permit is required unless the foreigner holds a permanent or investment residence permit. Simply having a temporary residence permit is no longer a sufficient legal basis for employment or entrepreneurial activity.

Can an employer hire a foreigner in Georgia without going through the local labor market test?

In most cases, employers must first post the vacancy on the national jobs portal for at least 10 working days to demonstrate that no suitable local candidate is available. However, the labor market test does not apply to companies holding International Company status under the Tax Code of Georgia, accredited academic institutions, or positions where the monthly salary exceeds 15,000 GEL and a relevant higher education degree is objectively required.

How can Legal.ge help me navigate Georgia's new work permit requirements?

Legal.ge connects individuals and employers with qualified Georgian lawyers specialising in immigration, labour law, and business registration. Whether you need help preparing a work permit application, assessing your exemption status, or ensuring your company complies with the Law on Labour Migration, you can browse verified specialist profiles and contact a lawyer directly through the platform.

Georgia Raises Real Estate Investment Bar for Residence Permits by 50%

Georgia Raises Real Estate Investment Bar for Residence Permits by 50%

Georgia raises the real estate residence permit threshold to USD 150,000, effective March 1, 2026. The 50% increase follows June 2025 legal amendments. Current USD 100,000 buyers must finalize purchases before the deadline. Existing permits remain renewable under old terms if ownership continues.