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LegalGEUnder Government Resolution No. 70 of February 20, 2026, labour immigrants applying through a local employer must submit a copy of their passport, personal data, employment contract, and an application confirming their intention to work. Self-employed foreigners must additionally provide either a Revenue Service turnover document for existing businesses or a detailed business plan for new ones. All applications are submitted through labourmigration.moh.gov.ge.
Most foreign nationals without a permanent residence permit who intend to perform paid employment, self-employment, or entrepreneurial activity in Georgia must obtain a work permit. This includes both on-site and remote employees of Georgian companies, as well as independent contractors, traders, and business partners who derive financial benefit from activity conducted in Georgia. Holders of permanent residence permits, investment residence permits, and certain other categories are exempt under the Law on Labour Migration of Georgia.
No. Since March 1, 2026, holding a temporary residence permit alone no longer grants the legal right to work or conduct business in Georgia. Foreign nationals must hold both a valid work permit (Right to Labour Activity) and the corresponding D1 visa or work residence permit simultaneously. This is a fundamental change from the previous system under the Law on Labour Migration of Georgia.
Yes. Resolution No. 70 makes a recorded video interview with a representative of the State Employment Promotion Agency mandatory for all self-employed foreigners applying for a work permit. The interview is conducted after the application and fee are submitted through the online portal. Practitioners have noted that the Agency is working through a high volume of interview requests, which may extend processing times.
The standard processing period is 30 calendar days from submission of a complete application. An expedited procedure of 10 working days is also available. The fee is GEL 200 for standard processing and GEL 400 for expedited processing, paid by bank card through the labourmigration.moh.gov.ge portal. The permit itself becomes legally active only once the applicant also obtains the required D1 visa or work residence permit.
Foreign nationals registered in Georgia's labour migration database with active status as of March 1, 2026 have a transition period until January 1, 2027 to obtain the new work permit and corresponding residence permit. Self-employed foreigners already conducting business as of March 1, 2026 face enforcement from May 1, 2026. Individuals not yet registered had to begin the new process immediately upon the March 1, 2026 effective date.
This is a currently unresolved legal gap acknowledged by practitioners. A newly established Georgian company or a newly self-employed foreigner at the startup stage may be unable to demonstrate the turnover required for a Labour Residence Permit after obtaining a work permit. As of the date of publication, the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs and the Public Service Development Agency have not issued formal guidance on this question. Legal advice on a case-by-case basis is strongly recommended.
Legal.ge connects foreign nationals and Georgian employers with verified immigration and labour law specialists who are actively advising clients on Resolution No. 70 compliance. Whether you need help preparing a document package, assessing your exemption status, or responding to an Agency request, you can browse specialist profiles and contact a qualified Georgian lawyer directly through the platform.
For years, Georgia maintained one of the most accessible labour environments in the region for foreign nationals. Foreigners could register as individual entrepreneurs, open companies, and conduct business with minimal bureaucratic friction. A valid visa or temporary residence permit was, in practice, sufficient to begin working. This open framework attracted digital nomads, remote workers, and international entrepreneurs — many of whom built careers and businesses in Georgia without ever navigating a formal work authorisation process.
Georgia's Parliament identified a structural weakness in this model: the absence of a regulated work permit system meant the state had limited visibility into who was working in the country, what they were doing, and whether Georgian job-seekers were being considered first. Amendments to the Law on Labour Migration of Georgia, passed in 2024, set March 1, 2026 as the date when this would change — fundamentally. A formal, permit-based system would replace the informal status quo.
On February 20, 2026, the Government of Georgia issued Resolution No. 70, approving the precise procedures for granting the Right to Work to labour immigrants and self-employed foreigners. The resolution establishes two distinct application tracks — one for employees of local Georgian employers, another for self-employed individuals — and specifies exactly what information and documents each must submit. Applications are processed through a dedicated electronic system at labourmigration.moh.gov.ge. Fees are set at GEL 200 for standard 30-day processing and GEL 400 for expedited 10-working-day processing.
Despite the resolution's detail, practitioners have flagged unresolved issues. Self-employed applicants must complete a mandatory recorded video interview with an Agency representative — but the Agency has acknowledged it cannot accommodate all requests immediately at current staffing levels. More significantly, a structural legal gap has emerged: a newly established Georgian company, or a newly self-employed foreigner at startup stage, cannot meet the GEL 50,000 annual turnover threshold required to subsequently apply for a Labour Residence Permit — a document needed to legally work in Georgia. As of publication, the Ministry has not issued formal guidance resolving this contradiction.
For labour immigrants employed by a Georgian company, the employer submits the application. Required documents include the employer's registration details, the foreign employee's passport copy and personal data, a copy of the employment contract, and a signed declaration of employment intent. For self-employed foreigners, the individual applies directly and must provide either a Revenue Service turnover certificate for an existing business, or a detailed business plan — covering planned investment, turnover, and financial resources — for a new one.
Working in Georgia without a valid work permit after March 1, 2026 constitutes a legal violation under the Law on Labour Migration of Georgia. Enforcement mechanisms for self-employed foreigners already in Georgia are formally activated from May 1, 2026. Foreign nationals already registered in the labour migration system before March 1, 2026 have until January 1, 2027 to regularise their status. Certain professions — including courier, taxi, and tourist guide services — have been assigned zero-quota status, effectively making new work permits unavailable in those fields.
Since March 1, 2026, Georgia no longer operates as an open labour market for foreign nationals. A residence permit or visa, standing alone, no longer confers the right to work. Foreign nationals and their Georgian employers must now navigate a structured, document-intensive authorisation process before any paid activity begins. The transition period ending January 1, 2027 provides existing workers a window to comply — but the legal architecture has already changed.
Georgia has joined the mainstream of regulated labour migration systems. Foreign professionals who relied on the country's informality now face mandatory documentation requirements, employer obligations, and enforceable deadlines. The unresolved question of the turnover threshold for new businesses remains the most consequential gap in the current framework — and one that will require official clarification before the full compliance picture is clear.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
