No Sectoral Permit Exists — the General Work Residence
In Georgia there is no separate, sectoral work residence permit for the construction industry. For aliens employed in construction the general regime applies — the work residence permit provided by subparagraph „a“ of Article 15 of the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens. The general starting principle is established by Article 29 of that law: the labour activity of aliens in Georgia is regulated by Georgian legislation.
This distinction matters in planning: no special privilege or additional requirement applies to construction — liability is determined entirely by the general norms, and a breach of precisely those norms creates risk for both the construction company and the employee.
The Income Threshold — Five Times the Subsistence Minimum
To obtain a work residence permit, an alien employed in a construction company submits to the agency a document confirming entrepreneurial or labour activity and a certificate confirming that his monthly income or remuneration from such activity in Georgia is not less than five times the subsistence minimum of the average consumer.
The threshold is set at the level of monthly income and must be confirmed anew at each grant and extension — a temporary reduction requires documentary justification.
The Turnover Rule — 50 000 GEL
On the employer's side the law sets an annual turnover threshold: the enterprise's annual turnover must not be less than 50 000 GEL per each alien seeking a work residence permit. The reduced threshold of no less than 35 000 GEL applies only to educational and medical institutions — a construction company cannot use that exception.
In practice this means that a construction group must verify turnover separately for each alien employee: where the turnover does not reach 50 000 GEL, the application is reasonably certain to be refused, although the remaining turnover can still support employment on other bases.
Terms
A work residence permit is first issued for a period from 6 months to 1 year, and subsequently its validity may be extended up to 12 years, on the same conditions as those of the original permit. Given the duration of construction projects, this cycle should be synchronised with the project plan.
In a special case a temporary residence permit may be first issued for a term of 5 years — a possibility that depends on the assessment of the deciding organ.
The Employer's Practical Steps
Before employing alien personnel in construction the following should be verified: the company's annual turnover reaches the 50 000 GEL threshold per each person to be employed; the employee's monthly income exceeds five times the subsistence minimum; and the schedule of terms is built on the 6-month to 1-year cycle.
Each element is documented before the application is submitted — precisely this advance preparation avoids refusal and loss of time.
Given the sector's specifics, construction groups often run projects across different regions, which changes the place of employment — attention must then be paid to the change of workplace as well, since it is a change in the conditions of the employment relationship. In such cases the employer must verify in good time that the new conditions still satisfy the statutory standards and that the existing certificates are renewed.
Note also that a work residence permit rests on the relationship with the local employer: transfer to a subcontractor or another company of the group is formally a new employer, and each such case needs its own confirmation — this nuance should be built into the contract structure in advance.
Ultimately, the sector's risk is manageable within the general legal frame: precise knowledge of the thresholds and timely documentation can avoid consequences that would otherwise lead to the loss of status.
The procedural channel is the general one: the alien applies to the agency personally or through an authorised representative, the documents may be submitted electronically, and the examination period may not exceed 30 days from the complete submission of the documentation, with the result notified electronically; the decision may be appealed in the manner prescribed by Georgian legislation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below we answer the questions most frequently raised about work residence in construction.
Does a separate construction-sector permit exist?
No — the general work residence permit applies.
What turnover does a construction company need?
Annual turnover of no less than 50 000 GEL per alien employee; the 35 000 concession concerns only education and medicine.
What income must the employee have?
Monthly income not less than five times the subsistence minimum of the average consumer.
For what term is the permit issued?
First for 6 months to 1 year, then extension up to 12 years.
What regulates an alien's labour?
Georgian legislation — under Article 29 of the law.
How We Help on Legal.ge
The Legal.ge team will verify the company's turnover calculation per employee, build the income documentation and plan the cycle of terms in line with the project's duration.
Contact us on Legal.ge — advance verification minimises the risk of refusal.