For information technology specialists Georgia offers not one path but two legal routes: the general labour and self-employment route, and a special temporary residence permit created for the IT field. This page explains both under the Law of Georgia on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons — to whom each applies, what they require, and on what terms the system operates.
The general route — employment and self-employment
The first route is universal: an IT professional who is employed or works as a self-employed person uses the general requirements of the work residence permit. An applicant submits to the Agency a document confirming activity and a certificate that his or her monthly income is not less than five times the average consumer subsistence minimum; the employer enterprise's annual turnover must not be less than 50 000 GEL per applicant (for educational and medical institutions — at least 35 000 GEL). At the same time, the law directly grants the alien the right to conduct investment and entrepreneurial activity: in that case the alien has the same rights and duties as a citizen, unless legislation provides otherwise — a formula that extends to freelance and own projects as well.
The special IT permit
The second route was created by the norm in force since 1 September 2025: the temporary residence permit for a person employed in the field of information technologies. It is issued to an IT labour immigrant registered in the ministry's database and his or her family members; to an entrepreneur natural person with small business status conducting the IT activity defined by government decree, and his or her family members; and also to a person authorised to lead and represent an international company operating in IT, and his or her family members. The requirements are concrete: experience in IT labour or economic activity of at least 2 years, and remuneration that is annually not less than 25 000 US dollars in lari equivalent — both confirmed by documents.
Choosing between the two routes
Which route fits is decided by the form of activity. A specialist employed by a company chooses between the two — through the general work permit or the IT permit, where the employer carries the corresponding profile. For a freelancer with small business status the special permit is the natural path. We also state a caveat: by government decree a special state programme for the IT field exists for freelancers working for foreign companies — it rests on a sub-statutory act and we mention it descriptively; legal decisions, however, must be built on the statutory frame described above.
Validity and the nature of the status
Both permits are temporary and stand within the general terms of temporary permits: first issuance runs from 6 months to 1 year, and extension is possible up to 12 years — on the same conditions. The IT permit works step by step: maintaining the conditions — documenting experience and remuneration — is required at each stage, and ending those conditions ends the status too. In planning, bear in mind: the IT-visa models of other states, including the analogous American instruments, do not operate in Georgia — only Georgian norms apply.
The documentary side unfolds into the same two routes. Under the general route two substantiations work: the employer's turnover — 50 000 lari per year per applicant (at least 35 000 for an educational or medical institution) — is reflected in the enterprise's financial evidence; the income — a monthly amount not less than five times the average consumer's subsistence minimum — is confirmed by a certificate. The two documents are submitted together to the agency and are mutually explanatory: the certificate confirms personal qualification, the turnover the employer's capacity.
The checklist of the special permit is likewise three points: either you are an IT labour immigrant registered in the ministry's database, or a small-business-status entrepreneur carrying out the IT activity defined by government decree, or a person authorized to lead or represent an international company operating in the IT field; to this are added experience of no less than 2 years and annual remuneration of no less than the equivalent of 25 000 US dollars in lari — both documented, with family members following the status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below we answer the most common questions about residence for IT specialists.
Is there a special permit for IT specialists?
Yes — since 1 September 2025, in the format of a temporary residence permit for a person employed in IT, family members included.
What does the special permit require?
IT experience of at least 2 years and annual remuneration of at least 25 000 US dollars in lari equivalent — confirmed by documents.
Can I use the general work permit?
Yes — income must not be less than five times the subsistence minimum; the employer's turnover is 50 000 GEL per applicant (educational and medical — 35 000 GEL).
For what term is it issued?
First issuance from 6 months to 1 year; extension up to 12 years.
Whose family members are covered by the special permit?
Of all three categories — the IT labour immigrant, the IT small-business entrepreneur and the authorized person of an IT company.
How We Help on Legal.ge
The Legal.ge team assesses which route fits your format — cooperation with a company, small business status, or the representation of an international company — and prepares the documents under the corresponding requirements. In a written consultation you receive a comparative assessment of both routes. Contact us through the Legal.ge website.