The Work-Right Regime in 2026 — Who It Covers
The Law of Georgia on Labour Migration separates the right to work in Georgia from the mere right to stay: only a foreigner who holds a work residence permit, a D1 category immigration visa and/or another type of residence permit issued together with the right to carry out labour activity may perform remunerated labour or entrepreneurial activity in Georgia and derive economic benefit from it, save for the exceptions expressly provided by the law. The regime entered into force in 2023 and has been refined in stages — the most recent amendments became effective on 15 April 2026, which is why this page speaks of the 2026 rules.
The law names the conditions that must exist simultaneously for lawful employment: a written employment contract must be concluded between the labour immigrant and the local employer; the immigrant must hold the right to labour activity; and the immigrant must hold a work residence permit, a D1 category immigration visa or another residence permit. The combination of all three conditions is what creates the legal basis for working in Georgia.
One detail deserves special attention: a foreigner who is already in Georgia may file an application for the right to labour activity only if he or she is lawfully present in the country. Self-employed foreigners carrying out labour or entrepreneurial activity fall under the same regime.
The law also provides an exception: a foreigner may carry out short-term professional activity without the right to labour activity and without the corresponding residence permit, provided the activity takes place within a temporary visit, does not constitute long-term employment on the local labour market, and is connected to a specific short-term project, event or service. The list of such activities, their permitted duration, the criteria and the monitoring rules are defined by a government decree, and a person acting on this basis is not regarded as a labour immigrant or a self-employed foreigner.