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.
The Application — Who Files It and How the Right Is Issued
A labour immigrant employed by a local employer obtains the right to labour activity through that employer, while a self-employed foreigner applies directly. The application is addressed to the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia: the self-employed foreigner files personally, and in the case of an employed immigrant the local employer files after concluding the employment contract. In both cases the documentation determined by the legislation must be submitted.
After receiving the application, the Ministry starts the procedures for granting the right to labour activity and takes one of two decisions — to grant the right or to refuse it. During the examination the Ministry is entitled to request additional information from the employer or the self-employed foreigner and/or to require the elimination of any inaccuracy revealed in the process.
Once the application and the attached documentation have been submitted in full, the total examination period must not exceed 30 calendar days — the same limit applies to an application for extension of the validity of the right. The service fee for granting the right to labour activity, including issuance under an accelerated administrative procedure, may not exceed 500 GEL; the exact amount, the payment procedure and the conditions are set by a government decree, and the fee is paid into the budget of the state agency supporting employment.
Note the precise content of the right: it is issued for the purpose of working with a specific local employer, and in the case of a self-employed foreigner — with reference to a specific specialty and field of labour or entrepreneurial activity. This means that changing the employer or the field is a matter for a new application, not an automatic transfer.
The Employment Contract — Mandatory Terms
The employment contract between a labour immigrant and a local employer is concluded only for a fixed term, in writing, in Georgian and in the labour immigrant's native language or another language understandable to him or her. In addition to the essential terms provided by the Labour Code, the contract must specify:
- the labour immigrant's name and surname, personal number and/or residence card or passport number;
- the employer's name and identification number — of the organisation, individual entrepreneur or natural person;
- the employer's legal and actual addresses and bank details;
- the date the contract enters into force and its duration;
- the workplace, including the full names of the organisation and structural unit, and its full address;
- the core rights, obligations and liability of both parties.
After Obtaining the Right — Visa, Residence Permit and Appeal
Obtaining the right is only the first step. If the labour immigrant is not yet on the territory of Georgia, he or she must, no later than 30 calendar days after obtaining the right, apply to the authorised body for a D1 category immigration visa. If the immigrant is already in Georgia, the deadline is 10 calendar days to apply for a work residence permit or a residence permit for a person employed in the field of information technologies.
These obligations do not apply to persons who already hold any other type of residence permit defined by the legislation, nor to those who carry out labour activity fully remotely where that activity does not require their entry into Georgia — the remote-work exception is written into the law directly and should not alarm those who work for Georgian clients from abroad.
The employer has obligations of its own: where an employment contract with an immigrant holding the work right is terminated early or amended, the employer must reflect this in the special electronic system of labour migration within 5 calendar days of the termination or amendment. The Ministry notifies the parties of the results of the examination electronically.
Those wishing to extend the right must apply no later than 30 calendar days before the expiry of the current validity — a rule identical for the employer and the self-employed foreigner. A decision refusing to grant the right may be appealed in court within 1 month of notification; however, the appeal does not in itself create the right to work, does not constitute grounds for deferring the obligation to leave Georgia, and does not impede the examination of an expulsion issue or the enforcement of an expulsion decision.
Refusal, Termination, Re-Application and Fines
The right is refused if: the application contains incomplete information and/or documentation and the defect is not cured within 10 calendar days of its establishment; an extension application was filed in breach of the prescribed deadlines; the foreigner's profession, qualification or position does not match the demands and needs of the Georgian labour market or falls within the list of restricted professions; examination of the foreigner's expulsion has commenced or an expulsion decision has been made; or the documentation confirming the criteria and requirements defined by subordinate acts has not been submitted.
An obtained right terminates where: the employment contract expires or is terminated early; a self-employed foreigner leaves the borders of Georgia for more than 6 months; the D1 visa or the residence permit expires or is terminated (save where a residence permit has been obtained by the moment of the visa's expiry); no application for a visa or permit was filed within the set deadline; a negative decision on the visa or permit was taken; or an expulsion decision has been issued. The employer is informed of the termination of registration and must terminate the employment contract with the immigrant within 5 calendar days of receiving the notice and submit the mandatory information to the Ministry.
Where the right was refused or terminated early, a repeated application may be filed no earlier than 1 month after delivery of the respective decision, provided the person is not in Georgia at that moment or has a lawful basis for presence.
Liability is strict for both sides: for carrying out any remunerated activity without the work right, the local employer or the organiser of the service is fined 2 000 GEL — separately for each labour immigrant; the labour immigrant himself or herself is fined 2 000 GEL; and the self-employed foreigner is likewise fined 2 000 GEL. A repeated violation doubles the fine, and a further violation after a fine has been imposed triples it. One violation therefore binds all participants individually, and the employer is fined separately for every unprotected immigrant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below we answer the questions most frequently asked about the right to labour activity in Georgia.
Does every foreigner need the right to labour activity to work in Georgia?
No — only a foreigner carrying out remunerated labour or entrepreneurial activity who is not covered by an exception provided by the law. Short-term professional activity within a temporary visit is allowed without a permit, and fully remote work that does not require entry into Georgia creates no visa or permit obligation at all.
How long does the examination take and what does the service cost?
After the full documentation is submitted, the total examination period may not exceed 30 calendar days; an extension application is examined within the same limit. The service fee, including the accelerated procedure, may not exceed 500 GEL.
What obligation arises after the right is obtained?
If abroad — apply for a D1 category immigration visa within 30 calendar days; if in Georgia — apply for a work residence permit or an IT-sector residence permit within 10 calendar days. Holders of another residence permit and fully remote workers are exempt from this obligation.
What are the consequences of working without the right in 2026?
A fine of 2 000 GEL, which can be imposed simultaneously on the employer (per each immigrant), on the immigrant and on the self-employed foreigner. A repeat violation doubles the fine, and a further violation after a fine triples it. Such activity may also become a ground for examining expulsion.
How We Help on Legal.ge
Our team accompanies both the immigrant and the employer through the whole cycle: checking the employment contract against the law's requirements, preparing the application and documentation, appealing refusal and termination decisions, and representing clients in fine cases. Contact us — at the first consultation we will assess your situation, verify the deadlines and draw up a precise plan on Legal.ge.