The D1 category immigration visa is Georgia's principal visa instrument for labour migration, and its processing takes place within a clear statutory frame: who receives this visa, how the application is completed, within what timelines it is examined, and what follows at the residence stage. This page explains the full D1 cycle on the basis of the Law of Georgia on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons — from the system of visa categories through the requirements of the work residence permit. The aim is for the applicant to see the whole road in advance rather than a single detached formality.
Where the D1 visa sits in the category system
The law divides Georgian visas into five categories: diplomatic, special, ordinary, immigration and transit; each visa may be short-term or long-term. The slot intended for labour purposes lies precisely within the immigration category — D1. This means the D1 is not a single-entry document: it serves longer-term relocation and its use flows towards a work residence permit. When preparing the application it must therefore be taken into account from the outset that the visa stage is only the first step.
Who receives a D1 category visa
The law links the D1 to several groups. The first is a labour immigrant registered in the unified database of the Ministry for Internally Displaced Persons, Labour, Health and Social Affairs, who enters for labour placement with a local employer. The second is representatives and consultants of companies and firms travelling to perform their official duties. The third is persons coming to conduct entrepreneurial activity in accordance with the Law of Georgia on Entrepreneurs. Under the wording in force since 1 March 2026 the list is formulated more precisely: a D1 is issued to an alien who has received the right to labour activity, as well as to an alien coming as an entrepreneur. Identifying the applicant's position within this list determines the entire content of the application.
The application procedure and channels of submission
To obtain a Georgian visa the alien completes a visa application in the form established by a normative act of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For an electronic visa the application is completed on the Ministry's special website; for an alien lawfully present in Georgia, a D category immigration electronic visa follows a separate regime — the Ministry decides, while Justice Houses and the Public Service Development Agency ensure the acceptance of documentation and the affixing of the visa, and the Agency's competence may also be delegated to a municipality. The circumstances to be confirmed and the documents to be attached are determined by government decree; in cases prescribed by legislation an invitation must be submitted as well. The issuing authority may also invite the applicant or a representative to an interview.
Decision timelines
Timelines are decisive when planning D1 processing. A decision on a short-term visa is taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a diplomatic representation abroad or a consular post within 10 calendar days of submission; an electronic visa is issued no later than 5 working days. Where further verification is needed, the period may be extended by 30 calendar days. A decision on a D category (other than D5) long-term visa is taken within 30 calendar days of submission. The law also contemplates an expedited procedure in accordance with a legal act of the Government. Build these timelines into your employment start plan.
The stage after D1 — the work residence permit
The process does not end with the visa stage: staying for work rests on a work residence permit. An applicant submits to the Agency a document confirming labour or entrepreneurial activity and a certificate confirming that his or her monthly income is not less than five times the average consumer subsistence minimum. The annual turnover of the employer enterprise must not be less than 50 000 GEL per each applicant alien; for an educational or medical institution the threshold is 35 000 GEL. We also note: the United States H-1B work visa and the green card, like the work permits of the Schengen area, do not operate in Georgia — only the requirements of Georgian law apply here.
Frequently asked questions
Below we answer the most common questions about D1 visa processing.
How long does it take to examine a D1 application?
A decision on a D category (other than D5) long-term visa is taken within 30 calendar days of submission; for a short-term visa the period is 10 calendar days, and for an electronic visa no later than 5 working days.
Can I file the D1 application while in Georgia?
For an alien lawfully present in Georgia, the D category immigration visa question is decided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while Justice Houses and the Public Service Development Agency receive the documentation — or a municipality where the competence has been delegated.
What must the employer confirm at the residence stage?
The enterprise's annual turnover must be at least 50 000 GEL per each applicant alien (35 000 GEL for an educational or medical institution), and the employee's monthly income must be at least five times the subsistence minimum.
Is an invitation mandatory for a D1?
In cases prescribed by legislation the alien is required to submit an invitation; the specific cases and the list of attached documents are regulated by government decree.
How We Help on Legal.ge
The Legal.ge team supports applicants and employers through the full D1 cycle: checking category fit, preparing the application and attachments, planning the timelines, and assembling the work residence permit documentation. In a written consultation you receive a stage-by-stage plan tailored to your situation. Contact us through the Legal.ge website.