Rules for foreign nationals working in Georgia 2026: A detailed overview

As epreviously reported,  amendments to the Law on LaborMigration approved in 2024 will come into force in Georgia on March 1, 2026. A lot of questions remained until February 20, when  the government issued its long-awaited Decree No. 70 On the Approval of the Procedure for Granting the Right to Work. Many of the questions have now been answered, and we can confirm that very little time remains to prepare for the new labor reality.

Who will not be affected by the new law

From the original law and subsequent clarifications from the Ministry of Labor, we have determined that a work permit will not be required for:

• Holders of permanent residence permits, investment residence permits for investments in the Georgian economy of USD 300,000 or more, employees of diplomatic missions, refugees, asylum seekers, and representatives of the international media
• Property owners (rentiers) who receive income in the country from renting out properties
• Individual entrepreneurs registered in Georgia, if they work from abroad and their activities do not require them to visit the country
• Founders and shareholders of Georgian companies (if they do not hold positions in the organization)

Everyone else will DEFINITELY need a work permit. And by everyone, we mean foreign employees of Georgian companies working under contract and self-employed persons conducting economic activities in Georgia, including individual entrepreneurs, freelancers, and independent contractors (e.g., under civil law contracts) if they reside in Georgia, as well as company directors.

Key points of Resolution No. 70

First, the important dates:

• For self-employed persons who are already working in Georgia at the time the law comes into force, there will be a transition period until May 1, 2026, until which date there will be no fines for not having a work permit.
• For migrant workers (contract workers) who are registered in the unified register of the Ministry of Labor as of March 1, 2026, the transition period will last until January 1, 2027 — this condition has not changed.
• There is no transition period for new migrant workers and new self-employed persons who enter the Georgian labor market after March 1  — they will be obliged to comply with the new regulations immediately.

Now for the most unexpected aspects of the legislation:

• The self-employed will have to undergo a video interview with representatives of the Employment Agency in order to obtain the right to work.
• Georgian companies will be required to give priority to local employees. Before obtaining a work permit for a foreigner, organizations will be obliged to see that the vacancy is posted on the website worknet.moh.gov.ge for 10 days and will only be allowed to hire a migrant if no Georgian citizen comes forward to apply for the position.
• Quotas are being introduced on the number of foreign nationals allowed to work in courier services, passenger transport, and as tourist guides (current quota 0). In addition, a quota of 200 people per year has been set for mountain and ski guides.
• However, quotas and the requirement to advertise a vacancy for 10 days do not apply to employees of organizations with international company status, innovative startups, and highly paid specialists with a salary of GEL 15,000/month (approximately USD 5,600).

How to obtain a permit for the self-employed

Self-employed persons include individual entrepreneurs residing in Georgia (including those with small and microbusiness status), freelancers, company partners, independent contractors, and directors of Georgian companies (even if they are also founders).

Self-employed persons can obtain a work permit independently by submitting an application on the official website of the Ministry of Labor labourmigration.moh.gov.ge. For those who are already working in Georgia as of March 1, 2026, this must be done before May 1, 2026.

1. Submitting your documents

The self-employed must upload the following information to the Employment Agency portal:

• Personal details: first and last name in Georgian and English, date of birth, gender, citizenship, and country of origin
• Foreign passport number, name of the issuing authority, date of issue, and a copy of its key pages
• Tax identification number (11 digits), individual entrepreneur ID (often the same as the aforementioned), and valid residence permit number (if applicable)
• Information about qualifications: education (from primary to higher), profession, work experience, and specific skills (if any)
• Description of work activity: field of employment, as well as information about the place of work
• Economic justification. Foreigners who are already working must provide a certificate from the Revenue Service on the annual turnover of the individual entrepreneur or company. Self-employed persons who plan to start working in Georgia must upload a detailed business plan (with an investment plan and expected turnover) and a document confirming financial security.

2. Payment of state fees

The work permit isn’t free. When uploading the information, you have to pay the registration fee on the Employment Agency portal and attach it to the application. Payment can be made by bank card.

Standard processing within 30 calendar days costs GEL 200 (USD 75), while expedited processing within 10 business days costs GEL 400 (USD 150).

3. The video interview

A video interview with a representative of the Employment Agency is mandatory. After uploading the documents and paying the fee, sthere will be an interview online, and you will end by confirming your electronic application.

3. Legalization

Decree No. 70 explicitly states that the right to work comes into effect when the foreign national receives either a D1 visa, a work residence permit, or a residence permit for those employed in the field of information technology (IT).

• For those outside Georgia: After receiving the right to work, you will have to apply to the Georgian embassy or consulate for a D1 immigration visa within 30 calendar days.
• For those already in Georgia: After obtaining the right to work, you will have to apply for a residence permit within 10 calendar days.
• The only exception is for self-employed persons working from abroad: They do not need a work permit, visa, or residence permit.

* Important details

Processing time: 10 to 30 days (depending on the fee — see above) from the date of the video interview. During the first 10 days, the Employment Agency may request corrections or additional documents. In case of refusal, you’ll have to wait a month before trying again.

Validity period. According to the general rules, a work permit is initially issued for a period of 6 months to 1 year (starting from the date of issuance of a D1 visa or residence permit). During the first five years, it can be renewed annually for another year, and then for 1-5 years. For specialists working in the IT sector, the initial permit is issued for a period of up to 3 years and is subsequently renewed in the same way.

Grounds for early revocation of the right to work. The permit is revoked if the individual leaves Georgia for more than 6 consecutive months or is found not to be employed in the position or field for which he or she originally applied.

How to obtain a permit as a migrant worker

For migrant workers (contract workers), the work permit is obtained by the local employer — again through the single portal labourmigration.moh.gov.ge. This applies to both office and remote employees, even if they live outside Georgia.

New employees hired by a Georgian company after March 1, 2026, must follow the procedures listed in this section immediately. However, if an employee is already working, and the organization has entered them in the register of labor migrants before the specified date, there is a transition period until January 1, 2027, to complete the new paperwork.

1. Checking the local labor market

Before hiring a foreigner, a Georgian company is required to try to find an employee locally. That works as follows:

• Post a job add. The employer must publish information about the search for personnel on the website www.worknet.moh.gov.ge (labor market management information system).
• Wait. The add for the position must be up for at least 10 working days.
• Reviewe candidates. During this period, the Employment Agency will select suitable candidates from among local residents and offer them to the employer.
• Justification for refusal. If the Employment Agency has proposed personnel and the employer refuses to hire them, the employer must provide a written justification for the refusal for each candidate within three working days. The Agency will then review these arguments within three working days.

If the Employment Agency is unable to propose suitable candidates within 10 days, or if they are not suitable for the employer for valid reasons, the employer will be allowed to apply for their migrant worker of choice.

2. Submitting an official application

The employer must upload the following to the portal:

• Information about the employer, including the official name, ID (for JSC and LLC) or personal number (sole proprietorship), legal and actual addresses, field of activity, and contact information (email, phone number)
• fInformation about the employee responsible for submitting the application, including first and last name in English and Georgian, personal number, position (e.g., director or HR specialist), and contact details
• Information about the migrant worker, including first and last name in English and Georgian, date of birth, gender, citizenship, country of origin, passport information, and a copy of the foreign passport with the main pages
• Requirements for the position: a description of job duties, the required level of education, and work experience
• Confirmation of the migrant’s qualifications: documents confirming the foreign national’s education, certificates, and documents confirming their work experience in the field of activity
• A copy of the employment contract signed by all parties involved and bearing the dates of conclusion, entry into force, and termination
• Confirmation of the application form with a qualified electronic signature or electronic stamp

3. Payment of the fee and waiting period

In addition to the application, you must attach a receipt showing you’ve paid to have your documents reviewed. The fee is the same as for self-employed persons: standard review within 30 calendar days — GEL 200 (USD 75), expedited review within 10 working days — GEL 400 (USD 150). You can pay directly on the website with your bank card.

After that, the Agency will check the documents and the migrant’s qualifications against market needs. If officials find any inaccuracies, the employer will have 10 calendar days to correct them. The decision (granting or denying the right to work) will be sent to the employer electronically.

4. Legalization of migrants

Just to be absolutely clear, the work permit becomes valid from the moment the foreigner receives a D1 visa, a work residence permit, or a residence permit for the IT sector.

• If the migrant is abroad, they must apply in person to the Georgian consulate for a D1 visa based on an employment contract within 30 calendar days of the permit being issued.
• If the migrant is in Georgia, they must apply in person to the House of Justice for a residence permit within 10 calendar days.
• The only exception is for migrant workers working from abroad: They do not need a visa or residence permit, though they are still required to obtain a work permit.

* Important details

Processing time: 10 to 30 days (depending on the fee — see above) from the date of submission of the application and all necessary documents. The Employment Agency may request clarifications or additional documents within the first 10 days.

Validity period: According to the general rules, a work permit is initially issued for a period of 6 months to 1 year (starting from the date of issuance of a D1 visa or residence permit). During the first five years, it can be renewed annually for another year, and then for 1-5 years. For specialists working in the IT sector, the initial permit is issued for a period of up to 3 years and is subsequently renewed in the same way.

The employer is required to submit an application for renewal of the permit no later than 30 calendar days before the expiry of the current document. When renewing, all information about the migrant and working conditions must be updated.

Grounds for revoking the right to work:

• The foreign national is denied a residence permit/visa
• The employment contract is terminated, of which the employer is required to notify the Agency within five calendar days or risks a fine
• A check reveals that the foreigner is not working in the specified position. Work permits for migrant workers are issued for a specific position in a specific company, so a new permit is required for any subsequent changes
• The employee in question leaves the country and is absent for more than 6 consecutive months. This rule will probably not apply to remote staff — it was previously reported that the person’s status will be recorded in the permit itself.

Quotas: Georgian organizations should remember that a permit will not be issued if the migrant’s profession falls under the established annual quotas and/or they have already been used up. For 2026, zero quotas have been set for couriers, taxi drivers, and tourist guides, meaning that hiring them is effectively prohibited. For mountain instructors, there is a quota of 200 people per year.

Residence permit requirements

The residence permit requirement will apply to specialists who work from Georgia. For example, if the manager or employee of a local company lives abroad, they need only a work permit. However, they will need a residence permit and a work visa if they decide to enter Georgia and work there.

It is expected that foreigners will receive one of two types of residence permits: a work permit or a permit for IT specialists.

• Requirements for a residence permit for IT specialists: proof of at least two years of work experience and an annual salary of at least USD 25,000 (or the equivalent in lari)
• To obtain a classic work residence permit, the following documents must be submitted to the House of Justice:

Conclusion

The requirements to participate in the Georgian labor market are tightening, as evidenced by the introduction of quotas, mandatory video interviews for self-employed persons, and the need to provide detailed business plans with financial justification.

What’s more, there is very little time left to legalize under the new rules: For self-employed foreigners already working in Georgia, the control mechanisms will come into force as early as May 1, 2026. If you do not start the procedures for obtaining a permit before this date, you may face a fine of GEL 2,000 to 6,000, and that’s no joke.

There’s a little more breathing room for migrant workers already working in Georgia — they can obtain the right to work and a residence permit until January 1, 2027. But what should companies do with new employees who are scheduled to join the staff after March 1?

If you are an employer or self-employed and need help clarifying aspects of the law or preparing documents for a work permit or residence permit, contact PB Services for a free consultation.