New Rules for the Employment of Foreigners in Georgia
We would like to inform you that new requirements for obtaining the right to work for foreign nationals came into force in Georgia on March 1, 2026.
Which law introduces the changes?
Decree of the Government of Georgia No. 70 dated February 20, 2026
What are the key changes?
1. A key innovation is the introduction of the very necessity to obtain a separate right to work for employment and entrepreneurial activities. One more condition for legal work now is to hold a residence permit or a D1 visa.
The right to work is required for the following purposes:
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to work for hire in a Georgian company (including remotely).
- to be self-employed or run a business in Georgia (individual entrepreneurs, independent contractors, etc.).
The requirement to obtain the right to work does not apply to holders of a permanent residence permit or a residence permit for investors, as well as diplomats, journalists, refugees, and some other categories.
2. The application procedure differs for work for hire and self-employment.
Self-employed workers and entrepreneurs apply independently through the electronic labour migration portal. The right to work is granted to work in one's profession within a specific economic sector. The application must be accompanied by a business plan or information on already received income, and a video interview must be completed.
For employees, the application is to be submitted by their employer. Before submitting it, a 10-day search for workers among Georgian citizens is required by means of posting a vacancy on the employment portal. Once this period has expired, it is permissible to sign a contract with a foreigner and request the right to work for a specific position in a specific company.
The application processing period is up to 30 calendar days, and a state fee of 200 GEL is applicable. Expedited processing is possible within 10 working days upon payment of 400 GEL.
The right to work is issued and renewed for a period of up to 3 years (for IT specialists) or up to 1 year (for other categories).
3. The Decree provides for transitional provisions for those foreign nationals who are already working in Georgia as of March 1:
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The new rules will apply to the self-employed from May 1, 2026.
- Labour immigrants registered on the labour migration portal must obtain the necessary permits under the new rules by January 1, 2027.
Who is affected?
Self-employed persons, individual entrepreneurs, employees of Georgian companies, as well as Georgian employers themselves planning to hire foreign nationals.