As of 1 March 2026, Georgia introduces a mandatory work permit regime for foreign nationals performing economic activity from Georgian territory. The reform fundamentally changes the long-standing liberal approach to foreign labor and entrepreneurship and requires alignment between migration status, labor activity, and tax presence.
This article provides a structured legal analysis of the new regime, clarifies who must obtain a work permit and who is exempt, outlines the applicable procedures and sanctions, and explains how the rules are expected to apply to employees, sole proprietors, and business owners in practice.
The new framework applies not only to employees but also to sole proprietors, freelancers, company directors, and business owners who work from Georgia.
1. Regulatory and Legal Framework
The work permit requirement is introduced through amendments to Georgian legislation governing labor migration and the legal status of foreign nationals. The purpose of the reform is not to prohibit foreign labor or entrepreneurship, but to formalize and regulate economic activity carried out by non-citizens within Georgia.
The underlying legal concept is straightforward:
any foreign national who performs work or manages income-generating activity from Georgian territory must have a lawful basis to do so.
The work permit is designed as an administrative authorization confirming that the foreigner’s activity is lawful, transparent, and consistent with the country’s migration and labor policy.
2. Who is required to obtain a Work Permit
The obligation applies to foreign nationals who physically perform work from within Georgia and who do not fall under a statutory exemption.
A work permit is required for:
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employees of Georgian companies;
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directors and managing officers of LLCs;
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sole proprietors;
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freelancers and self-employed professionals;
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remote workers physically present in Georgia.
The determining factor is physical presence combined with economic activity, not the location of clients or income sources.
3. Who doesn't need a Work Permit
The law distinguishes between foreign nationals who are considered labor migrants and those whose residence status already grants an unrestricted right to work.
A work permit is NOT REQUIRED in the following cases:
- Permanent Residence Permit holders.
Foreign nationals holding Georgian Permanent Residence (PRP) are not subject to the work permit requirement. Their status grants an unrestricted right to work and conduct business activities in Georgia. - Investment Residence Permit holders.
Foreign nationals holding a valid Investment Residence Permit are also exempt. This category is treated by the legislator as economically integrated and therefore not subject to additional labor authorization. - As well as asylum seekers, diplomats and employees of foreign consulates.
4. Deadlines and Sanctions
The work permit requirement becomes effective on 1 March 2026.
Applications are subject to administrative review, with an official processing period of up to 30 calendar days. The work permit is issued for a defined scope of activity and is personal to the foreign national.
Failure to obtain a work permit while performing work from Georgia results in an administrative fine of GEL 2,000. Repeated or prolonged non-compliance may negatively affect future residence permit applications and overall migration status.
5. Procedure for Employees of georgian companies
For employees, the work permit process involves both the employer and the foreign national.
The employer must:
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justify the engagement of a foreign national;
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provide an employment contract or binding job offer;
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confirm the position, duties, and remuneration;
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participate in or support the application process.
The employee must:
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provide identification and migration documents;
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confirm qualifications where required;
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submit to administrative review;
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align residence status after approval, if necessary.
The work permit generally precedes or accompanies the residence permit application.
6. Procedure for Sole Proprietors (not approved)
The application of the work permit regime to sole proprietors represents the most legally complex aspect of the reform.
Based on the structure of the law and the administrative logic of the system, the expected procedure includes the following stages:
◇ Qualification and Document assessment
The applicant submits documentation confirming:
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certificate of registration as asole proprietorship;
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tax registration and status;
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contract with customers/employment contract (terms and conditions and description of services/tasks);
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invoices and statements of income from this activity (and attached contracts);
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CV or description of experience (free form);
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Qualification documents (diploma and certificates for the type of activity);
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Letters of recommendation or references from customers (optional).
◇ Assessment of Economic activity
Authorities assess whether the declared activity corresponds to a legitimate demand within the Georgian market and whether the activity is genuine rather than formal.
◇ Submission and Review
An application is submitted for administrative review (30 days), resulting in approval or refusal.
◇ Subsequent migration steps
After obtaining a work permit, a foreign citizen must regularise their long-term stay by applying for a residence permit before 1 January 2027 –or- by applying for a D1 work visa (requires renewal every 3 months).
*The procedure for obtaining a D1 visa varies depending on whether the applicant is already in Georgia or is applying from abroad before entering the country.
◇ For new sole proprietors (after 1 March 2026)
Foreign nationals who register a sole proprietorship after 1 March 2026 but have not yet commenced activity should obtain work authorization before starting operations to avoid retroactive violations.
7. Grounds for revocation
A work permit may be annulled if:
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false or misleading information was provided;
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the declared activity does not correspond to actual activity;
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migration status becomes unlawful;
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the foreign national ceases the approved activity.
Revocation may trigger additional migration consequences.
8. Benefits of introducing the new law:
Despite initial concerns, the reform offers a number of advantages: legal certainty and transparency, reduced risk of arbitrary enforcement, and a clearer distinction between lawful and unlawful activities.
For law-abiding foreign nationals, the system provides a stable legal framework rather than discretionary tolerance.
9. Conclusions and our Position
As of early 2026, detailed procedural guidance for sole proprietors is still evolving. This is expected, as sole proprietors and employees are fundamentally different legal categories and cannot be regulated identically.
The absence of finalized instructions does not suspend the law itself. It requires professional interpretation and cautious structuring of applications.
Registration on the Ministry of Labor portal and correct classification of activity are central to compliance.
Our value proposition at Register in Georgia lies in:
✧ legal qualification of each client’s status;
✧ structured preparation of work permit applications;
✧ coordination of work authorization, residence status, and tax compliance;
✧ reducing regulatory risk during the transition period.
The work permit regime is not a barrier to working in Georgia – it is a framework that must be navigated correctly.
– Register in Georgia, 01.02.2026
