Work Permit in Georgia: March 2026 Updates

Georgia’s open-door era for foreign workers is over. On 1 March 2026, the country introduced its first mandatory work permit system, fundamentally changing how foreign nationals can work, freelance, or run a business in Georgia. Before this date, Georgia had no formal work authorisation requirement. Citizens of 95+ countries could enter visa-free for up to a year and work with minimal formality. That framework no longer applies.

The reforms were enacted through amendments to the Law on Labour Migration passed by the Georgian Parliament in June 2025, with detailed implementation rules set out in Government Resolution No. 70, published on 20 February 2026. The changes affect employees, freelancers, entrepreneurs, and self-employed individuals alike.

This guide covers the new rules as they stand in April 2026, including the latest updates on the labour market test, the self-employed deadline extension, fee structures, and what this means for companies hiring through an Employer of Record in Georgia.

Georgia introduced a mandatory Special Labour Activity Permit (officially called the “right to work”) for all foreign nationals without permanent residence who wish to engage in paid work or business activity in the country.

Before this reform, roughly 42,000 foreign nationals were officially registered to work in Georgia. Estimates suggest over 200,000 foreigners were actually living and working in the country, many without formal registration. The gap between official numbers and reality was the core driver behind the reform.

The key principle is straightforward: a residence permit or visa alone no longer grants the right to work. Both a work permit and a corresponding residence permit (or D1 visa) are now required.

The work permit requirement applies to all foreign nationals without permanent residence who engage in paid work or business activity in Georgia. That includes employees hired by Georgian companies, remote employees of Georgian companies, freelancers and individual entrepreneurs, and self-employed individuals providing services for financial gain.

Exemptions are narrow. Permanent residence holders do not need a work permit. Neither do refugees, asylum seekers, employees of diplomatic missions, accredited foreign journalists, or holders of investment residence permits. Digital nomads working remotely for foreign companies with no Georgian clients and no local business registration may also be exempt, though this remains a grey area that the government has not fully clarified. If in doubt, the safest assumption is that the permit is required.

Georgia’s visa-free entry policy (covering 95+ countries including Russia and Belarus) remains in place. Citizens of these countries can still enter on a passport without a visa for up to one year. However, visa-free entry no longer grants the right to work. The previous practice of exiting and re-entering Georgia to reset a one-year stay period still works for residence purposes, but does not substitute for a work permit.

To legally employ a foreign national in Georgia, two steps must be completed in sequence. Both are mandatory. A contract or visa alone is no longer sufficient.

Stage 1 is the Special Labour Activity Permit, officially called the “right to work.” The Georgian employer applies to the Employment Promotion State Agency under the Ministry of Labour. For self-employed individuals, the application is submitted directly by the foreign national. The application requires a signed employment contract (for employees) or proof of entrepreneurial activity (for self-employed). Processing time is up to 30 calendar days. The fee depends on the processing speed chosen, with a maximum of GEL 500 (~$185 USD). A labour market test now also applies: employers must post the job vacancy on a government portal for 10 business days before submitting the work permit application. This requirement was announced on 25 February 2026, just days before the system launched. The permit can be denied if the application is incomplete, the position is sufficiently covered by local labour, or the arrangement is deemed detrimental to the Georgian labour market.

Stage 2 is the residence permit or D1 visa. Once the work permit is approved, the foreign national must apply for a Labour Residence Permit (if already in Georgia, within 10 calendar days of approval) or a D1 work visa (if outside Georgia, within 30 calendar days of approval). Both the work permit and the residence permit must be in place before work can legally begin. Applications can be submitted in person at the House of Justice or online through the Ministry of Labour’s electronic portal.

The system launched on 1 March 2026 for employees hired by Georgian companies. For self-employed foreign nationals, including freelancers and individual entrepreneurs, the enforcement deadline is 1 May 2026. Foreign nationals who were already registered in the Ministry’s unified labour migration database before 1 March 2026 have until 1 January 2027 to obtain the new work permit and corresponding residence permit. New hires from 1 March 2026 must follow the two-stage process before employment begins.

The penalties are meaningful. Hiring a foreign worker without a valid work permit carries a fine of GEL 2,000 per worker for the employer. The foreign worker also faces a GEL 2,000 fine. For self-employed individuals working without a permit, the fine is GEL 2,000 for the first offence, rising to GEL 5,000 for repeat violations. Failing to notify authorities about contract termination, amendment, or extension carries a fine of GEL 1,000 to 2,000. The Ministry of Internal Affairs is authorised to conduct inspections and monitor labour activities. Employers must also report contract terminations to the Ministry’s database within 5 days.

Georgia introduced a new three-year IT residence permit alongside the work permit reform, aimed at attracting tech professionals and digital nomads. To qualify, the foreign national must be registered as an individual entrepreneur with small business status in Georgia, conduct activities in information technology as defined by government decree, demonstrate a minimum annual income of $25,000, have at least 2 years of IT experience, and spend at least 183 days per year in Georgia. The permit is renewable for up to 12 years. If the holder spends fewer than 183 days per year in Georgia, the status is cancelled.

The reforms have already had visible effects in specific sectors. Major courier and delivery platforms including Bolt, Wolt, and Glovo have announced they will no longer hire foreign workers for delivery and courier roles. The government has set a quota of 200 permits for foreign mountain, alpine, and ski tourism guides. IT professionals and other high-demand sectors are exempt from quotas. Other changes introduced alongside the work permit reform include an increase in the minimum real estate threshold for residency-based permits from $100,000 to $150,000, and a tiered fine structure for visa overstay violations introduced in September 2025.

If you are hiring through an Employer of Record in Georgia, the EOR is the legal employer and is responsible for applying for the work permit, posting the vacancy for the 10-day labour market test, registering the employee through the electronic labour migration portal, and ensuring the residence permit is obtained within the required timelines. Confirm with your EOR that they have updated their immigration workflows to comply with Government Resolution No. 70. Providers that have not adapted since March 2026 are a compliance risk.