Work Permits in Georgia for Foreign Nationals

1. Who Generally Needs a Work Permit?

A right to work may be required where a foreign national:

• is employed by a Georgian company, branch or individual entrepreneur;
• manages a Georgian business while physically present in Georgia;
• provides paid professional services from Georgia as a self-employed person;
• conducts entrepreneurial activity in Georgia; or
• works in Georgia without holding a status that creates a statutory exemption.

For an employee, the Georgian employer normally submits the work-authorisation application. A self-employed foreign national generally applies personally.

2. Which Route Applies to You?

3. Foreign Employee of a Georgian Employer

A Georgian employer intending to employ a foreign national should normally complete the process in this order:

1. Check the person’s status. Confirm whether an exemption, a short-term regime or an occupational restriction applies.
2. Review the employer’s figures. Count existing and planned foreign employees and verify the turnover requirement.
3. Obtain an annual employer quota where required. The quota must precede the individual application.
4. Sign a compliant written agreement. The agreement should be in Georgian and a language the employee understands.
5. Apply for the individual right to work. The authorisation is tied to the employer, role and approved period.
6. Complete the immigration step. The employee may then need a D1 visa or a qualifying residence permit.
7. Report later changes. Termination and other material changes must be reported within the statutory period.

A signed employment contract alone does not authorise the foreign national to begin working.

4. Self-Employed Foreign Professionals

A self-employed foreign national generally applies for the right to work personally. The authorities may request evidence confirming:

• identity and lawful immigration status;
• education, qualifications and relevant professional experience;
• the proposed activity and the place from which it will be performed;
• a business plan or a clear description of the services;
• financial resources, existing operations and turnover; and
• contracts, clients or other evidence showing that the activity is genuine.

Registration as a Georgian individual entrepreneur does not automatically grant the right to work or the right to reside. The work-authorisation and migration route should be selected before the application is filed.

5. Main Exemptions

Depending on the exact circumstances, a work permit may not be required where the foreign national:

• holds permanent residence or another qualifying status;
• works entirely from outside Georgia for a Georgian employer and does not need to enter Georgia to perform the duties;
• performs services for a non-resident exclusively in connection with that non-resident’s activity outside Georgia;
• qualifies for the short-term professional activity regime;
• works for a public institution or certain state-participated entities;
• is a director or governing-body member of a qualifying Category I–III enterprise or public-interest entity;
• performs qualifying cultural-heritage restoration work; or
• falls within another exemption established by law.

The non-resident exemption is not universal. In particular, an individual entrepreneur who needs Georgian residence status may still require separate work authorisation. The facts should be reviewed before an exemption is relied upon.

6. Employer Quota and Turnover Requirements

The former Worknet vacancy test was replaced from 10 July 2026 by an annual employer quota. Prior approval may be required if the employer plans to employ more than five foreign nationals during the calendar year or if foreign nationals exceed 5% of the total workforce, subject to the statutory minimum threshold.

The quota application should normally be submitted at least 10 business days before the individual work-authorisation application.

A recently registered employer may qualify for limited relief from turnover evidence where no more than three months have passed since registration and no more than three foreign nationals are being employed. The relief does not remove the other permit or immigration requirements.

7. Visa and Residence Requirements

The right to work and lawful immigration status are connected, but they are not the same thing.

For self-employed applicants, the suitable visa or residence route depends on the business model, location and existing status. It should be assessed individually.

8. What Is a C5 Visa?

The C5 visa is a Georgian immigration category for short-term tourism and for certain activities performed exclusively for a non-resident where those activities are connected with the non-resident’s operations outside Georgia.

A multiple-entry C5 visa may be issued for up to five years and may permit a stay of up to one year, subject to the individual decision.

It is not a universal work visa and does not replace a work permit where the activity otherwise falls within the labour migration regime.

9. Short-Term Professional Activity

Certain professional activities lasting no more than four months during a calendar year may qualify for a simplified short-term regime. The activity must normally be registered before it begins and all statutory conditions must be met.

This route is intended for genuinely temporary professional work. It should not be used to disguise permanent employment or continuing self-employment in Georgia.

10. Transition Period for Existing Workers

Foreign employees who had active status in the unified labour migration database on 1 March 2026 may continue under the transitional rules until 1 January 2027. Before that deadline, they must obtain the right to work and the relevant residence status.

An earlier contract date alone is not enough: the employee must have had active registration on the relevant date. The statutory transition should not be treated as a general grace period for every self-employed foreign national.

11. Processing Times and Government Fees

Renewal should generally be requested at least 30 days before the existing authorisation expires. The validity period depends on the activity and applicant; some qualifying IT authorisations may be issued for longer periods.

12. Restricted Occupations

Georgia may set annual numerical limits for particular occupations. Current restrictions include zero quotas for certain courier, passenger-transport and tourist-guide activities. A separate limited quota applies to mountain, alpine and ski guides.

The current occupational quota should be checked immediately before filing, because the permitted numbers may be revised.

13. Penalties for Working Without Authorisation

Separate liability may arise for failing to report termination or material changes, using a non-compliant agreement, obstructing an inspection or working in an unauthorised role or field.

Frequently Asked Questions