The procedure is set by the Law of Georgia on Labour Migration and by the rules approved by Government Resolution No 70 of 20 February 2026. Both have been amended several times since then, most recently in July 2026. This guide covers the rules as they stand now: who needs the right to work, who is exempt, what to file, and which deadline runs out on 1 January 2027.
Who needs a work permit in Georgia?
The law names two groups of foreign nationals who need the right to work. Both cover only people who do not hold Georgian permanent residence.
- Labour immigrant: a foreign national working for a local employer, including remotely. The employer obtains the right for them after the employment contract is signed.
- Self-employed foreign national: a foreign national working in Georgia on their own account, for example as an independent contractor in trade or services, or otherwise taking part in business activity for income. They apply themselves.
Under the law, a local employer includes a legal entity or individual entrepreneur registered in Georgia and a registered branch of a foreign organisation.
The right to work does not replace a residence permit. It goes together with a work residence permit, a D1 visa or another residence permit. For the full range of residence grounds, see our guide on how to get a residence permit in Georgia in 2026.
Source note
> "Only a foreigner who holds a work residence permit, a D1 category immigration visa and/or another type of residence permit defined by Georgian legislation, together with a right to work granted under Georgian legislation (except for exceptional cases provided by this Law), may be engaged in employment in Georgia and carry out labour/entrepreneurial activity from which they receive economic benefit."
Article 13¹(2) of the Law of Georgia on Labour Migration, as amended by Law No 1509 of 15 April 2026. Our translation from Georgian.
A foreign national who is already in Georgia may apply for the right to work only while staying in the country lawfully (Article 13¹(3)). If you entered visa-free, check how many days you have left first. The rules are in our article on how long you can stay in Georgia visa-free.
Who is exempt from the work permit
Article 1(4) of the law lists the cases it does not apply to. The list was extended by Law No 1509 of 15 April 2026 and by Law No 1815, in force since 1 September 2026. No work permit is needed, among others, for:
- refugees, people with additional or temporary protection, and people registered in Georgia as asylum seekers
- staff of accredited diplomatic missions, consulates and international organisations, and accredited journalists of foreign media
- people to whom an international treaty of Georgia applies a different rule
- holders of a valid investment residence permit, covered on our investor residence permit page
- holders of a special residence permit issued on the written initiative of a member of the Government of Georgia
- people working for a public institution or a company with state participation
- people working fully remotely for a local employer, where the work does not require entering Georgia
- people working for, or providing services to, a non-resident in connection with its activity outside Georgia
- people in a management role in a category I, II or III enterprise under the Law on Accounting, Reporting and Audit, or on its audit committee
- people doing conservation, restoration or rehabilitation work on cultural heritage monuments
- people holding the right of temporary stay under Article 60 of the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons
The law also exempts short-term professional activity: work during a temporary visit that is tied to a specific project, event or service (Article 13⁹). Under Resolution No 70 as amended by Resolution No 321 of 9 July 2026, such work may last no more than 4 months in a calendar year and no longer than the person's lawful stay. Before it starts, the employer or organiser registers the foreign national in the labour migration electronic system, free of charge. Without registration the work does not count as short-term, and both the worker and the employer are liable.
If the law does not apply to an applicant, the Agency may leave the application unconsidered. The fee paid is not refunded in that case.
How an employer obtains a work permit for an employee
The employer runs the procedure through the labourmigration.moh.gov.ge portal. The steps under Article 5 of the rules are:
- At least 10 working days before applying, the employer posts the vacancy on worknet.moh.gov.ge.
- If the Agency has not offered suitable candidates within 10 working days, the employer applies for the right to work for the foreign national.
- If the employer turns down the candidates offered, it explains why to the Agency within 3 working days. The Agency then decides whether the procedure continues.
- The decision arrives electronically within 30 calendar days, or within 10 working days under expedited review.
The vacancy step does not apply to companies with international company status or innovative startup status, to international experts on the expert panel of Georgia's national centre for educational quality, or where the monthly salary for the position exceeds GEL 15,000 and the employer requires a relevant higher education that is objectively needed for the job.
Since 10 July 2026, Resolution No 321 has added two conditions for employers:
- Quota. If the company plans to hire more than 5 foreign nationals in a calendar year, or foreign nationals make up more than 5% of its staff, it must agree an annual quota with the Agency at least 10 working days before applying. The 5% rule does not apply where 5% of the staff is fewer than 5 people.
- Turnover. The employer submits a Revenue Service document showing annual turnover of at least GEL 50,000 per foreign national receiving the right, or GEL 35,000 for educational and medical institutions. The certificate is not required if the company has no more than 3 foreign employees and no more than 3 months have passed since its registration.
The same new-company exemption exists in the rules for the work residence permit. We cover its conditions in our article on a work residence permit for a new company.
How a self-employed foreign national obtains a work permit
A self-employed applicant files the application and documents personally. Filing through a representative is not allowed. The steps under the rules as amended by Resolution No 321 are:
- An electronic application on labourmigration.moh.gov.ge, with documents and proof of paying the fee by bank card.
- A mandatory video interview with the Agency in Georgian or English. You may bring an interpreter and must have the original passport used for the application.
- Confirmation of the electronic application after the interview.
What the application covers (Annex 2 to the rules):
- personal details and a passport valid for at least 6 more months on the filing date
- education, profession, and work or business experience
- the field, nature and location of the activity in Georgia
- the company's identification number or the individual entrepreneur's personal number
- a Revenue Service document showing annual turnover of the company or individual entrepreneur of at least GEL 50,000 per foreign national, or GEL 35,000 for educational and medical institutions. It is not required if the company or individual entrepreneur was registered no more than 3 months ago
- for an individual entrepreneur, a document on the field of activity: an extract from the economic activities register of the National Agency of Public Registry or a Revenue Service certificate
- for a manager of a category IV enterprise, an extract from the Register of Entrepreneurs
In the first version of the rules, someone starting a business filed a detailed business plan. Resolution No 321 deleted that subparagraph and instead exempted companies and individual entrepreneurs under 3 months old from the turnover certificate.
An individual entrepreneur applies as a self-employed foreign national
The self-employed application is written with individual entrepreneurs in mind: it asks for the entrepreneur's personal number, turnover and field of activity. Under the rules as amended by Resolution No 321, the exemption for services to a non-resident outside Georgia does not apply to an individual entrepreneur who needs a residence permit to stay in Georgia lawfully. Registration itself is covered in our guide on how to register as an individual entrepreneur in Georgia.
How much does a work permit cost and how long is it valid?
Fees are set by Article 11 of the rules:
| Service | Decision within | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Grant of the right, standard | 30 calendar days | GEL 200 |
| Grant of the right, expedited | 10 working days | GEL 400 |
| Extension | 30 calendar days | GEL 200 |
The period runs from the date the application is complete. The employer pays for a labour immigrant, and a self-employed foreign national pays their own fee. The residence permit fee is paid separately.
Validity under Article 10 of the rules:
- a first grant runs from 6 months to 1 year
- during the first 5 years, each extension is for up to 1 year
- after 5 years of continuous extensions, the right is extended for 1 to 5 years
- for people working in IT, the right is granted and extended for up to 3 years
If the foreign national has no residence permit yet, the right starts on the date of the D1 visa or work residence permit. If they already hold one, it starts on the date the right is granted.
A labour immigrant's right is tied to a specific employer and position, and a self-employed person's right to a specific specialty and field. A change of position or field requires a new right. If the contract changes only the level of the position, the salary or the schedule, it is enough to record the change in the system.
What to do after you get the right to work
The right to work does not by itself let you live in Georgia. Once it is granted, Article 9 of the rules requires:
- a foreign national abroad to apply to a Georgian embassy or consulate for a D1 immigration visa within 30 calendar days of obtaining the right
- a foreign national in Georgia to apply to the Public Service Development Agency for a work residence permit or an IT residence permit within 10 calendar days of obtaining the right
This step is not needed if you already hold a Georgian residence permit. The documents for the work residence permit are listed on our work residence permit in Georgia page.
Transition periods: what has already started and what is coming
- For self-employed foreign nationals who were already working or doing business in Georgia on 1 March 2026, the enforcement mechanism has applied since 1 May 2026 (Resolution No 85).
- Labour immigrants who were registered with active status on 1 March 2026 must obtain the right to work and a residence permit no later than 1 January 2027 (Article 14 of the rules).
If a foreign employee of yours was registered before March 2026 and has not yet obtained the right, less than two months remain before that deadline.
Some jobs are effectively closed to foreign nationals. Under Annex 3 to the rules, the annual quota is zero for courier services, passenger transport and tour guide services. For mountain, alpine and ski guides the quota is 200 people a year.
Fines for working without a permit
Article 16¹ of the law sets these fines:
- an employer pays GEL 2,000 for each foreign national engaged in paid work without the right
- a labour immigrant pays GEL 2,000 for working without the right
- a self-employed foreign national pays GEL 2,000 for working without the right
- a repeat violation doubles the fine
Changing your job or activity without a new right costs GEL 2,000, or GEL 4,000 for a repeat violation (Article 16⁶). Since 1 September 2026, appealing a fine does not stop the authorities from considering the foreign national's expulsion from Georgia (Law No 1815).
Common reasons for refusal
Resolution No 321 spelled out the grounds for refusal. Applications most often fail because of:
- missing information that the Agency flagged and that was not corrected within 10 calendar days, or not fully corrected on the first attempt
- no documents proving that the activity meets the criteria, such as the turnover certificate
- a self-employed applicant missing the video interview, not confirming the application or not showing the original passport
- the number of foreign nationals exceeding the threshold without an agreed quota
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a work permit if I work remotely for a foreign company?
The law does not apply to people who work for, or provide services to, a non-resident in connection with its activity outside Georgia (Article 1(4), subparagraph "ლ"). Under the rules as amended by Resolution No 321, this exemption does not cover an individual entrepreneur who needs a residence permit to stay in Georgia lawfully.
Can I start working while my application is being reviewed?
No. Under Resolution No 70, labour or business activity may start only after the right to work is obtained. Working without it carries a GEL 2,000 fine, imposed separately on the worker and on the employer. A standard application is decided within 30 calendar days, an expedited one within 10 working days.
How much does a work permit in Georgia cost?
The state fee for granting the right is GEL 200 for review within 30 calendar days and GEL 400 for expedited review within 10 working days. An extension costs GEL 200. The employer pays for an employee, and a self-employed foreign national pays their own fee. The residence permit or D1 visa fee is paid separately.
Does the director of a Georgian company need a work permit?
Managers of category I, II and III enterprises under the Law on Accounting, Reporting and Audit do not. For a manager of a category IV enterprise, the rules provide for a self-employed application with an extract from the Register of Entrepreneurs. If the company's category cannot be confirmed, the Agency treats it as a category IV enterprise.
What happens if I miss the 1 January 2027 deadline?
The deadline applies to labour immigrants who were registered with active status on 1 March 2026. After it, working without the right falls under Article 16¹ of the law: a GEL 2,000 fine for the worker and the same for the employer, doubled for a repeat violation.
How Legalese handles this
We start by looking at your situation: whether you fall under one of the exemptions in the law, who has to file the application, and whether a turnover certificate or a quota agreement is needed.
For employers, we prepare the documents for a labour immigrant's right to work and the filing through the labour migration portal. For self-employed foreign nationals and individual entrepreneurs, we help prepare the application and the documents on their activity. Once the right is granted, we file for the work residence permit within the period the rules allow.
More about the service is on our work permit in Georgia page.
Key points
- Since 1 March 2026, a foreign national without permanent residence needs the right to work unless their case falls under an exemption in the law
- The employer applies for an employee after posting the vacancy on worknet, while self-employed people and individual entrepreneurs apply in person and pass a video interview
- The fee is GEL 200 for 30 calendar days or GEL 400 for 10 working days, and a first grant lasts 6 months to 1 year
- Since July 2026, a turnover certificate of at least GEL 50,000 per foreign national is required, except for companies and individual entrepreneurs under 3 months old
- Labour immigrants registered before 1 March 2026 must obtain the right and a residence permit by 1 January 2027
To find out whether you need a work permit, book a consultation.