Which Activities Are Licensed
Licensed sectors and the relevant regulator in each case:
- Banking: National Bank of Georgia
- Insurance, life insurance and reinsurance: Insurance State Supervision Service of Georgia. Only a joint stock company can obtain the licence
- Non-bank deposit and credit activity: National Bank of Georgia. Payment service providers and VASPs (crypto assets) are registered with the NBG under the law, see our pages on the payment licence and VASP registration
- Gambling (casinos, lotteries, online games): under the law these are permits, issued by the Revenue Service, which also keeps the register of gambling business permit holders
- Medical activities and pharmaceuticals — Medical Activities Regulatory Agency
- Educational services — National Centre for Educational Quality Enhancement
- Construction of certain facilities — local self-government bodies
- Export and import of specific goods categories (including strategic and dual-use goods) — Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development
Applicant requirements, document packages, and state duty amounts differ by activity type and regulator. Processing times range from two weeks to several months.
Licence or permit
The Law of Georgia on Licences and Permits distinguishes two regimes.
| Item | Licence to operate | Permit |
|---|---|---|
| What it grants | the right to carry out a specific type of activity | the right to carry out a specific action |
| What it attaches to | the person who obtained it | an object |
| Transfer | cannot be transferred by inheritance or in any other form | may pass to another person unless the law prohibits it |
| Term | indefinite | generally indefinite, the law may set a term |
The list is closed. Under Article 4, only this law determines the types of licences and permits, and no other law or bylaw may introduce new ones. If an activity is not on the list, it needs no licence or permit under this law. Some financial services still require registration with the National Bank.
Deadlines and an authority's silence
- As a general rule, a licence to operate is issued under the summary procedure (Article 8). The decision is made within 20 days after the application is filed (Article 26).
- Licences that the law expressly assigns to the public procedure are issued within 30 days. The authority publishes a notice of the application, anyone may submit a written opinion within 20 days, and an oral hearing follows (Article 10).
- For types expressly named in the law, the period may be extended up to three months, and by Government decision for another three, in some cases up to six months.
If no decision is made within the set period, the licence or permit is deemed issued. The applicant may request the certificate, and the authority must issue it immediately. In that case activity may start only after the certificate is received (Articles 10, 16, 26 and 32).
Documents and grounds for refusal
A legal entity or individual entrepreneur attaches an extract from the Registry of Entrepreneurs and proof of payment of the licence fee to the application. The fee is set by the Law of Georgia on Licence and Permit Fees. Additional documents and conditions may be introduced only by law (Article 9).
The authority may refuse a licence if:
- the application and documents do not meet the requirements of the law and the applicant has not remedied this within the set period
- the applicant does not meet the licence conditions
- the applicant has been deprived of the right to carry out this activity by a court conviction in force
A refusal may be appealed to a higher authority or to a court (Articles 11 and 12). If the company does not exist yet, the procedure for setting it up is described on our LLC incorporation in Georgia page.
How the Process Works
The first step is to establish whether a particular activity requires a licence and which authority issues it. This is not always straightforward: an activity may fall under multiple regulatory acts at once, or licensing requirements may apply only to part of the planned services.
We then prepare the document package: company incorporation documents, information on beneficial owners, financial models where required, and internal procedure and compliance documentation. After submission we liaise with the regulator, respond to information requests, and manage the process through to licence issuance.
How do I know whether my business needs a licence?
Write to us with a brief description of your planned activity. During an initial consultation we will determine whether a licence is required, which authority issues it, and what the basic requirements are.
How much does obtaining a licence cost?
The total cost consists of the state duty (which varies by licence type and regulator) and document preparation fees. We provide exact figures after analysing the specific activity.
Can I operate while my application is being reviewed?
No. Conducting a licensable activity without a permit carries administrative liability and may also serve as grounds for refusing the licence application.
What happens if my application is refused?
A refusal decision can be challenged before a higher authority or in court. We analyse the grounds for refusal, address the deficiencies, and manage the re-application or appeal process.
Do I need a new licence if I change shareholders or the company address?
It depends on the regulator and licence type. Some changes require notifying the regulator, others require obtaining a new permit or having the changes formally approved. We monitor these requirements as part of our ongoing support service.
What happens if the authority does not respond in time?
If no decision to issue or refuse is made within the set period, the licence or permit is deemed issued. The applicant may request the certificate, and the authority must issue it immediately. In that case activity may start only after the certificate is received.
Can a licence be transferred to another company?
No. Under the Law on Licences and Permits, a licence to operate is tied to the person who obtained it and cannot be transferred by inheritance or in any other form. A permit, by contrast, attaches to an object and may pass to another person unless the law prohibits it.
What documents are needed to apply for a licence?
A legal entity or individual entrepreneur files a written application stating the type of licence, an extract from the Registry of Entrepreneurs and proof of payment of the licence fee. Additional documents and conditions for a specific activity may be set only by law.