The Georgia work permit rules changed fundamentally in 2026: for the first time, foreigners without permanent residency need a formal permit for local employment or self-employment. The legal basis is Government Resolution No. 70 (in force since March 1, 2026) and amending Law N1509 of April 15, 2026, which added the crucial exemptions. For remote entrepreneurs with foreign clients, little changes. For locally active freelancers and employers of foreign staff, a lot does.
The rule: Special Labour Activity Permit since March 1, 2026
Foreigners without a permanent residence permit require a Special Labour Activity Permit from the Employment Promotion State Agency for any gainful activity in Georgia — employment, freelancing or entrepreneurial activity. The process runs through the employer:
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Worknet posting
The vacancy must be advertised for 10 working days on the Worknet platform, with proof that no suitable local candidate is available.
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Electronic application
Filed with the Employment Promotion State Agency.
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Processing
30 calendar days; 10 working days on the express track. Fee: maximum 500 GEL.
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Follow-on status
Afterwards a D1 visa (applied for within 30 days from abroad) or a Labour/IT Residence Permit (within 10 days in-country).
If the employment relationship ends or changes, the employer must notify the agency within 5 calendar days. Repeat violations carry higher fines than the 2,000 GEL of a first violation.
The exemptions under Law N1509: who does not need a permit
Law N1509 significantly narrowed the scope. No Special Labour Activity Permit is required for, among others:
- Work for non-residents (lit. l) services for foreign clients relating to operations outside Georgia — the key exemption for digital nomads and remote freelancers
- Fully remote work (lit. k) activity performed entirely remotely with no required presence in Georgia
- Short-term professional activity (new Article 13⁹) project- or event-based — without a permit and without a residence permit; details set by regulation
- Executive and governing-body functions at Category I–III companies
- Holders of investment or permanent residence permits, and diplomats
What this means for individual entrepreneurs and employers
For the typical BGGE client — an individual entrepreneur with the 1% Small Business Status — the dividing line is decisive:
- Export freelancers with exclusively foreign clients are covered by exemption (l). The established combination of “1% tax + no local work permit needed” continues to apply precisely to this constellation — details: Digital nomads in Georgia.
- Individual entrepreneurs working locally for Georgian clients may need the permit. Anyone expanding into the Georgian domestic market should have this checked first.
- Employers of foreign staff: the employer carries the process burden (Worknet, application, notification duties) — and is fined 2,000 GEL alongside the employee in case of violations.
Visa-free entry is unaffected: citizens of roughly 95 countries (including the EU, UK and US) can still stay in Georgia visa-free for 365 days. The permit requirement attaches to gainful activity, not to presence. Tax residency is also a separate track — it arises from 183 days of presence, independent of residence or work status (Georgia tax residency). If you operate a foreign structure from Georgia — such as a US LLC — assess the labour-law classification together with the tax permanent-establishment question; the two interact.
For employers: documents & deadlines
The procedure is document-driven: the employment contract, proof of qualifications and, where required, certified translations with apostille must be complete at the time of filing — every follow-up request costs processing time. Plan the chain backwards: 10 working days of Worknet posting, 30 calendar days of processing, then the D1 visa or residence permit. One practical note from the BGGE standard: originals and apostilled documents are shipped exclusively by express courier (UPS, FedEx or DHL Express), never by regular mail — see Apostille & remote notary.
FAQ
FAQ
Do digital nomads with foreign clients need a Georgia work permit?
No. Work for non-residents relating to activities outside Georgia is expressly exempt under Law N1509 (lit. l), as is fully remote work without required presence in Georgia (lit. k).
How much does the Special Labour Activity Permit cost and how long does it take?
The fee is capped at 500 GEL. Before applying, the vacancy must run 10 working days on Worknet; processing then takes 30 calendar days, or 10 working days on the express track.
What is the penalty for working without a permit?
A first violation costs 2,000 GEL — for both the employee and the employer. Repeat violations are fined more heavily.
I was already working in Georgia before March 2026 — what applies to me?
Existing relationships with contracts signed before March 1, 2026 benefit from a transition period: they must be regularised by January 1, 2027.
Can I work on a short project without a permit or residence permit?
The new Article 13⁹ allows short-term, project- or event-based professional activity without a permit and without a residence permit. The details are set by regulation — have your specific case reviewed in advance.
This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Regulations and administrative practice may change. If you are tax-resident in your home country, you must declare foreign income, accounts and structures there. Have your individual case professionally reviewed before taking up any activity in Georgia. Last updated July 2026.