New Work Permit Law in Georgia from March 1: What Foreigners Need to Know

The background: Georgians have increasingly seen foreigners—especially immigrants and students from India and Africa—taking jobs in the local labor market. The law aims to prevent foreign labor from filling low-skilled positions and to create new opportunities for local workers.

Key points of the new law:

• For three professions—taxi drivers, couriers, and tour guides—foreigners are now generally prohibited from working.
• The law goes beyond these professions, requiring all foreigners who work in Georgia to apply for a work permit.

Previously, there was no formal work permit requirement—anyone legally residing in Georgia could work. Implementation of the new law was initially unclear, which made it difficult to provide accurate information. However, more details have now emerged.

What foreign entrepreneurs need to know:

• Foreigners operating a 1% sole proprietorship, working exclusively from outside Georgia and without Georgian clients, do not need a work permit. If you mainly reside outside Georgia, your business can continue as usual.
• If you are a LLC director (regardless of your work location, because you receive dividends or salary from Georgia) or reside in Georgia (except holders of indefinite residence permits, such as investor visas), you must register online on a special platform and apply for a work permit by May 1 if you were operating before March 1.

Work permit details:

• Permits are issued for 6–12 months (typically 12 months for German entrepreneurs) and must be renewed. After 5 years, longer-term permits (up to 5 years) are possible.
• The initial application involves some effort and a fee of 200 GEL, and may require a video interview with the authorities.
• We expect that permits will be granted smoothly for our clients. For current clients based in Georgia (without permanent residence), we will automatically submit initial applications in the coming weeks and will contact you if any documents are needed. No additional action is required on your part for this first application, aside from the fee.