Can Foreigners Work in Georgia in 2026?

Until March 1, 2026, Georgia had no work permit system for foreigners. The law never tied the right to work to a visa or residence status, and that was one of the reasons the country attracted freelancers and remote workers. Everything changed on that date. Georgia introduced a mandatory work activity permit, a Special Labour Permit, without which working or running a business in the country is no longer legal. Here is who it affects, who is exempt, and how to get one.

Who needs a work permit

The permit is required for almost every foreigner without permanent residence who earns income from activity carried out in Georgia: employees of Georgian companies, including those working remotely for a local employer, as well as self-employed people and entrepreneurs, including IE holders. The key test is not the nationality of clients or an employer, but the fact of earning income from activity conducted while physically present in Georgia.

Who is exempt

Permanent residence holders, refugees and asylum seekers, diplomatic mission staff, accredited foreign journalists, and holders of an investment residence permit are all exempt. A separate exemption covers people who conduct their activity fully remotely and do not need to enter Georgia to do so. That exemption is meant for people who manage a business or work from another country, not for someone who physically lives in Georgia and simply serves foreign clients.

How to get a permit through a Georgian employer

The employer must first post the vacancy on the official portal worknet.moh.gov.ge for at least 10 working days to check whether a suitable candidate exists among Georgian citizens. If no suitable candidate is found, the employer applies through the labour migration portal. Review takes up to 30 calendar days. The permit is tied to a specific employer and position: changing jobs means starting the procedure over.

How self-employed people and IE holders apply

Self-employed foreigners apply on their own, without an employer, along with documents confirming actual economic activity. The application is reviewed by Georgia's Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs, with the same review period of up to 30 calendar days. A renewal application must be submitted no later than 40 days before the current permit expires.

A work permit and a residence permit are different documents

A work activity permit does not replace a visa or a residence permit, and neither replaces it. Legal work now usually requires both documents at once, a work permit plus a D1 visa or a labour residence permit. Before March 1, 2026, a residence permit alone was enough to work legally. That is no longer the case: a residence permit without a separate work permit does not grant the right to work.

Penalties for working without a permit

Working without a permit carries a fine of 2,000 GEL, which can be imposed on the employee or self-employed person and on the employer. Repeat violations increase the fine.

The transition period for those already working

If a foreigner was already working or running a business in Georgia before the law took effect, bringing that status in line with the new rules is required by January 1, 2027. Still, it is not worth waiting until the last moment: the implementing regulations are still being refined, with several amendments already made by the government between February and July 2026, and some procedural details may still change.

What this means if you already have an IE

If you have already registered an IE in Georgia and work with foreign clients while living in the country, registering the IE alone no longer gives you the right to legally work. A separate work activity permit needs to be obtained as a self-employed person, regardless of your clients' nationality.

This is a brand-new law, and the regulations that spell out the details have already been revised several times in just the first few months. If your situation is not straightforward, for example a mix of local and foreign clients, it is worth consulting an immigration lawyer rather than relying only on the general description in this article.