How to Register as an Individual Entrepreneur in Georgia in 2026

An individual entrepreneur, or IE, is the fastest and simplest business form in Georgia. A foreigner does not need a local partner, a residence permit, or startup capital: registration takes one working day and suits freelancers, IT professionals, and small business owners. If you are looking at a residence permit on business grounds, this article picks up where that one left off: registering as an IE or an LLC is usually the first practical step, though the residence permit ground itself requires enough scale of activity, investment of at least 300,000 GEL or at least three Georgian employees.

2026 update: since March 1, 2026, Georgia requires a separate work activity permit for foreigners performing paid activity in the country, including self-employed IE holders working with foreign clients while living in Georgia. Registering an IE is no longer enough on its own. See our guide to working in Georgia as a foreigner for who needs the permit, who is exempt, and how to apply.

Who an IE suits in Georgia

An IE suits people running a business on their own: development, consulting, design, trade, services. If you plan to hire staff at scale or bring in investors, an LLC is usually the better fit, a separate form with a higher registration fee and different rules. For most people relocating who work for themselves or with clients abroad, an IE is enough.

How to register an IE

Registration is handled by the National Agency of Public Registry through the House of Justice. In Tbilisi that is the same building with eleven white "petals" on the Kura riverbank (2 Zviad Gamsakhurdia Street) where residence permits are processed. Documents can be filed in person or through a representative holding a notarized power of attorney, useful for anyone registering remotely before moving to Georgia.

After registering in the business registry, one more step remains: tax registration with the Revenue Service of Georgia (rs.ge). Without it, the IE formally exists but cannot legally operate or pay taxes.

What documents are needed

• a passport
• a registered address in Georgia (legal address)
• a notarized power of attorney, if filing through a representative

The package is minimal compared to most countries: no charter, no background check, no proof of income required.

Timeframes and cost

Per the official rates of the National Agency of Public Registry: standard registration costs 26 GEL with a one working day turnaround; same-day filing costs 75 GEL. That is several times cheaper than registering an LLC (200 and 400 GEL for the same timeframes).

Tax registration and small business status

Registering an IE alone does not bring a lower tax rate: the standard 20% income tax applies by default. To pay 1% of turnover, you need to separately apply for small business status through your personal account on rs.ge. This does not happen automatically at registration, and many people only find out after their first tax period at the standard rate.

Small business status brings a 1% tax on turnover, not profit, for annual turnover up to 500,000 GEL. If turnover exceeds that threshold, the excess is taxed at 3% through the end of the current year. Exceeding the threshold two years in a row cancels small business status for the following tax year: a single overage is fine, a repeat is not.

Micro business status: when you don't need an IE at all

If annual income does not exceed 30,000 GEL and the activity has no employees, registering an IE is not required at all. Micro business status can be obtained directly as an individual through rs.ge, with a 0% tax rate and a single annual filing due by March 31. This suits small side income and early-stage freelancing, before turnover grows.

Bank accounts for an IE

Opening an account at a Georgian bank as an IE is possible, but foreigners are sometimes turned down over compliance checks: source of funds, tax residency, dealings with certain countries. Banks usually decide within 3 to 5 working days, or up to 10 to 14 days under enhanced KYC checks. It is worth checking a specific bank's requirements for non-residents with foreign clients in advance: that is the tightest part of the whole process.

Legal address: what to watch for

One of the few real risks in the entire process. Many companies offer a legal address for IE registration for a fee, but some providers later revoke the address or demand extra payment for renewal, and some simply stop responding. Check a company's reputation before paying, and clarify renewal terms upfront rather than when the term is about to expire.

Tax residency is a separate question

Registering an IE does not make you a tax resident of Georgia. Residency is determined by actual physical presence: at least 183 days within 12 months. You can hold a Georgian IE and remain a tax resident elsewhere if you spend more time there, and the reverse is also true: paying taxes in Georgia as a resident individual without ever registering an IE.