How to Register as an Individual Entrepreneur in Georgia in 2026

An individual entrepreneur, or IE, is Georgia's answer to the sole proprietor or sole trader, and it is the fastest and simplest business form in the country. A foreigner needs no local partner, no residence permit and no starting capital: registration takes one business day, and it suits freelancers, IT specialists and small business owners.

For most people who move to Georgia and work for themselves or for clients outside Georgia, an IE is the simplest legal way to start working. IE status by itself does not give you a residence permit. To get a work-based residence permit in Georgia through your own IE, you need turnover: since July 9, 2026, it must reach at least 50,000 lari a year for each foreigner who holds such a permit.

The 2026 Change: A Separate Work Permit

Since March 1, 2026, Georgia has required a separate work permit from foreigners who do paid work in the country. The rule can also apply to self-employed people with an IE who live in Georgia and work for foreign clients.

IE registration alone is no longer enough. Whether a foreigner can work in Georgia without that separate permit depends on the type of work and the kind of contract.

Who Should Register an IE in Georgia

An IE suits people who run a business on their own: software development, consulting, design, trade or services. If you plan to hire a sizable team or bring in investors, an LLC in Georgia usually fits better. It is a separate form with a higher registration fee and its own rules. Most newcomers who work for themselves or for foreign clients find that an IE is enough.

How to Register an IE

Registration is handled by the National Agency of Public Registry through the Public Service Hall. In Tbilisi, that is the building with eleven white "petals" on the bank of the Mtkvari (2 Zviad Gamsakhurdia Embankment), the same place where residence permits are processed.

You can file the documents in person or through a representative with a notarized power of attorney, which suits anyone who registers remotely before moving to Georgia.

There is no separate tax registration to go through: the Agency assigns your taxpayer identification number during registration. After that, two things remain. You get access to your taxpayer account with the Revenue Service at rs.ge, and, if you want the 1% rate, you apply there for small business status.

Documents You Need

• a passport
• a registered address in Georgia (your legal address)
• a notarized power of attorney if a representative files for you

By the standards of most countries, the list is minimal: you need no articles of association, no criminal record certificate and no proof of income.

Timeline and Cost

Under the official fee schedule of the National Agency of Public Registry, standard registration costs 26 lari and takes one business day, while same-day registration costs 75 lari. That is several times cheaper than an LLC, which costs 200 and 400 lari for the same two turnaround times.

Small Business Status: How to Get the Low Rate

Registration by itself does not give you a reduced rate: by default, you pay the standard 20% income tax. To pay 1% on turnover instead, you have to apply separately for small business status through your account at rs.ge. Nothing happens automatically at registration, and many people find this out only after their first tax period at the standard rate.

The status is not open to everyone: under Government Resolution No. 415, it is denied to IEs in consulting, medical, attorney and notary, audit and architectural work, and in any activity that requires a license. An IE in one of those fields pays 20% on profit.

With small business status, you pay 1% on turnover rather than on profit, as long as annual turnover stays within 500,000 lari. For wine tourism and agritourism, the threshold is 700,000 lari. From the month in which annual turnover passes the threshold, all turnover until the end of the year is taxed at 3%. If you exceed the threshold two years in a row, the status is canceled from the start of the following year: one overrun is tolerated, a second one is not.

Micro Business Status: When You Don't Need an IE at All

If your annual income stays within 30,000 lari and you have no employees, you don't have to register an IE at all. You can get micro business status directly as a private individual through rs.ge, with a 0% tax rate and a single annual return due by March 31. It suits a small side income and early-stage freelancing, while turnover is still low.

A Bank Account for Your IE

You can open an account at a Georgian bank for your IE, but foreigners are sometimes refused after the compliance check, which looks at the source of funds, tax residency and ties to certain countries. Timelines differ by bank: TBC Bank can open an account in about a week, while a decision at Bank of Georgia takes around two weeks.

Check a bank's requirements for nonresidents with foreign clients in advance, because this is the biggest bottleneck in the whole process.

Your Legal Address: What to Watch For

This is one of the few real risks in registration. Many companies provide a legal address for IE registration for a fee, but some later withdraw the address or demand an extra payment to renew it, and some simply stop answering. Before you pay, check the company's reputation and settle the renewal terms right away rather than waiting until the address is about to expire.

Tax Residency: A Separate Question

Registering an IE does not make you a tax resident of Georgia. Residency depends on physical presence: at least 183 days within any 12 months. You can hold a Georgian IE and remain a tax resident of another country if you spend more time there, and the reverse works too: you can pay tax in Georgia as a resident individual without ever registering an IE.