Section guide

Moving to Georgia

Q: What insurance do you need at entry?

You need a policy with at least 30,000 lari of coverage for medical treatment and accidents, valid for the whole trip. It is checked for everyone who enters without a visa or on a tourist visa, while residence permit holders are exempt from the check.

Q: How much does life in Tbilisi cost?

With an average lifestyle, one person needs $900-1,400 a month. A couple does not spend twice as much, but usually 1.5-1.8 times as much, because rent and utilities are split between two people.

Q: When does a remote worker start paying taxes in Georgia?

After 183 days in the country within 12 months, a remote worker becomes a tax resident, regardless of citizenship or visa. From that point, income from work performed on Georgian territory is taxed here.

Moving to another country begins with important decisions: which city to choose, what budget to prepare, and how to organize the first weeks. Decide what matters most to you, and you will get a short overview of the essentials, with practical tips and links to detailed guides.

90-365days without a visa, depending on your citizenship

30,000lari is the minimum insurance coverage at entry

$3-7Kfor one person to start out, cushion included

What matters most to you right now?

The gist in 10 seconds

Where to begin your move

Most foreigners do not need a visa and can live here from 90 to 365 days without one
Since January 1, 2026, insurance with at least 30,000 lari of coverage has been checked at the border
Buying property worth $150,000 or more qualifies you for a residence permit

The arrivals area at Tbilisi International Airport

The plan

Where to Begin Your Move to Georgia

Most foreigners do not need a visa, so the move comes down to practical steps rather than formalities. Each step has its own deadline, and they are easiest to take in order.

Where to Begin Your Move to GeorgiaA 9-step plan

What should you do before the flight, and what can wait until you arrive?
When does a remote worker need to start thinking about taxes in Georgia?

If you are still deciding

Strengths and weaknesses

People who move to Georgia are drawn by the accessible residence permit, the 1% turnover tax for individual entrepreneurs with small business status, and the calm streets. Be prepared for a language barrier at government offices and for the paperwork of the first month.

Pros and Cons of Moving to GeorgiaIs the move worth it

How safe is life in Georgia?
Do you need to know Georgian to get a residence permit?

The gist in 10 seconds

Tbilisi or Batumi

Living in Batumi costs on average 10-15% less than in Tbilisi
The train between the two cities takes about 4 hours, and the flight about 45 minutes
From November through March Batumi goes quiet, and many restaurants close for the winter

The Alphabet Tower and the Radisson Blu hotel in Batumi at sunset — Batumi at sunset

City

Tbilisi or Batumi

Tbilisi keeps the pace of a big city all year round, while the resort town of Batumi fills up in summer and spends the winter quietly. Your choice of city shapes your budget, your climate, and the schools for your children.

Tbilisi or Batumi: Which City to ChoosePrices, climate, seasons

Which is cheaper to live in, Tbilisi or Batumi?
Can you spend the winter in Tbilisi and the summer in Batumi?

Side by side

The two cities in numbers

One person's expenses in Tbilisi$900-1,400 a month
One person's expenses in Batumi$800-1,400 a month
Summer heat in Tbilisi35°C and above
Summer in Batumiusually up to 29°C

The Batumi season

Peak in July and August

In summer the Batumi waterfront is packed, and housing and restaurants get more expensive. From November through March the city empties out, and in those months it is easier to negotiate a discount on a long-term lease.

Who each city suits

Tbilisi: office jobs, international schools, specialist doctors, and direct flights to many countries all year round
Batumi: fully remote work, the sea, and lower expenses, if a quiet winter suits you

The gist in 10 seconds

Budget for the move

It is wise for one person to have $3,000-7,000 at the start
The mid-range scenario in Tbilisi runs $900-1,400 a month
Housing takes up 40-50% of the monthly budget

A 50 lari banknote, Georgia's national currency

Budget

How Much Money You Need to Move to Georgia

The budget is made up of one-time move-in costs, money for the first week, and monthly expenses. On top of that, it is worth setting aside a cushion for 3-6 months in case work or clients are slow to arrive.

Budget for Moving to GeorgiaCosts stage by stage

How much does the first month in Georgia cost?
How much more does a couple or a family with a child spend?

A first-month example

An apartment in Saburtalo through an agent

One month's rent$600
Deposit$600
Agent's fee, 50%$300
First-week expenses$200

That comes to about $1,700, not counting the flight and insurance.

Three monthly scenarios

Living in Tbilisi on your own

from $700rent in Gldani or Didube, cooking at home
$900-1,400rent in Saburtalo or Vake, the occasional cafe
from $2,000downtown, restaurants, trips around the country

How to save

Rent directly from the owner, and you will skip the agent's fee of 50-100% of a month's rent
Choose Gldani or Didube over Vake
Share an apartment with someone to split your biggest expense

The gist in 10 seconds

The first week and the first month

A taxi from Tbilisi Airport booked through an app costs 30-40 lari
A Metromoney card costs 2 lari, and a ride costs 1 lari, with transfers included for 90 minutes
Residence permit holders register their address within 1 month

State University metro station in Tbilisi

On arrival

Your First Weeks in Georgia

The first week goes to a phone plan, money, and transportation, while the first month is taken up by a long-term lease, address registration, and a bank account. For the first few days it is convenient to book a place through Booking or Airbnb and choose a permanent apartment once you are here.

Your First Week in GeorgiaSIM card, money, transportation

Where do you get the best exchange rate in Tbilisi?
How do you get from the airport without overpaying?

On day one

112: police, ambulance, and fire department, with dispatchers who also answer in English
A SIM card costs from 5 lari, and you need your passport to buy one
Order taxis through Bolt or Yandex Go, where you see the fare before the ride

The first month

Lease, address, bank account

By the end of the first month, most people have signed a long-term lease, registered their address, and opened a bank account. You get your 11-digit personal number at the Public Service Hall (House of Justice) when your residence permit is issued. Without a permit, a foreigner gets only a 9-digit number, which is used for taxes.

Your First Month in GeorgiaLease, personal number, utilities

Which documents do you need to register your address?
How do you transfer the electricity and water accounts in a rented apartment?

The gist in 10 seconds

Kids and pets

A spouse and minor children get residence permits together with the main applicant, with no separate investment
Enrollment in public kindergartens opens once a year, in early July
A pet's rabies shot must be given no later than 21 days before entry

Family

Moving to Georgia with Kids and Pets

A family with children has its own to-do list: residence permits for everyone, a kindergarten or school, and a pediatrician. Bringing in a dog or a cat is not hard, since Georgia has no quarantine, but the pet's paperwork needs to be ready in advance.

Moving to Georgia with KidsPaperwork, kindergarten, school, doctors

Where do you enroll a child if you arrive in the middle of the school year?
Where do you take the kids for a walk in Tbilisi?

For the transition period

A private kindergarten

~960 lari a month in Tbilisi

Public kindergartens are free, meals included, but to enroll, a child needs a residence permit and a personal number. Sports classes for kids cost 50-200 lari a month.

Pets: the timeline

A rabies shot ahead of time

The shot must be given no earlier than 11 months and no later than 21 days before entry. You will also need a microchip and a veterinary certificate, while no separate import permit is required.

Moving to Georgia with PetsEntry, the flight, veterinarians

Can you take a dog in the airplane cabin?
How much does a veterinarian cost in Tbilisi?

How the move unfolds

Moving to Georgia in Four Steps

This is the order most foreigners follow, from packing to the first six months in the country.

Before the flight

Take out insurance with at least 30,000 lari of coverage, prepare your pet's paperwork, and line up grounds for a residence permit if you are staying for the long term.

The first week

Buy a SIM card, exchange a little cash, take app-based taxis, and settle into temporary lodging for 5-7 nights while you look for an apartment.

The first month

Sign a long-term lease, register your address if you hold a residence permit (you have 1 month to do it), get internet connected, and open an account at a Georgian bank.

After six months

After 183 days in the country within 12 months, a remote worker becomes a tax resident of Georgia.

FAQ

Questions About Moving to Georgia

Do you need a visa to move to Georgia?

Most foreigners do not need a visa, and without one you can stay in the country from 90 to 365 days, with the exact term depending on your citizenship. To stay longer, you apply for a residence permit.

What insurance do you need at entry?

You need a policy with at least 30,000 lari of coverage for medical treatment and accidents, valid for the whole trip. It is checked for everyone who enters without a visa or on a tourist visa, while residence permit holders are exempt from the check.

Does buying a home entitle you to a residence permit?

Yes, an investment residence permit is granted for buying property worth $150,000 or more. A spouse and minor children receive residence permits on the same grounds.

How much does life in Tbilisi cost?

With an average lifestyle, one person needs $900-1,400 a month. A couple does not spend twice as much, but usually 1.5-1.8 times as much, because rent and utilities are split between two people.

When does a remote worker start paying taxes in Georgia?

After 183 days in the country within 12 months, a remote worker becomes a tax resident, regardless of citizenship or visa. From that point, income from work performed on Georgian territory is taxed here.

Can you bring in your own car duty-free?

That exemption is available to Georgian citizens and holders of a permanent residence permit, for one car per family. An ordinary temporary residence permit does not grant it, so it is best to compare the import costs with the price of a similar car here before you decide.

Catalog of relocation companies in Georgia

Coming soon to the catalog: rental agencies, banks, veterinary clinics, and kids' activities in Georgia

We are preparing listings of companies that help people move to Georgia. We publish only what we have checked ourselves.

An apartment building on Kakhi Shevardnadze Street in Tbilisi

Soon

Rental agencieslong-term apartments

The historic TBC Bank building in Tbilisi

Soon

Banksaccounts for foreigners

Soon

Veterinary clinics and pet storesvets, food, paperwork for travel abroad

Children in Georgian dance costumes in Tbilisi

Soon

Kids' activitiessports, dance, swimming

Pictured: an apartment building on Kakhi Shevardnadze Street in Tbilisi, the historic TBC Bank building in Tbilisi, a house cat, and children in Georgian dance costumes in Tbilisi.

Before the flight

Check the List of Common Mistakes

An apartment rented from photos, a taxi hailed at the terminal, and a missed address registration happen to all kinds of people. Going through the list takes a few minutes and will save you money in the first month.

Common Mistakes When Moving to Georgia12 mistakes and how to avoid them