Below we discuss the latest amendments to the Law of Georgia on Labor Migration, which establish the obligation for foreign nationals to obtain the “right to work”1 in order to engage in labor or entrepreneurial activities in Georgia, along with the accompanying regulations.
See the end of the article for details on the latest proposed legislative amendments.
Who can legally work in Georgia as a foreigner?
As of March 1, 2026, only a foreign national (labor immigrant)2 who:
- has been issued the right to work by the LEPL State Employment Support Agency (“Agency”) and
- holds a work residence permit, a D1 category immigration visa or any other type of Georgian residence permit
may carry out paid labor activities or be self-employed in Georgia.
Obtaining the right to work is also mandatory for foreign nationals who carry out labor or entrepreneurial activities in Georgia remotely.
Does the new law also apply to foreign nationals legally employed in Georgia before March 1, 2026?
Yes. To comply with the law, foreign nationals employed under an employment contract and registered in the special electronic labor migration system with active status as of March 1, 2026, must obtain the right to work and the corresponding residence permit by January 1, 2027.
For self-employed foreign nationals engaged in labor or entrepreneurial activities in Georgia as of March 1, 2026, the enforcement mechanism established by law shall come into effect on May 1, 2026.
A “self-employed foreign national” refers to a foreigner who does not hold a Georgian permanent residence permit and engages in economic activity in Georgia (such as trade, provision of services, or other activities; acting as a partner, independent contractor, or otherwise participating in entrepreneurial or labor activities) with the aim of obtaining economic benefit. Company directors are also considered self-employed foreign nationals.
What prerequisites must a foreign national meet to carry out labor or entrepreneurial activities in Georgia?
- There must be a duly executed employment contract between a foreign national (except for a self-employed foreign national) and a Georgian employer;
- A foreign national (including a self-employed foreign national) must obtain the right to work from the Agency and
- A foreign national (including a self-employed foreign national) must hold one of the following documents:
- Work residence permit or
- D1 category visa or
- Any other type of Georgian residence permit.
Which professions and activities are subject to annual quotas?
For those professions/qualifications and job positions/fields that do not require highly skilled labor or for which the supply of local labor in the national labor market exceeds or will exceed the current or future demand for it, the following annual quotas are established:
- Labor/entrepreneurial activities related to courier services – 0;
- Labor/entrepreneurial activities related to passenger transportation – 0;
- Labor/entrepreneurial activities related to the provision of tour guide services to tourists – 0;
- Labor/entrepreneurial activities related to the provision of mountain, alpine and ski guiding services to tourists – 200.
These restrictions do not apply to cases where:
- The accrued salary for the position exceeds GEL 15,000 per month and
- The employer requires higher education in the relevant specialty for the vacant position. In addition, the importance and necessity of having the work performed personally by a specific foreign national must be justified.
The restrictions also do not apply to companies with international company status and companies with innovative startup status.
Under what conditions is the right to work granted?
The right to work is granted to:
- Foreign nationals employed under an employment contract – with the right to work for a specific employer, in a specific position (i.e., the foreign national is “attached” to a specific employer/position and does not have the right to change employer/position within the same authorization);
- Self-employed foreign nationals – by specifying a specific specialty/field.
Changing the employer without renewing the right to work, or, in the case of a self-employed foreign national, changing the labor or entrepreneurial activity, constitutes an administrative offense and shall result in the foreign national being fined GEL 2,000. In the case of a repeated offense, the fine shall be doubled. For each subsequent offense, the person subject to the penalty shall be fined three times the doubled amount.
For what period is the right to work granted?
The validity period of the right to work shall be determined for a term of 6 months to 1 year and may be extended during the first 5 years, each time for a period not exceeding 1 year. After 5 years of continuous extensions, each subsequent extension may be granted for a period of 1 to 5 years.
A different rule applies to foreign nationals employed or self-employed in the field of information technology (IT). For such persons, the validity period of the right to work shall be determined for a term not exceeding 3 years and may be extended, each time, for a period not exceeding 3 years.
What are the procedures to obtain the right to work?
The right to work for a foreigner to engage in labor/entrepreneurial activities is issued by the Agency.
Foreign nationals employed under a work contract must obtain the right to work in Georgia through their employers (i.e., the employer must submit the application), while self-employed foreign nationals apply independently.
A foreign national who is illegally present in the territory of Georgia cannot apply for the right to work.
Application procedures for local employers
Each local employer is obliged to publish information about the vacant position for which it intends to employ a foreign national in the Labor Market Management Information System at least 10 working days prior to submitting an application for the right to work.
If the Agency is unable to find and provide the appropriate candidate(s) to the employer within 10 working days, the employer shall be entitled to apply to the Agency through the special electronic labor migration system to obtain the right to work for the labor immigrant.
Compliance with this procedure is not required if:
- The accrued salary for the vacant position exceeds GEL 15,000 per month and
- The employer requires higher education in the relevant specialty for the vacant position. In addition, the importance and necessity of having the work performed personally by a specific foreign national must be justified.
Companies with international company status and companies with innovative startup status are also not required to follow the procedure.
Application procedures for self-employed foreign nationals
A self-employed foreign national submits an application through the special electronic labor migration system.
In addition, each self-employed person must undergo a video interview with the Agency and at the end of the interview confirm the electronic application made for the purpose of obtaining the right to work.
Required documents for the application
The application must be accompanied by the following mandatory documentation specified by Georgian legislation:
In the case of an application submitted by a local employer:
Information and documentation provided for in Annex No. 1 to the “Rules for Issuing the Right to Work for Labor Immigrants and Self-Employed Foreign Nationals”, (“Rules”) approved by Ordinance No. 70 of the Government of Georgia dated February 20, 2026 (Click to expand);
Information about the Local Employer:
- name of the local employer;
- identification number/personal number of the local employer;
- actual and legal addresses of the local employer;
- field of economic activity of the local employer;
- contact information of the local employer (telephone number and email address).
Personal Data of the Person Responsible for Submitting the Information:
- name and surname (in Georgian and Latin characters);
- personal identification number;
- position held;
- contact information (telephone number and email address).
Personal Data of the Labor Immigrant:
- name and surname (in Georgian and Latin characters);
- date of birth (day/month/year);
- sex;
- citizenship;
- country of origin;
- passport number;
- a photocopy of the passport (biographical page);
- passport issuing authority;
- dates of issuance and expiry;
- personal eleven-digit identification number assigned in Georgia (if any);
- Georgian residence permit number (if any);
- dates of issuance and expiry of the Georgian residence permit (if any).
Position to be Held by the Labor Immigrant and the Qualification Requirements for This Position:
- Position to be held by the labor immigrant;
- Requirements for the position to be held:
- professional knowledge/qualification/functions;
- required level of education;
- work experience in the profession/tenure (if such a requirement exists);
- specific skills (if such a requirement exists);
- additional knowledge and skills (if such a requirement exists);
- other additional requirements (if such requirements exist).
Profession/Qualification, Experience, and Skills of the Labor Immigrant:
- education;
- profession/qualification;
- work experience in the profession/tenure (indicating years and field);
- general and specific skills (if any);
- additional knowledge and skills (if any).
Dates of conclusion, entry into force, and termination of the employment contract between the local employer and the labor immigrant (day/month/year).
A copy of the employment contract concluded between the local employer and the labor immigrant.
Document confirming payment of the service fee;
Application form for confirmation of the application for employment of a labor immigrant, certified with a qualified electronic signature or electronic stamp.
In the case of an application submitted by a self-employed foreign national:
Information and documentation specified in Annex No. 2 of the Rules (Click to expand);
Information about the Self-Employed Foreign National:
- name and surname (in Georgian and Latin characters);
- date of birth (day/month/year);
- sex;
- citizenship;
- country of origin;
- passport number;
- a photocopy of the passport (biographical page);
- passport issuing authority;
- dates of issuance and expiry;
- personal eleven-digit identification number assigned in Georgia (if any);
- Georgian residence permit number (if any);
- dates of issuance and expiry of the Georgian residence permit (if any);
- identification number according to the extract from the Registry of Entrepreneurs and Non-entrepreneurial (Non-commercial) Legal Entities.
Profession/Qualification and Work Experience of the Self-Employed Foreign National:
- education;
- profession/qualification;
- experience in labor and/or entrepreneurial activities (indicating years, fields, and functions);
- specific skills (if any);
- additional knowledge and skills (if any).
Information on the Labor/Entrepreneurial Activities of the Self-Employed Foreign National:
- scope, description, and place of labor/entrepreneurial activities in Georgia;
- in the case of an enterprise already established in Georgia by a self-employed foreign national:
- company identification number or individual entrepreneur’s personal number;
- document issued by the LEPL Revenue Service confirming the company’s/individual entrepreneur’s annual turnover (if the person’s activity is related to a company registered in Georgia or if the person is registered as an individual entrepreneur);
- if a self-employed foreign national intends to start entrepreneurial activities in Georgia, a detailed business plan (including information on the planned investment, projected annual turnover, resources required to commence labor/entrepreneurial activities, and an appropriate document confirming financial support).
Document confirming payment of the service fee.
Application review and processing time
The maximum period for reviewing an application by the Agency is 30 calendar days, and in the case of expedited review of the application – no more than 10 working days.
How much does it cost to obtain the right to work?
The service fee is GEL 200, and in the case of expedited proceedings – GEL 400.
When can the right to work be denied?
A foreign national cannot obtain a work authorization if:
- incomplete information/documentation was submitted, and the deficiency was not remedied;
- the foreign national’s qualifications or position do not meet the requirements of the Georgian labor market, fall under professions or specialties that do not require highly qualified labor, or are in fields where the supply of local labor with those qualifications meets or exceeds current or future demand;
- the review of the issue of expelling the foreign national from Georgia has been initiated or a decision has been made to expel him/her.
In addition, the right to work shall be refused if the deadline for submitting an application to extend the right to work has not been complied with (see below).
What happens after obtaining the right to work?
If the foreign national is not present in the territory of Georgia at the time of obtaining the right to work, he/she must submit an application for a D1 category visa within 30 calendar days from the date of obtaining said right.
If the foreign national is already in the territory of Georgia, he/she must submit an application for a work residence permit or a temporary residence permit of a person employed in the field of Information Technologies (temporary residence permit for IT specialists) within 10 calendar days from the date of obtaining the right to work.
A foreign national is not required to apply for a D1 category visa or a work residence permit/temporary residence permit for IT specialists if he/she:
- already holds a Georgian residence permit or
- is located outside the borders of Georgia and intends to carry out labor or entrepreneurial activities in Georgia completely remotely.
Is it mandatory to submit an employment contract with a foreign national to the Agency?
Yes, it is. Moreover, in the event of early termination of the contract or amendments to it, the relevant information must be reflected in the special electronic labor migration system within 5 calendar days.
Failure by the employer to provide the above information (including information on the extension of the employment contract) constitutes an administrative offense and shall result in the employer being fined GEL 1,000 per foreign national. In the case of a repeated offense, the fine shall be doubled. For each subsequent offense, the person subject to the penalty shall be fined three times the doubled amount.
What causes the termination of the right to work?
The grounds for termination of the right to work are:
- Expiration/early termination of the employment contract;
- If, as a result of monitoring, it is determined that the foreign national is not actually working in the relevant position/field or is actually working in a different position/field or under different conditions;
- Leaving Georgia for a continuous period of more than 6 months by the self-employed foreign national;
- Expiration or termination of a D1 category visa if the foreign national has not obtained a Georgian residence permit;
- Expiration or termination of a Georgian residence permit;
- Failure to submit an application for a D1 visa, a work residence permit, or a temporary residence permit of a person employed in the field of Information Technologies (IT) within the time period established by law (see above);
- Refusal by the competent authority to issue a D1 category visa, a work residence permit, or a temporary residence permit of a person employed in the field of Information Technologies (IT) to the foreign national;
- A decision to expel the foreign national from Georgia.
In the event of termination of the right to work, the employer shall terminate the existing employment contract with the foreign national within 5 calendar days of receiving the notification and submit the relevant information to the Agency.
What happens after the right to work expires?
If the work authorization expires and the employer does not want to terminate the employment relationship with the foreign national, it can apply to the Agency and request an extension of the right to work.
The relevant application must be submitted to the Agency at least 30 calendar days before the expiration of the right to work.
A self-employed foreign national shall submit an application directly, within the same deadline.
The Agency shall review and resolve the issue raised in the application within a maximum of 30 calendar days.
Where and within what time frame can an Agency decision be appealed?
An Agency decision to issue or refuse to issue the right to work may be appealed in court within 1 month.
During the period of reviewing the appeal, the foreign national cannot work in Georgia. In addition, the ongoing dispute does not constitute a basis for postponing the obligation to leave Georgia; expulsion procedures are not suspended either.
Is it permissible to resubmit an application for the issuance of the right to work?
Yes. In the case of refusal to issue or extend a work authorization, or in the event of early termination, the foreign national shall have the right to reapply to the Agency 1 month after the date of the relevant decision. A foreign national residing in the territory of Georgia must have a legal basis for their stay.
What penalties does the law provide for working without the right to work?
The performance of any paid activity (including remotely) by a foreign national without the right to work shall result in the employer/service organizer being fined GEL 2,000 for each such foreign national.
The performance of labor activities by a foreign national (including a self-employed person) without the right to work shall be punishable by a fine of GEL 2,000 imposed on the foreign national.
In the case of a repeated offense, the fine shall be doubled. For each subsequent offense, the person subject to the penalty shall be fined three times the doubled amount.
What updates are coming to the Law on Labor Migration?
The new bill amending the Law of Georgia on Labor Migration, currently under parliamentary review, exempts certain foreign nationals from the requirement to obtain the right to work and the corresponding residence permit if they:
- perform labor activities for a local employer completely remotely, without entering the territory of Georgia;
- provide labor/services for a non-resident person in connection with that person’s activities outside Georgia;
- are directors of first, second, or third category enterprises, or members of supervisory boards or audit committees of said enterprises;3
- engage in short-term professional activities to be defined by an Ordinance of the Government of Georgia;4
- hold a special residence permit issued on the initiative of a member of the Government of Georgia;
- perform activities for a public institution or a state-founded enterprise.
To obtain qualified legal services on the employment of foreign nationals in Georgia and other immigration matters, call us today at +995 574 58 33 58 or complete our contact form.
- Sometimes incorrectly referred to as “special labour permit”. ↩︎
- Notably, the term “labor immigrant” does not include, and the above-mentioned restrictions (including the obligation to obtain the right to work) do not apply to, a foreign national holding a Georgian permanent residence permit. In addition, the law defines specific categories of foreign nationals to whom its provisions do not apply, including: persons holding an investment residence permit; refugees; persons granted supplementary or temporary protection; persons registered as asylum seekers; employees of accredited diplomatic missions, consular offices, and international organizations; journalists accredited by foreign mass media; individuals who are subject to a special regime under an international treaty of Georgia. ↩︎
- This exemption shall not apply to directors of enterprises of the fourth category. An “enterprise of the fourth category” is defined as an entity that meets at least two of the following three criteria at the end of the reporting period: a) total assets do not exceed GEL 1,000,000; b) revenue does not exceed GEL 2,000,000; c) the average number of employees during the reporting period does not exceed 10. ↩︎
- Such activity must be carried out within the framework of a temporary visit, must not constitute long-term employment in the local labor market, and must be related to a specific short-term project, event, or service. The list of short-term professional activities, including their criteria and duration, shall be determined by an Ordinance of the Government of Georgia. ↩︎
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