Georgia digital nomad visa & residency (2026)

Dedicated digital nomad program launched in 2020, still nominally in force. Free, processed in ~10 business days, grants a 12-month non-renewable stay. Requires proof of remote employment or foreign-incorporated business, $2,000/month income or $24,000 in savings, and health insurance. Available only to nationals of the 95+ countries with visa-free access to Georgia.

Parliament passed amendments on June 26 2025 requiring most foreign nationals—including self-employed, freelancers, and remote workers providing services to Georgian entities—to obtain a 'right to labour/entrepreneurial activity' permit from the Ministry of Labour before working. The permit takes up to 30 days; non-compliance carries a 2,000 GEL fine. A transition grace period runs to January 1 2027 for those already registered.

Introduced September 2025. Requires minimum 2 years of IT experience, confirmed income of at least $25,000/year, and 183 days/year physical presence in Georgia. Issued for 3 years and renewable up to 12 years. Covers employees of Ministry-registered IT firms, individual entrepreneurs in IT with Small Business status, and representatives of international IT companies and their families.

Citizens of over 95 countries may enter Georgia visa-free and remain up to 12 months. This has historically functioned as a de facto long-stay option for remote workers. The 2026 work-permit reform legally separates the right to be present from the right to work, meaning visa-free status alone no longer authorises work activity.

Foreign nationals can register as Individual Entrepreneurs (IEs) in Georgia without permanent residency. Electing Small Business status yields a 1% flat tax on gross turnover up to 500,000 GEL (~$185,000/year). The June 2025 reforms now require an accompanying work/self-employment permit for this route to remain legal from March 2026.

Foreigners may obtain a temporary residence permit by purchasing Georgian real estate valued at $150,000 or more. The June 2025 amendments raised this threshold from $100,000, effective March 1 2026. This is a passive-investment residency route, not a digital-nomad-specific pathway.