Changes from 1 March 2026: what foreign freelancers should do

Updated 10 October 2026. The April and July amendments changed the scope of the original rules. This earlier overview has been corrected; read the 2026 work-permit update for the latest changes and source dates.

Who this post is for

This overview concerns foreign freelancers and entrepreneurs without permanent residence who work or carry out business activity in Georgia. Whether the rules apply depends on the activity, client and immigration status, including the exceptions below.

What started on 1 March 2026

Georgia introduced a right-to-work system for labour immigrants and self-employed foreigners covered by the law. For people within its scope, the right to work and the appropriate immigration status are separate requirements. IE registration or small business status does not settle either question. An applicant already in Georgia must be staying lawfully. Labour Migration Law, Article 13¹.

Check the exceptions before applying

Physical presence in Georgia is not enough to conclude that every foreign freelancer needs authorisation. The April amendment excludes, among other cases:

• Work performed wholly remotely for a local employer that does not require entry into Georgia.
• Work or services for a nonresident connected with that nonresident’s activities outside Georgia. Law №1509, Article 1.

The July implementing rules qualify the second exception where the foreigner is an entrepreneur individual needing a residence permit to stay lawfully. That qualification is not worded the same way in the statute. If your situation involves a residence application or mixed clients, confirm how these provisions apply before relying on an exception. Resolution №321, Article 1(1).

An existing residence permit can affect the immigration follow-up requirements, but does not automatically answer whether work authorisation is required.

Deadlines for people who need authorisation

After obtaining the right to work, the general follow-up deadlines are:

• Outside Georgia: apply for a D1 immigration visa within 30 calendar days.
• Inside Georgia: apply for the relevant work or IT residence permit within 10 calendar days.

Existing residence permits and the law’s exceptions affect these requirements. A self-employed person’s absence from Georgia for more than six months can be a ground for terminating the right to work. Labour Migration Law, Articles 13⁵ and 13⁷.

The 1 January 2027 transition applies to labour immigrants whose registration in the Ministry’s labour-migration database was active on 1 March 2026. They must obtain the right to work and the appropriate residence permit by that deadline. Having registered an IE before March does not alone establish eligibility. Article 17(2²).

A practical next step

First establish whether your activity is covered. If it is, a local employer generally applies for an employee, while a self-employed applicant submits directly. Check current documents and procedures on the official portal and in our 2026 update.

For covered work without authorisation, the law provides a GEL 2,000 initial fine for the foreign worker/self-employed person and a GEL 2,000 fine per person for the local employer/service organiser. Labour Migration Law, Article 16¹.

Keep the tax routine separate: record each payment and review each month. Our monthly checklist and currency guide cover that part. This overview is general information, not an individual legal assessment.