What do Georgia’s new work permit rules mean for foreign nationals?

Foreign nationals without permanent residency in Georgia face stricter employment rules from 1 March 2026, under amendments to the Law on Labour Migration and a government decree adopted on 20 February.

Under the new regulations, non-permanent resident immigrants must obtain a labour activity permit before taking up employment in Georgia, including remote work. Without such authorisation, they will be barred from working in a number of sectors, including as taxi drivers, couriers and tour guides.

The permit will be issued by the State Agency for Employment Promotion, a legal entity of public law operating under the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs.

New rules and restrictions for foreign nationals who do not hold permanent residency are set out in Georgia’s Law on Labour Migration and Government Decree No. 70 of 20 February 2026.

Fees and application process

The service is fee-based: a decision within 10 working days costs 400 lari, while a 30-calendar-day process costs 200 lari. The fee may be paid either by the employer or by the foreign national, if self-employed and applying independently.

A foreigner is considered to lack permanent residency if they do not hold a residence permit granted on the basis of permanent residence or a permanent residence certificate.

Employment procedures will become more demanding for prospective employers. In order to obtain a work permit for a foreign employee, the employer must submit the required documentation electronically via the agency’s online portal.

Before applying for a work permit for a foreign employee, an employer must publish the vacancy for at least 10 working days in the Labour Market Management Information System.

If, during that period, the agency cannot propose suitable Georgian candidates, the employer may proceed with the work permit application for the selected foreign national.

If candidates are proposed but rejected, the employer must provide written justification electronically within three working days. The agency then has three days to review the reasoning and decide whether to continue the permit process.

If approval is granted, the employer must submit documentation through the agency’s online portal and pay the relevant fee.

Exceptions and safeguards

Certain categories are exempt from the new rules. These include refugees and individuals granted complementary or temporary protection under Georgian law; registered asylum seekers; staff of accredited diplomatic missions, consular offices and international organisations; accredited foreign media representatives; individuals exempt under the law; and holders of valid investment residence permits.

Companies with innovative startup status may also be exempt, as well as vacancies offering monthly salaries above 15,000 lari and requiring objectively justified higher education and specific qualifications. However, even in such cases, the agency retains discretion to reject a candidate.

Self-employed foreigners must apply directly through the agency’s portal, pay the fee and undergo a video interview. The agency may request additional information within 10 calendar days. Failure to correct deficiencies may result in refusal.

Permits are issued for employment in a specific company and position. A change of employer will require a new permit.

Implementation timeline

The regulations entered into force on 1 March 2026. Enforcement mechanisms for those already employed will begin on 1 May 2026. Active labour immigrants registered in the unified database must obtain the necessary work authorisation and corresponding residence status by 1 January 2027.

A labour activity permit may serve as the basis for issuing a D1 immigration visa, a labour residence permit and a residence permit for IT sector employees.

Broader migration context

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze claimed last month around 37,000 foreign students are currently in Georgia, of whom 35,000 hold study residence permits. The number of Indian citizens in Georgia stands at 23,930, most of them students.

Kobakhidze said foreign students contribute approximately 1.2bn lari to the Georgian economy, generating around 300m lari in annual budget revenues. “Refusing this would be incorrect from the standpoint of the country’s economic interests,” he said.

Official but as yet unverified data suggest that around 257,000 foreign nationals live in Georgia, including approximately 20,000 without legal status. Residence permits have been issued to 107,307 citizens of 164 countries; 29.9% of them - 32,129 individuals – are Russian citizens. Kobakhidze said many are former Georgian citizens or people with Georgian surnames.

Penalties

According to information published by the State Agency for Employment Promotion, fines for violations may reach up to 12,000 lari.

Engaging in labour activity without a permit may result in a 2,000-lari fine for both the foreign worker and the local employer, calculated per individual case. The same fine applies to self-employed foreigners and the organisers of their services. A repeat offence carries a 4,000-lari penalty, while repeated violations combined with administrative offences may result in a 12,000-lari fine.