How do you apply for a residence permit in Georgia in 2026?

Decide whether you are still a visitor working only for foreign clients, or whether you need a residence basis (employment, individual entrepreneur activity, investment, family, study, or another listed ground). Remote-only foreign income can fit long visits for many passports, yet it does not automatically mint a residence ID: Country To Live remote-friendly pathway.

Gather passport bio pages, proof of lawful stay, accommodation evidence, income or company papers for your chosen basis, police certificates where required, and translations or notarisation when documents are not accepted in English or Georgian. Bank statements often sit inside work or business files: Open a bank account. Individual entrepreneurs usually register tax identity early: Get a tax number.

From March 2026, Georgia separated the right to stay from the right to perform labour activity for many foreigners. Holding a visa-free stamp, D visa, or even some temporary residence statuses does not always authorise local employment or Georgian-source freelancing by itself. Guides describe a Right to Labour Activity filing through Ministry of Labour portals, with fees often cited near ₾200 and processing in weeks: Get a work permit.

Remote workers earning only from foreign employers or clients with no Georgian income source are widely described as exempt, yet active Individual Entrepreneurs who declare Georgian income are widely described as in scope. Confirm your category before you assume “visa-free equals work-free.” Overstay and wrong activity status are separate risks from rent maths: Monthly budget.