Find visa optionsFind visas
Menu

·Georgia·Significant change·In force

Georgia separates work authorisation from residence permission

By · Last reviewed:

Georgia’s labour-migration system requires a separate right to work for covered foreign employees and self-employed people, alongside the appropriate immigration status. The current law contains specific exemptions.

What changed

  • Policy claim 1

    For covered local employment or self-employment, the Ministry-issued right to work and a D1 visa, work residence permit or other qualifying residence permit are separate requirements. Visa-free entry alone is insufficient.

    Claim ID: ge-2026-03-work-authorisation#claim-1·Cite this claim

    Source: Matsne: Law on Labour Migration, Articles 1, 13¹–13⁵ and 17 (Legislative Herald of Georgia)·source verified ·page reviewed

  • Policy claim 2

    The local employer applies for an employee; a self-employed applicant applies personally. After approval, the law sets a 30-calendar-day D1 application window from abroad or a 10-calendar-day residence-application window in Georgia, with exemptions including existing residence-permit holders.

    Claim ID: ge-2026-03-work-authorisation#claim-2·Cite this claim

    Source: Matsne: Law on Labour Migration, Articles 1, 13¹–13⁵ and 17 (Legislative Herald of Georgia)·source verified ·page reviewed

  • Policy claim 3

    The amended law excludes services for a non-resident where they relate to that non-resident’s activities outside Georgia. A foreign payer alone is not enough to determine that the exception applies; entry, tax and business obligations remain separate.

    Claim ID: ge-2026-03-work-authorisation#claim-3·Cite this claim

    Source: Matsne: Law on Labour Migration, Articles 1, 13¹–13⁵ and 17 (Legislative Herald of Georgia)·source verified ·page reviewed

  • Policy claim 4

    The transition to 1 January 2027 applies to labour immigrants whose official database registration was active on 1 March 2026, not automatically to all foreigners already in Georgia.

    Claim ID: ge-2026-03-work-authorisation#claim-4·Cite this claim

    Source: Matsne: Law on Labour Migration, Articles 1, 13¹–13⁵ and 17 (Legislative Herald of Georgia)·source verified ·page reviewed

  • Policy claim 5

    A later amendment effective 1 September 2026 adds a specific exemption for holders of the Aliens Law Article 60 temporary-stay right. This is not an exemption for every visitor or temporary resident.

    Claim ID: ge-2026-03-work-authorisation#claim-5·Cite this claim

    Source: Matsne: Law 1815 of 25 June 2026, effective 1 September (Legislative Herald of Georgia)·source verified ·page reviewed

Routes affected

Primary source

Primary source

Matsne: Law on Labour Migration, Articles 1, 13¹–13⁵ and 17 ↗ · Legislative Herald of Georgia

Link last verified:

← All policy changes