A child attending a Georgian school no longer qualifies the family for a residence permit: how to move to Georgia under the new rules

Effective as of August 2026. Changes affecting schoolchildren take effect on September 1, 2026.

For a long time, one of the simplest ways for a family to move to Georgia was as follows:

The family arrived in Georgia.
The child was enrolled in an authorized school.
The child received a student residence permit.
The parents applied for a residence permit based on family reunification.

For families from Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, this was a straightforward and relatively inexpensive route: there was no need to purchase expensive real estate, make large investments, or immediately start a business with a high turnover.

Starting September 1, 2026, this system will no longer operate in its current form.

Schoolchildren will no longer be able to obtain a student residence permit. Instead, a special D6 immigration visa will be introduced. Parents, legal guardians, and the child’s minor siblings will also be eligible for this visa. However, this will be a visa, not a residence permit.

Therefore, families who need not only legal permission to stay but also a full‐fledged Georgian residence permit must now choose a different basis for residency. For many families, moving to Georgia through their own business is becoming the most accessible and straightforward option.

Key points in one minute

Before the reform, a child could obtain a student residence permit based on enrollment in a Georgian school. Afterward, parents would apply for a residence permit under the family reunification category.

Starting September 1, 2026:

student residence permits will be issued only to adult students enrolled in higher education and vocational institutions;
schoolchildren and other minor students will be eligible for a D6 visa;
parents and minor siblings will be able to obtain a D6 visa along with the child;
the family will be able to live legally in Georgia, but will not receive a residence permit or resident card based on the schoolchild’s enrollment.

If the goal is specifically to obtain a residence permit, the most practical route currently looks like this:

Arrive in Georgia → register as a sole proprietor or LLC → obtain the right to work → apply for a work‐based residence permit → establish a genuine business and generate revenue within six months → renew the residence permit.

How the old system worked through schools

Before the law was amended, a student residence permit could be issued to a foreign national enrolled in an authorized educational institution in Georgia.

This definition included not only universities and vocational colleges, but also schools.

Therefore, a family could:

enroll a child in a private or public accredited school in Georgia;
obtain a student residence permit for the child;
use it as the basis for the parents’ residence permit under the family reunification program.

The law provides for a residence permit for family reunification for family members of a foreign national who already holds a Georgian residence permit. Family members include, in particular, a spouse, minor children, and—in the case of a minor foreign national — his or her parents.

In effect, the child became the primary applicant, and the parents obtained their status through him or her.

What will change starting September 1, 2026

The new version of the law restricts the student residence permit. Once the amendments take effect, it will be issued to adult foreign nationals who are enrolled in:

a higher education program;
a vocational education program.

Attending a regular school will no longer qualify a student for a student residence permit. Minors enrolled in a university or vocational institution will also be subject to a special visa regime until they reach the age of majority.

Thus, the sequence of “school → child’s residence permit → family reunification” will no longer apply.

The reason is simple: a family reunification residence permit requires a family member who already holds a residence permit. If a school‐age child is issued a D6 visa instead of a residence permit, there is no longer a primary residence permit holder in the family.

What is the new D6 Visa?

The D6 category is being introduced specifically for foreign minors who are coming to or are already in Georgia to study. It applies to:

minors attending Georgian schools — until they complete their general education;
minors enrolled in universities and vocational institutions — until they reach the age of majority.

If the primary applicant is a minor, a D6 visa may also be issued to:

his or her parents;
legal guardians;
minor siblings.

For parents and other accompanying family members, the visa is valid until the primary student reaches the age of majority. The law also provides for the possibility of extending the D6 visa within Georgia.

What this means in practice

Families will still be able to move to Georgia based on the child’s education. In other words, it cannot be said that “school emigration” is completely prohibited. However, the legal outcome has changed:

It used to be	Effective September 1, 2026
The child receives a student residence permit	The child receives a D6 visa
The child has a residence card	A residence card is not issued on the basis of school enrollment
The parents receive a residence permit for family reunification	The parents receive a D6 visa
The family obtains a residence permit	The family resides legally in the country on a visa
The residence permit can be extended on the basis of studies	D6 visa status is extended

Who will still benefit from the school‐based visa

The new system may be convenient for families who need to:

live in Georgia for several years;
enroll their child in a Georgian or international school;
not start a business;
not obtain resident status;
not engage in employment or entrepreneurial activities in Georgia.

In this case, the D6 visa remains a clear family‐based basis for residence.

However, a parent does not gain the right to work or engage in business simply because they have obtained a D6 visa. To engage in paid work in Georgia, a foreign national generally requires a separate work permit and the appropriate immigration status.

If a family specifically needs a residence permit

For many families, a residence permit is an important part of their emigration plan.

It confirms a long‐term basis for residence in the country and allows the holder to obtain a Georgian resident card. In addition, a residence permit may be necessary for the subsequent registration of family members and for establishing a more stable migration history.

Now that the school‐based program has ended, other grounds remain:

employment or entrepreneurial activity;
real estate of a specified value;
investments;
an adult’s enrollment in a university or vocational institution;
IT residence permit;
special and family‐based grounds.

However, most alternatives either require significant capital or are suitable only for a limited group of applicants.

In our assessment, for an average family that is truly prepared to work or run a small business, emigration through a sole proprietorship or LLC becomes the most direct and accessible route to a residence permit.

How the process of relocating through a business works now

It’s important to understand that simply registering as a sole proprietor or incorporating a company does not, in and of itself, grant a residence permit.

You can’t just open a sole proprietorship, file the registration certificate in a folder, and automatically become a resident.

You must follow a sequence of several steps:

Register your business.
Obtain a work permit.
Apply for a work‐based residence permit.
Receive your first six‐month residence permit.
Establish actual business operations and revenue.
Renew your residence permit.

Let’s break down each step.

Step 1. Arrive in Georgia

A foreign national must be in Georgia legally.

For citizens of countries with a visa‐free regime, entry generally does not require obtaining a Georgian visa in advance. However, being in the country legally does not automatically grant the right to work or engage in business activities.

Entry requirements and the right to work are two separate issues.

Step 2. Set up a sole proprietorship or LLC

The type of business structure depends on your planned activities.

A sole proprietorship is usually a good fit if you:

provide services on your own;
work as a consultant;
work in IT, design, marketing, or another professional field;
do not plan to bring in partners;
wants to start with a simple structure.

An LLC is more commonly chosen if:

the business is run by several partners;
there are plans to hire employees;
separate corporate finances are needed;
there are more complex contracts and liabilities;
the business is expected to scale.

To obtain a residence permit, the legal form alone is not enough. An individual entrepreneur or a company must engage in actual business activities.

Registering a “shell” business solely for the purpose of obtaining immigration documents creates a risk of rejection. The agency has the right to verify whether the person is actually working in the declared field and complying with the conditions of the issued work permit.

Step 3. Obtain the right to work

Starting in 2026, foreign entrepreneurs must obtain the right to work separately.

This is often referred to as a work permit.

For self‐employed foreigners, the entrepreneur submits the application themselves. If a person is employed by a Georgian company, the local employer submits the documents.

The right to work confirms that a foreign national is permitted to:

engage in entrepreneurial activities;
provide services;
work as an independent contractor;
be employed by a Georgian employer.

The right to work alone does not constitute a residence permit. If a foreign national is already in Georgia, after receiving a positive decision, they must apply for a work permit or the corresponding IT residence permit no later than 10 calendar days.

Step 4. Obtain your first residence permit without a 50,000 lari turnover requirement

Previously, new businesses faced an obvious problem.

To obtain a work residence permit, companies were required to prove a turnover of at least 50,000 lari per foreign national. However, a company or sole proprietor registered only a few days earlier could not yet have such a turnover.

Amendments dated July 9, 2026, resolved this conflict.

The first work residence permit can be obtained without proof of revenue if all three of the following conditions are met simultaneously:

The sole proprietor or company was registered no more than three months ago.
No more than three foreign nationals are employed by the business.
This is the first time a work residence permit is being issued without proof of revenue.

Instead of a revenue statement, a certificate indicating the number of foreign employees must be submitted.

Such a work residence permit is issued for six months.

It is precisely this rule that makes the business route accessible to new immigrants: individuals no longer need to spend several months or a year accumulating revenue without a residence permit first.

Step 5. Use the six months to launch a real business

A six‐month residence permit is not a permanent exemption from financial requirements.

This is a startup period.

During this time, the entrepreneur must:

begin actual business operations;
enter into contracts with clients;
receive official payments;
maintain accounting and tax records;
file tax returns;
generate revenue;
retain invoices, receipts, statements, and other documents;
verify personal income from business activities.

For subsequent renewals, the general rule applies: the revenue of a regular employer or business must be at least 50,000 lari for each foreign national applying for a work residence permit. For medical and educational institutions, the threshold is 35,000 lari.

Example

My husband registered as a sole proprietor and received a six‐month work residence permit without a turnover requirement.

Within six months, he should generate at least 50,000 lari in turnover and confirm that he is actually conducting business activities and earning the required personal income.

Simply keeping the sole proprietorship open without conducting any business transactions will not be sufficient to ensure a reliable renewal.

How to obtain a residence permit for the whole family

It is not necessary to register a business for each family member.

The following approach is possible:

One of the parents registers as a sole proprietor or forms an LLC.
They obtain the right to work.
They apply for a work residence permit.
The spouse and minor children apply for residence permits under the family reunification program.

Residence permits under the family reunification program are issued to family members of a foreign national who already holds a Georgian residence permit. Family members include the spouse and minor children.

Important limitation

A family residence permit does not, in and of itself, mean that a spouse automatically has the right to work.

If the second adult family member plans to:

get a job at a Georgian company;
start their own sole proprietorship;
earn income from activities in Georgia,

they may also need a separate work permit.

School or business: which path to choose

Question	Relocation for school	Relocation for business
Main reason	Child’s Education	Employment or Self‐Employment
Child’s status	D6 Visa	Family Residence Permit following a parent’s Residence Permit
Parents’ status	D6 Visa	Work Residence Permit and Family Residence Permit
Resident card	No, based on school grounds	Yes, after obtaining a Residence Permit
Must operate a business	No	Yes
Turnover required immediately	No	A start‐up exemption applies to new businesses
Initial term	D6 Visa Term Six months without verified revenue
Further renewal	As long as the child is enrolled in school and the D6 conditions are met	Provided there is actual business activity, income, and sufficient revenue
Right to work	Not granted automatically	A work permit and appropriate status are required

A real‐life family case study

Let’s consider a family of four: a husband, a wife, and two minor children.

Previously, the family could enroll one child in school, obtain a student residence permit for that child, and then secure family residence permits for the parents and the second child.

As of September 1, this approach no longer leads to a residence permit.

Option 1: Relocation via the D6 visa

The child enrolls in an authorized school.

The child, the parents, and the minor sibling receive D6 visas.

The family lives legally in Georgia but does not obtain residence cards through the child’s schooling.

This option is suitable if the parents do not plan to run a business in Georgia and visa status is sufficient for them.

Option 2: Relocation through a sole proprietorship

One of the parents:

registers a sole proprietorship;
prepares documents related to actual business activities;
obtains the right to work;
applies for a work residence permit;
receives a six‐month residence permit without proof of revenue;
applies for family reunification for their spouse and children;
generates the required revenue over the following months to secure an extension.

The children can continue their education at a Georgian school without issue, but the family’s basis for residency is the parent’s business, not the child’s school status.

Who is a good candidate for emigration through self‐employment

This route is particularly suitable for those who are already self‐employed:

programmers;
designers;
marketers;
consultants;
translators;
advertising specialists;
online instructors;
developers;
sales specialists;
owners of small online projects;
entrepreneurs working with international clients.

However, the business activity must be genuine and correspond to the declared field.

It is advisable to receive income officially, through contracts and invoices, into bank accounts that can be linked to the business.

Who should form an LLC

An LLC may be a better option if a family plans to:

open a store, café, or salon;
engage in construction or service activities;
hire employees;
work with corporate clients;
run a business with multiple founders;
separate personal and corporate liabilities.

The company may also register a foreign founder, director, or employee provided they have actual job responsibilities and supporting documentation.

Simply holding shares in an LLC is not enough: it is necessary to demonstrate exactly what kind of employment or entrepreneurial activities the person is engaged in.

Common mistakes when relocating for business

Registering as a sole proprietor and doing nothing.: Registration in the registry does not confirm that a real business exists.
Missing the three‐month deadline.: The turnover exemption applies to businesses registered no more than three months ago. You should begin preparing the documents immediately.
Obtaining a work permit and failing to apply for a residence permit.: A foreign national in Georgia must apply for a residence permit within 10 calendar days of receiving the right to work.
Treating the six‐month residence permit as a permanent privilege.: Upon renewal, you will need to confirm actual business activity and meet standard financial criteria.
Artificially moving money around for the sake of turnover.: Fictitious transactions may raise questions from the bank, tax authorities, and immigration agencies.
Registering a business in the name of one parent without considering the family’s status.: Documents for family reunification require proof of kinship and financial support. It is best to prepare the application package for the entire family in advance.

Frequently asked questions

Is it true that children will no longer be able to obtain a residence permit through school?

Starting September 1, 2026, student residence permits will be issued to adult students enrolled in higher education and vocational programs. A D6 visa will be introduced for schoolchildren.

Will parents be able to live in Georgia with their child?

Yes. Parents, legal guardians, and minor siblings will be able to obtain a D6 visa along with the minor student.

Does the D6 visa grant a Georgian resident card?

No. The D6 is an immigration visa, not a residence permit.

Can a parent work on a D6 visa?

The D6 visa itself does not grant the right to work. To work or conduct business, you must comply with the requirements of labor migration legislation.

Can I register as a sole proprietor and immediately obtain a residence permit?

First, you must register as a sole proprietor, then obtain the right to work, and apply for a work residence permit.

Does a new sole proprietorship need to have a turnover of 50,000 lari?

When registering for the first time, a turnover certificate is not required if the sole proprietorship was registered no more than three months ago and employs no more than three foreign workers.

For how long will the first residence permit be issued?

When using the turnover exemption, the work residence permit is issued for six months.

What is required for renewal?

You must confirm actual business activity, personal income, and the required turnover. As a general rule, this is at least 50,000 lari per foreign national.

Does every family member need to register as a sole proprietor?

No. One parent can obtain a work residence permit, while the spouse and minor children can apply for a residence permit under the family reunification program.

Can a spouse with a family residence permit work?

For paid employment, they may need a separate work permit.

Conclusion

Georgia has not completely closed the door on family relocation through a child’s education.

A special D6 visa will be available to schoolchildren and their families. It allows them to legally reside in the country during the child’s studies, but no longer serves as a pathway for the entire family to obtain a residence permit.

Therefore, the choice now depends on the family’s goals.

If a family is content to live in Georgia while their child is studying, the D6 visa is an option to consider.

However, if you need a full‐fledged residence permit, a resident card, and a long‐term basis for residency, the most straightforward option for many families is to relocate through business:

register as a sole proprietor or LLC → obtain the right to work → apply for an initial six‐month residence permit without requiring revenue → launch an actual business → generate revenue → renew the residence permit.

The main advantage of the new rules is that entrepreneurs no longer need to demonstrate 50,000 lari in revenue immediately after registration. The government effectively gives new businesses six months to get up and running.

Espero helps families every step of the way:

register a sole proprietorship or LLC;
choose the appropriate business structure and tax status;
prepare documents for the right to work;
obtain the first work‐based residence permit without established revenue;
apply for residence permits for family members;
set up accounting;
prepare the business for subsequent renewal of the residence permit.

This information is for informational purposes only. Eligibility depends on the date of application, the child’s age, the status of the educational institution, the date of business registration, the number of foreign employees, and the applicant’s actual business activities.