Georgia gives new businesses time to get started: How to obtain a business registration certificate and your first residence permit without proof of revenue

Georgia’s new labor migration rules are often criticized for the additional permits, checks, and requirements imposed on foreigners. But the July amendments do contain some genuinely good news — and not just for large investors, international companies, or entrepreneurs with an established revenue stream.

Now, a start‐up business has a real chance to become legally established in Georgia practically from scratch.

A foreigner can register as a sole proprietor or establish an LLC, obtain the right to work without having to prove revenue, and then apply for an initial six‐month work residence permit. The government is effectively giving the entrepreneur this time to launch the business, find clients, and achieve the necessary revenue.

For someone who truly intends to work, provide services, engage in trade, or build a fully‐fledged company in Georgia, this model seems entirely achievable:

business registration → right to work → six‐month residence permit → generating revenue → subsequent residence permit on general terms.

This is not a residence permit granted merely for the formal registration of a company. It is a clear‐cut starting point for those who are ready to turn a new registration into a functioning business.

What has changed for new businesses

In July 2026, the Georgian government amended the rules for issuing work permits and work residence permits.

As a general rule, a company or sole proprietor must demonstrate a turnover of:

• at least 50,000 lari for each foreign national who receives a work permit or work residence permit;
• at least 35,000 lari for each foreign national—for educational and medical institutions.

However, there is an exception for newly registered businesses.

If no more than three months have passed since the date of registration of the sole proprietorship or the incorporation of the company, a certificate of turnover is not required when applying for a work permit. This rule applies to both foreign sole proprietors and self‐employed foreigners whose activities are related to a Georgian company.

A separate exception also applies during the process of obtaining a work residence permit. A certificate of turnover is not required if all three of the following conditions are met simultaneously:

• the business 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 turnover.

In this case, the work residence permit is issued for six months.

In effect, the government is telling entrepreneurs: You can start your business without having generated any revenue yet, but during the initial period, you must prove that you have established a genuine, functioning business—not just a formal registration.

For a serious entrepreneur, this is a much more realistic model than the requirement to generate revenue first, without having the right to work or full immigration status.

This option is available to both sole proprietors and LLCs

The new procedure is not limited to any single legal form.

Sole proprietor

A foreign national registers in Georgia as a sole proprietor, defines the scope of their economic activity, and independently applies for the right to work as a self‐employed foreign national.

For an entrepreneur, this is the simplest option if they:

• work independently;
• provides consulting or professional services;
• develops software;
• works with foreign clients;
• runs an online business;
• works in design, marketing, or analytics;
• sells goods;
• provides tourism, household, or other services.

A self‐employed foreign national submits an application independently and undergoes a mandatory video interview. The interview is conducted in Georgian or English; if necessary, an interpreter may be present. A decision is made through the standard procedure no later than 30 calendar days, and through expedited processing—no later than 10 business days.

Limited liability company

A foreign national may also establish a Georgian LLC and conduct business through a separate legal entity.

This structure is suitable if:

• there are multiple founders;
• a team is planned;
• a more familiar corporate structure is desired;
• the business is expected to work with large clients;
• it is necessary to separate personal and corporate liabilities;
• the business plans to hire employees or partners;
• the business will enter into a significant number of contracts.

The right to engage in employment activities may be formalized depending on the foreign national’s actual role: either as an employee of a Georgian company or as a self‐employed foreign national associated with the company’s business activities.

The main condition remains the same: the activities must be genuine, correspond to the declared field of business, and be aimed at generating income.

What About Quotas for Foreign Workers?

Quotas do exist, but they usually do not pose a serious obstacle for small, start‐up businesses.

If a Georgian employer plans to hire more than five foreign nationals within a calendar year, or if the number of foreign nationals exceeds the established ratio relative to the total number of employees, prior approval of the annual quota from the Employment Promotion Agency may be required.

For a typical small business employing one founder, a director, and one or two other specialists, this threshold is usually not reached. Separate restrictions may also apply to specific professions and fields of activity, so the nature of the business must be verified before submitting an application.

It is important not to confuse two different restrictions:

• up to five foreign workers—a general guideline for the need to obtain employer quota approval;
• no more than three foreign workers—a condition for obtaining the first six‐month residence permit without a turnover certificate.

Thus, a typical small business with a single foreign founder or entrepreneur fits perfectly within the new model.

Why six months is a reasonable timeframe for launching a business

Some people view a six‐month residence permit as too short. But from a business perspective, it’s more accurate to view it not as a final immigration status, but as a starting point.

During this time, an entrepreneur needs to:

1. Open a bank account.
2. Enter into contracts with clients.
3. Begin accepting payments.
4. Accurately report income on tax returns.
5. Fulfill tax obligations.
6. Achieve the required turnover.
7. Obtain a supporting certificate.
8. Submit documents for the next work residence permit.

For most types of businesses, the required threshold is 50,000 lari per foreign national.

This is specifically revenue, not profit. The entrepreneur can use the money received to pay for advertising, rent, contractors, equipment, software, and other business expenses. The main thing is that the revenue is genuine, documented, and correctly reflected in the financial statements.

If we were to divide 50,000 lari by six months, that would amount to about 8,300 lari in monthly revenue. For a working consultant, developer, designer, marketer, small agency, or other service exporter, this does not seem like an unattainable figure.

For educational and medical organizations, the threshold is 35,000 lari per foreign national—about 5,800 lari per month if distributed evenly. The lower threshold does not apply to standard IT businesses, consulting, retail, and other commercial sectors.

Of course, you shouldn’t wait until the last month to generate the required revenue. You must obtain the certificate by the time of your next filing, and you should prepare the documents for extending your immigration status in advance.

This is a particularly attractive opportunity for IT and export services

This new model makes the most sense for businesses that sell services to customers outside of Georgia.

For example:

• software development;
• technical support;
• design;
• advertising and marketing;
• analytics;
• project management;
• consulting;
• content creation;
• educational products;
• online services;
• small agencies;
• independent professionals with regular clients.

For an IT specialist or a small team with contracts in the United States or the European Union, revenue of 50,000 lari can be generated through several regular payments.

Georgia’s main advantage is that entrepreneurs are not required to first prove the success of a business that has not yet begun operations. They are granted a limited but sufficient start‐up period.

In other words, it is now possible to:

• register a business;
• legally begin operations;
• obtain official immigration status;
• establish a history of payments and tax filings;
• and then confirm the viability of the business through actual revenue.

For someone relocating, this is essentially a ready‐made mechanism for restarting their professional and business life.

How to Transition from an Initial Residence Permit to a Longer‐Term One

Once the required revenue threshold is reached, the entrepreneur obtains a document from the Georgian Revenue Service confirming the business’s financial performance.

For most businesses, it is necessary to demonstrate revenue of at least 50,000 lari for each foreign national applying for a work residence permit. If the company is not registered as a VAT payer, the documents specified in the regulations are used to confirm the lack of VAT registration and the revenue for the preceding continuous period.

After that, an application for the next work residence permit can be submitted on general grounds.

In common parlance, this is often referred to as a “long‐term residence permit.” Legally, the specific duration of the subsequent permit is determined by the government agency, taking into account the circumstances of the application. The law allows for the subsequent renewal of temporary residence permits as long as the grounds for the permit remain valid, and the total period of such renewals can reach up to 12 years. This does not mean that a permit is automatically issued for several years at once, but it does allow you to maintain your status continuously as long as the business remains operational.

Thus, a six‐month residence permit is neither a dead end nor a one‐time opportunity. It is the first step:

new business → first residence permit → confirmed revenue → subsequent renewal.

What does a Georgian residence permit offer beyond the right to live in the country?

A Georgian residence permit is not just authorization to stay in the country beyond the visa‐free stay period.

A foreign national receives an official resident card, which confirms:

• the right to legally reside in Georgia;
• a stable connection to the country;
• a Georgian address and personal identification number;
• the ability to establish a full banking and tax history;
• the ability to reside outside the country of citizenship;
• a clearer status for foreign banks, payment systems, and business partners.

This is particularly important for citizens of Russia and Belarus. For many international services, simply providing a foreign address is not enough. The compliance team may request an official document confirming the right to reside in the specified country.

For example, Wise explicitly lists a valid physical residence permit card as one of the documents that can confirm the legal right to reside in the country where the account is registered. A standard tourist visa, a lease agreement, or a utility bill do not, on their own, confirm this right.

However, a Georgian residence permit should not be advertised as a guaranteed way to obtain a “European Wise” card. Georgia is not currently on the list of countries whose residents are eligible for a Wise card, and special restrictions for Russian and Belarusian customers with European‐issued cards require proof of residence specifically in the EEA or Switzerland. A Georgian residence permit does not qualify as such a document. That said, depending on an individual review, a Wise account may retain the ability to send, hold, receive, and convert funds.

It is much more accurate to say that a Georgian residence permit establishes a complete documentary profile of a resident of Georgia. This is significantly stronger than a Russian or Belarusian passport combined with a tourist visa, but the final decision always rests with the bank or payment system.

Visas can be applied for at your place of residence in Georgia

Another important advantage is the ability to apply for foreign visas in the country where you legally reside.

As a general rule, applications for Schengen visas are submitted to the consulate with territorial jurisdiction over the country where the applicant legally resides. This is particularly significant for Russian citizens: European guidelines explicitly distinguish between permanent residence in a third country and a simple short‐term stay outside of Russia.

With a Georgian residence permit, an applicant can confirm their legal residence in the country and apply at consulates and visa centers operating in Tbilisi. For example, French visa applications submitted in Georgia are processed by the visa section of the French Embassy in Georgia; foreign nationals who require a visa may also submit applications in accordance with the established procedure.

This does not guarantee automatic visa approval and does not override the national restrictions of individual countries. The consulate continues to assess citizenship, the purpose of the trip, income, bank documents, ties to the country of residence, and the risks associated with return.

But the fundamental difference is clear: a holder of a residence permit applies not as a tourist who happens to be in Georgia, but as a legal resident of the country.

A residence permit makes cooperation with the U.S. and the EU clearer

For a client from the U.S. or Europe, it is important to understand:

• who the contractor is;
• where they live;
• where their business is registered;
• in which country taxes are paid;
• to which bank account funds are transferred;
• whether the counterparty’s identity and address can be verified.

A Georgian sole proprietorship or LLC, combined with a residence permit, creates a coherent structure:

• the business is registered in Georgia;
• the entrepreneur legally resides in Georgia;
• payments are received into a Georgian or accessible international account;
• income is reported in Georgian tax returns;
• documents and the address can be officially verified.

This does not eliminate the need for international compliance and does not guarantee that any bank account will be opened. However, such a profile is much more transparent to a foreign client than a situation where the contractor claims to have been living outside the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus for a long time but cannot confirm this with an official document.

It’s important to meet the deadline within the first three months

The main limitation of the new model is the short deadline for the initial application.

The benefit is valid only if no more than three months have passed since the date of registration of the sole proprietorship or company. This period is calculated specifically from the date of state registration, not from the date of receiving the first payment or the start of actual operations.

Therefore, you should not register a business “for the future” if you plan to apply for a residence permit much later.

The correct sequence is as follows:

1. Determine the type of activity and the appropriate business structure.
2. Check quotas and any industry‐specific restrictions.
3. Prepare the legal basis for conducting business.
4. Register as a sole proprietor or LLC.
5. Immediately begin preparing the application for the right to work.
6. Obtain a work permit.
7. Apply for a work residence permit.
8. Begin generating the required revenue no later than the first few months.
9. Prepare in advance for the next application.

After obtaining the right to work, a foreign national already in Georgia must apply for a work residence permit no later than 10 calendar days. Therefore, there should be no long delay between these two stages.

This Is Not an Automatic Residence Permit for Registration

The positive nature of these changes does not mean that it is enough to simply register as a sole proprietor and do nothing else.

Government authorities may verify:

• the authenticity of the declared business activities;
• the validity of the documents;
• the business sector;
• qualifications and professional experience;
• contracts and sources of income;
• compliance with quotas;
• information provided during the video interview;
• tax records;
• grounds for denial related to security and legal restrictions.

Therefore, this new opportunity is intended primarily for genuine entrepreneurs.

But that is precisely where its value lies: someone who truly wants to work can now start from scratch. They are not required to have revenue before launching their business—they are given time to generate that revenue.

Why this is really good news for relocators

For many foreigners, moving to Georgia used to seem like a temporary solution:

• enter the country without a visa;
• rent a place to live;
• register as a sole proprietor;
• continue working with existing clients;
• leave the country periodically;
• not have stable immigration status.

Now there’s an opportunity to turn a temporary relocation into a full‐fledged way of life and work.

Entrepreneurs have the opportunity to:

• legalize their professional activities;
• establish a new business in Georgia;
• obtain a resident card;
• confirm their residence outside the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus;
• work with clients from the U.S. and the EU;
• build a banking and tax history;
• submit visa applications from their country of residence;
• gradually extend their immigration status.

This new model is particularly well‐suited for those who aren’t looking for a formal residence permit “just in case,” but who genuinely want to restart their professional lives.

Georgia offers a clear window of opportunity for this: register a business, obtain a work permit, secure the first six months, and demonstrate results through tangible metrics.

For an entrepreneur who is ready to work, 50,000 lari in revenue is not an insurmountable barrier. It is an achievable business goal.

How Espero Can Help

Espero supports entrepreneurs at every stage:

• choosing between sole proprietorship and LLC;
• business registration;
• identifying a suitable field of activity;
• obtaining small business status;
• analyzing requirements and quotas;
• preparing documents for the Registration of a New Business;
• assisting with the application for the right to work;
• preparing documents for the first work residence permit;
• accounting and tax support;
• monitoring revenue;
• obtaining certificates from the Revenue Service;
• preparing for subsequent residence permit renewals.

The key is to start the process on time. The three‐month period begins on the date the business is registered, so it’s best to treat registration, the business license, and the residence permit as a single project rather than three unrelated procedures.

The new rules offer aspiring entrepreneurs a rare opportunity: to first legally launch a business and then demonstrate its viability through revenue. For expats looking to work with Georgia, Europe, and the U.S., this is truly one of the most positive immigration developments of 2026.

This information is current as of July 30, 2026. Legal practice continues to evolve. The timeframe and outcome for obtaining a work permit and a residence permit depend on the applicant’s documents, field of activity, and individual circumstances.