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Starting in 2026, the rules governing labor migration in Georgia have changed significantly. It is no longer enough for a foreigner to simply arrive in the country, sign a contract with a Georgian company, and start working.
In most cases, to work legally, you must first obtain the right to work in Georgia and then apply for a document that allows you to work and reside in the country: a D1 work visa, a work residence permit, or another appropriate type of residence permit.
As a result, the D1 work visa has effectively become part of the new system for legalizing foreign workers.
Let’s break it down step by step: who needs a D1 visa, where you can get it, what documents to prepare, and what to do after receiving the visa.
What is a D1 visa for Georgia
The D1 is a long-term immigration visa for Georgia, intended primarily for foreigners who come to the country to work or engage in business activities.
As of March 1, 2026, Georgian law explicitly links the D1 visa to a foreign national’s right to engage in employment.
To work legally, a foreign national generally needs the following at the same time:
- a basis for employment—for example, an employment contract;
- the right to engage in employment;
- a D1 visa, a work residence permit, or another residence permit provided for by law.
In other words, a work visa alone does not constitute a work permit. Conversely, obtaining the right to work does not, in and of itself, grant the full right to enter Georgia and begin working without the appropriate immigration status.
Who needs a D1 visa
A typical scenario is as follows: a foreign national is outside Georgia → obtains the right to work → applies for a D1 visa → enters Georgia → works → applies for a work residence permit if necessary.
After obtaining the right to work, a foreign national who is still outside Georgia must apply for a D1 visa no later than 30 calendar days from the date of obtaining that right.
This is an important deadline. It is not possible to obtain the authorization in advance and then apply for the visa several months later without risking a violation of the established procedure.
What if a foreign national is already in Georgia?
A different set of rules applies here.
If, at the time of obtaining the right to work, a person is already legally in Georgia, the Law “On Labor Migration” requires them to apply within 10 calendar days for:
- a work residence permit;
- or, if applicable, a special residence permit for a person employed in the IT sector.
Therefore, for a standard employment case involving a person already in Georgia, the priority should be to apply for a residence permit rather than traveling to obtain a D1 visa.
At the same time, general visa legislation retains the mechanism for a foreign national legally residing in Georgia to obtain an immigration visa. Therefore, the statement “It is impossible to obtain a D1 visa while in Georgia” would be too categorical. However, specifically under the new labor migration procedure, the law distinguishes between two paths:
- outside Georgia → D1;
- in Georgia → work residence permit / IT residence permit.
Step 1. Obtain the right to work in Georgia
Before applying for a D1 visa, you must complete the first step: obtaining the right to work.
In everyday speech, this is often referred to as a “work permit,” although Georgian law uses the term right to work.
If a foreign national is hired by a Georgian company, the employer submits the application.
If the foreign national is self-employed, the foreign national submits the application themselves.
The application is filed through the electronic labor migration system.
As of September 2026, the following fees apply:
- Standard processing (up to 30 calendar days) — 200 GEL;
- Expedited processing (up to 10 business days) — 400 GEL.
For foreign employees, the fee is paid by the employer; for self-employed individuals, it is paid by the applicant.
Following a positive decision, the foreign national is granted the right to work and receives a corresponding identifier/code, which may be required when applying for a D1 visa.
Some Georgian consulates explicitly include this code in the list of required documents for a work visa.
Important: The fee for obtaining the right to work and the consular fee for the D1 visa are two separate payments.
Step 2. Determine which consulate to file your application with
This is one of the most important practical considerations.
The D1 visa is processed through a Georgian diplomatic mission or consulate.
The easiest option is to submit your documents in the country of your citizenship.
Is it possible to apply for a D1 visa in a third country?
Yes, but not always.
If a person is not in the country of their citizenship, they may apply at a Georgian diplomatic mission in their country of residence, provided they have:
- a valid residence permit for that country;
- or a valid multiple-entry visa allowing them to enter and exit that country.
Furthermore, the validity period of such a residence permit or multiple-entry visa must be at least three months longer than the validity period of the requested Georgian visa.
This is an important distinction from the common misconception that a residence permit is absolutely required.
For example, simply being in a third country under a visa-free regime does not, in and of itself, provide grounds to automatically apply for a Georgian D1 visa there.
Therefore, the strategy of “traveling to a neighboring country for a few days and applying for a D1 visa there” may not work.
First, you must verify whether a specific consulate has the authority to accept your application.
If there is no Georgian diplomatic mission in the applicant’s country of citizenship, the application may be submitted to the nearest Georgian mission designated for that country.
Step 3. Prepare the documents
The exact list of documents depends on the applicant’s circumstances and the specific consulate.
The basic requirements are established by Georgian law; however, a consular officer may request additional documents based on the specific circumstances of the country and the particular application.
Therefore, it is helpful to divide the documents into a basic set and supplementary supporting documents.
Passport
The passport must:
- have been issued no more than 10 years ago;
- remain valid for at least three months beyond the visa’s expiration date;
- have at least two blank pages;
- be undamaged and contain no unofficial entries.
Photograph
A biometric photograph that meets the requirements of the Geoconsul system and ICAO standards is required.
The photograph must be uploaded electronically.
Right to work
You must submit proof that the foreign national has already been granted the right to work in Georgia.
The consulate may request the relevant decision, registration number, or unique code from the labor migration system.
Employment contract
For salaried employees, the basis for employment in Georgia must be confirmed.
The employment contract should clearly specify the following:
- employer;
- employee;
- position;
- nature of the work;
- salary amount;
- contract term;
- start date;
- place of work.
Some consulates additionally require the signatures on the contract to be notarized. For example, the Georgian Embassy in Jordan explicitly states this requirement. Therefore, the requirements of a specific diplomatic mission must be verified separately.
Employer documents
The consulate may request:
- an extract from the Register of Entrepreneurs;
- information about the Georgian company;
- information about the employer’s income or revenue;
- documents from the Revenue Service;
- other evidence confirming the existence of the employer and the workplace.
Documents for Entrepreneurs or the Self-Employed
If the basis for the visa is entrepreneurial activity rather than a standard employment contract, the set of required documents will differ.
The following may be required:
- an extract from the Public Registry;
- proof of status as a founder, partner, sole proprietor, or manager;
- documents regarding business operations;
- information on revenue;
- bank documents;
- contracts with clients or other evidence of actual economic activity.
Step 4. Confirm your place of residence in Georgia
The applicant must show where they intend to live after entering the country.
Depending on the situation, this may include:
- a hotel reservation;
- a lease agreement;
- confirmation of accommodation;
- a notarized invitation;
- another document that establishes the address and duration of stay.
The law explicitly requires proof of a place of residence in Georgia.
Practical tip: If you are submitting a lease agreement, it is advisable for the lease term to logically correspond to the intended period of stay.
Step 5. Obtain health insurance
A D1 visa requires travel/health insurance.
It must:
- be valid throughout Georgia;
- cover the entire duration of the visa;
- provide coverage for expenses related to the applicant’s health and, if necessary, expenses related to death.
For a long-term visa, the insurance must be valid for the entire duration of the visa.
It is best not to purchase a policy that covers only a few days of your planned trip.
Step 6. Prove you have sufficient funds
To obtain a long-term Georgian visa, you must prove that you have sufficient funds.
The law sets a minimum amount: at least five times the subsistence minimum established in Georgia as of the date of application.
The subsistence minimum is published by Geostat.
We do not recommend specifying a particular amount in your application notes or relying on a figure from an old article: the figure may change.
Before applying, it is best to check the current subsistence minimum and multiply it by five.
Depending on the situation, proof of funds may include:
- a bank statement;
- a pay stub;
- proof of regular income;
- a sponsorship letter;
- documents regarding a grant or scholarship;
- other financial documents.
What time period should the bank statement cover?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer for all consulates.
Some consulates require a statement covering the last 3 months, while others require 6 months.
For example, the Georgian Embassy in Jordan specifies a six-month bank statement in its current list of documents for the D1 visa.
Therefore, before preparing your application package, be sure to check the specific requirements of the consulate where you will be submitting your application.
If you are able to provide six months of consistent banking history instead of three, this usually reduces the risk of additional questions.
Step 7. Pay the consular fee
The consular fee for processing a Georgian visa application is: 20 USD. This is established by the Georgian Law “On Consular Fees.”
Typically, the payment is transferred to the bank account of the specific embassy or consulate.
It is important to take bank fees into account: the consulate must receive the full amount.
A proof of payment must be included with the application package.
Step 8. Complete the application through Geoconsul
The Geoconsul system is used for D1 visas.
This is not the same service as the Georgian e-Visa. The e-Visa is intended for short-term Category C visas, while D immigration visas are processed through Geoconsul.
In the system, you must:
- select the consular service;
- fill out the applicant’s information;
- select the D1 visa category;
- specify the intended travel dates;
- select a diplomatic mission;
- upload the required documents;
- select an available submission date;
- generate the application;
- print and sign it;
- if necessary, upload the signed form back into the system.
You cannot submit a visa application more than three months before the visa’s intended start date.
At the same time, keep in mind another restriction: if you are applying for a D1 visa after obtaining the right to work outside of Georgia, you must apply for it within 30 calendar days of receiving that right.
Therefore, it is best to plan obtaining a work permit and scheduling an appointment at the consulate in advance as a single process.
Step 9. Visit the consulate
The online form on Geoconsul is only the first step.
Next, you must submit the signed application and the required documents to the diplomatic mission of your choice.
When filling out the application on Geoconsul, you select the date for submitting your documents.
In practice, many Georgian diplomatic missions require the applicant to appear in person. For example, the Georgian Embassy in Jordan explicitly states that the applicant must arrive at the appointed time and present the original documents.
Therefore, it is best to plan your trip with the intention of submitting the documents in person.
If you plan to submit your application through a representative, this option must be agreed upon separately and in advance with the specific consulate.
Do I need to bring the originals?
Yes, it is best to have the original documents with you.
For long-term visas, the law sets forth specific requirements regarding originals, notarization, legalization, and apostille certification of documents, depending on their type and country of issuance.
If the documents are not in Georgian or English, a properly certified translation into Georgian or English is generally required.
Step 10. Wait for a decision
The D1 visa is a long-term visa. The official timeframe for a decision is up to 30 calendar days after the application is accepted for review. In practice, the decision sometimes comes much sooner. For example, in one of Espero’s cases, the D1 visa was approved in about a week.
However, it’s best to plan your trip based on the official maximum processing time.
It’s also important to understand that the countdown usually begins not simply when you fill out the form on the website, but after the application and required documents have been accepted by the consulate.
If necessary, the consulate may request:
- an additional document;
- additional information;
- corrections to errors;
- an interview with the applicant.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to check your email regularly while your application is being processed.
Step 11. Obtain a visa in your passport
Once a decision has been made, the applicant will be notified.
The D1 is a long-term visa and is issued with the right to multiple entries for 90 calendar days.
Once approved, you must submit your passport so that the visa sticker can be affixed.
The specific procedure depends on the diplomatic mission. Some consulates allow you to use the mail or a courier to send or return your passport, while others require you to submit your passport in person at the consulate.
The law also permits the completed document to be mailed to the applicant; however, the applicant bears the costs and risks associated with postal delivery. Therefore, you should check directly with your chosen consulate to confirm whether it is possible to completely avoid a second visit.
What to do after receiving a D1 visa
Once the D1 visa has been affixed to your passport, you may enter Georgia and work provided you have a valid work permit. However, it is important to understand the purpose of the D1 visa. A standard D1 visa is issued for 90 days, while a work permit may be granted for a longer period.
If a foreign employee plans to live and work in Georgia beyond the visa’s validity period, the next step is usually to apply for a work residence permit.
The law stipulates that the right to work ceases upon the expiration of the D1 visa if the foreign national has not obtained the appropriate residence permit by that time.
Therefore, you should not wait until the last days of your visa to apply for a work residence permit.
The general rule for obtaining a Georgian residence permit requires applying to the Public Service Development Agency at least 40 calendar days before the end of the legal period of stay.
In practice, the process looks like this: right to work → D1 visa → entry into Georgia → work residence permit.
A brief guide to obtaining a D1 visa
If we strip away all the details, the process looks like this:
- Find a Georgian employer or establish a basis for self-employment.
- Sign an employment contract and prepare the documents needed to obtain a work permit.
- Obtain a work permit.
- No later than 30 calendar days after that, begin the D1 application process if you are outside Georgia.
- Identify the consulate authorized to accept your application.
- Prepare your passport, insurance, proof of residence, proof of financial means, proof of work authorization, and documents from your employer.
- Pay the consular fee of 20 USD.
- Fill out the application via Geoconsul and upload the documents.
- Select a date and submit the documents to the consulate.
- Wait for a decision—the official processing time is up to 30 calendar days.
- Submit your passport for the D1 visa sticker to be affixed.
- Enter Georgia.
- If you plan to work and reside in Georgia for more than 90 days, apply for a work residence permit in advance.
Frequently asked questions about the D1 work visa
Is it possible to obtain a D1 visa first and then a work permit?
For the standard procedure for a work migrant in 2026—no.
The sequence is the opposite: first, the right to work → then the D1 visa.
A foreign national outside Georgia must apply for a D1 visa within 30 calendar days after obtaining the right to work.
Are the D1 visa and a work permit the same thing?
No.
The right to work authorizes a foreign national to perform the relevant work.
A D1 is an immigration visa that provides the necessary immigration status to enter and work in Georgia.
In most standard cases, both are required.
Does a citizen of a country who can stay in Georgia for a year without a visa need a D1 visa?
For tourism and general stays—probably not.
The rules are different for work.
Visa-free entry does not replace the requirements of labor migration law. To work legally, a foreign national must have the right to work and a legally valid basis for residence—a D1 visa, a work permit, or another appropriate residence permit.
Is it possible to travel to Turkey or Armenia and apply for a D1 visa there?
The mere fact of a legal or visa-free stay in a third country is not sufficient.
To apply at a Georgian consulate in a third country, you generally need a valid residence permit for that country or a valid multiple-entry visa.
Furthermore, this document must be valid for at least three months longer than the requested Georgian visa.
Is it possible to apply for a D1 visa while in Georgia?
Visa legislation provides a mechanism for a foreign national legally residing in Georgia to apply for an immigration visa.
However, following the labor migration reform, the law establishes a different procedure for individuals already in Georgia who are eligible to work: within 10 days, they must apply for a work residence permit or, if eligible, an IT residence permit.
Therefore, each such case must be considered based on the individual’s actual immigration status.
How long is a D1 work visa valid?
A standard long-term D1 visa is issued for 90 calendar days and is a multiple-entry visa.
How long does it take to process a D1 visa?
The official processing time is up to 30 calendar days.
In practice, a decision is sometimes made faster, but when planning your trip, it’s best to allow for the full official processing time.
How much does a D1 visa cost?
The consular fee is 20 USD.
Obtaining the right to work is paid for separately: as of September 2026, the standard procedure costs 200 GEL, and the expedited procedure costs 400 GEL.
How much money do you need to have in your account?
The minimum requirement for a long-term visa is an amount equal to at least five times the subsistence minimum in effect in Georgia on the date of application.
This figure changes, so you should check it immediately before submitting your application.
In addition to the amount itself, the consulate may review your account transaction history and request bank statements covering several months.
Do I need a plane ticket?
This may depend on the specific consulate.
Some diplomatic missions include a plane ticket reservation in the list of documents required for a D1 visa. For example, the Georgian Embassy in Jordan has published such a requirement.
Therefore, you should refer to the checklist provided by your specific consulate.
Do I need to apply for a work residence permit immediately after entering the country?
If you plan to work in Georgia for more than 90 days—essentially, yes.
The D1 visa is time-limited, and by the time it expires, it is advisable to have already obtained a residence permit.
As a general rule, an application for a residence permit must be submitted no later than 40 calendar days before the end of the legal period of stay.
Can the consulate request additional documents?
Yes.
Even if the main set of documents is complete, a consular officer may request additional information or supporting documents, or conduct an interview.
Therefore, when applying for a D1 visa, it’s important not just to formally gather the documents, but to ensure that the entire story behind your application is logical:
who is hiring you → what your job will be → how much you will earn → where you will live → how you will support yourself → why you really need to come to Georgia for this job.
Key points
Following the 2026 reform, it is no longer appropriate to consider the D1 work visa separately from other immigration procedures.
For a foreign worker, this is a single system: employer/business → employment contract → right to work → D1 or residence permit → legal employment in Georgia.
A mistake at any stage can affect the rest of the process.
Therefore, even before obtaining a work permit, it is advisable to determine:
- the applicant’s physical location;
- which consulate they can submit their documents to;
- whether they have the necessary status in the country of application;
- when an appointment at the consulate can be scheduled;
- what documents this specific consulate will require;
- whether the applicant can apply for a D1 visa within 30 days of obtaining the right to work.
Espero helps manage the entire process: from obtaining the right to work to the D1 visa and the subsequent work residence permit in Georgia.