Major changes to the rules for foreigners working in Georgia: what’s really changing for individual entrepreneurs, freelancers, directors, and residence permit applicants

Georgia is considering a package of amendments that could significantly change the entire logic of regulating labor migration and work residence permits for foreigners. Essentially, these aren’t just technical changes, but a new regulatory architecture: some foreigners may be exempted from the strict labor migration regime, while others may be transferred to a more formalized system.

The main practical conclusion is already this: if the bill is adopted according to its current logic, for many individual entrepreneurs, freelancers, and foreign specialists, the rules will not become stricter, but rather clearer and, in some cases, even more lenient. This is especially true for those working for foreign clients and not integrated into the Georgian labor market.

Important: at the time of writing, this article refers specifically to the bill, not the final regulations that have entered into full force and effect. Some details still need to be clarified in secondary legislation and practical implementation.

Why this really changes the rules of the game

Previously, Georgia’s new labor migration system was built on a rather rigid model: in order to work or conduct business in the country, a foreigner often required a work permit, followed by the appropriate migration status, such as a work residence permit or D1/other legal residence permit. This system was launched as a stricter mechanism for monitoring foreigners’ employment.

Now, the amendments under discussion introduce a more differentiated approach. The bill proposes that not all foreigners’ activities in Georgia should automatically be considered labor migration in the classic sense. This is especially important for the modern market, which includes remote work, international freelancing, foreign clients, corporate management, and short‐term project visits.

This is why the amendments are important not only for lawyers but also for ordinary entrepreneurs: they can determine whether you need a work permit at all, whether you are required to apply for a work residence permit, and what documents you will need to prepare in 2026.

The key idea of ​​the bill

The most important rationale behind the amendments is this: not every paid activity of a foreigner should automatically fall under the Labor Migration Law.

If a foreigner’s activity does not constitute participation in the local Georgian labor market in the classical sense, the state, according to the text of the bill, is prepared to create a separate regime for it. This is particularly evident in the categories of exceptions explicitly listed in the bill’s documentation.

Who can be exempted from the labor migration law?

According to the bill’s description, several categories of foreigners may be exempted from the strict labor migration regime. These include:

• Directors and top managers of certain categories of enterprises;
• Self‐employed individuals and freelancers working for a non‐resident, if their activities are related to the non‐resident’s business outside of Georgia;
• Employees who work for a Georgian company entirely remotely and do not require entry into Georgia at all;
• Individuals working for public institutions and state‐owned enterprises;
• Individuals engaged in short‐term professional activities;
• Holders of a special residence permit issued at the written initiative of a member of the Georgian government.

This is the strongest aspect of the reform: instead of the universal rule that “almost everyone needs the same migration and labor filter,” a model is proposed that takes into account the nature of the activity.

What does this mean for individual entrepreneurs and freelancers working for foreign clients?

If the bill is adopted according to the logic described, individual entrepreneurs, freelancers, and other self‐employed foreigners working for foreign clients may no longer be subject to the Labor Migration Law if a key condition is met: the client’s activity must be related to their activities outside of Georgia.

The economic nature of the relationship, not just the client’s passport, is critical here. In other words, it’s not enough for the client to be a “foreigner.” It’s essential that the service itself not be effectively integrated into the Georgian economy through the client’s activities in Georgia. This follows from the wording regarding services for the benefit of a non‐resident related to the non‐resident’s activities outside of the country.

Practical conclusion for entrepreneurs

If you:

• are registered as an individual entrepreneur in Georgia;
• provide services to foreign companies or clients;
• do not operate in the Georgian market;
• and your client uses the results of your work outside of Georgia,

then you are one of the main potential beneficiaries of these amendments. By this logic, you may not need a work permit simply because you are physically located in Georgia.

The most important point: living in Georgia is permitted, but it shouldn’t “transform” external income into local employment.

One of the most interesting ideas in the text you provided: for this category of individual entrepreneurs and freelancers, judging by the proposed structure, it shouldn’t be fundamentally important whether the person lives in Georgia or abroad. The key criterion isn’t the place of residence or tax registration per se, but the nature of the activity and the connection of that activity to a foreign client outside of Georgia.

This is a very important development. Previously, the main fear of many individual entrepreneurs was: “If I live in Georgia, then I automatically fall under the full labor migration regime.” The bill, if passed without any changes to the wording, could soften this very logic.

Will it be possible to obtain a work residence permit without a work permit?

Yes, this is precisely what makes the bill truly significant.

According to the proposed amendments to the law on the legal status of foreigners, even individuals whose activities are not covered by the Labor Migration Law will be able to obtain a work residence permit. To do so, they will need to submit documents confirming compliance with the criteria for employment or entrepreneurial activity established by the government.

This means something very important: the absence of the requirement to obtain a work permit will not necessarily mean the inability to obtain a work residence permit.

This eliminates one of the main practical problems of the new system: previously, it was possible to imagine a situation where a foreigner did not need a work permit, or, on the contrary, only arguably needed one, but without it, they were denied access to a residence permit. The bill, judging by the published wording, precisely closes this gap.

What does this mean for sole proprietors working for foreign clients?

If the amendments are adopted, sole proprietors working for foreign markets may have a more convenient model:

• A work permit is not required if the activity is exempt from the Labor Migration Law;
• A work residence permit can be obtained if the criteria established for the relevant residence permit are met;
• The main issue will no longer be the availability of a work permit, but rather confirmation of actual activity, turnover, and sufficient funds.

This is a significant change for entrepreneurs. It makes the system more like a normal business immigration model: first, the nature of the activity is analyzed, and then the appropriate status is selected, rather than the other way around.

Directors and top managers: one of the most underrated exceptions

If the wording remains, individuals serving on the management, administration, or audit committee of companies classified as categories one, two, and three under Georgian accounting and auditing legislation may be exempt from the labor migration law.

In practice, this could mean that some foreign directors and top managers of large and medium‐sized companies will not have to follow the same path as ordinary labor migrants or self‐employed professionals. However, there is an important caveat: it will be necessary to carefully consider whether a specific company falls under the relevant category and how exactly the term “management, administration, or audit committee” is interpreted.

In other words, the word “director” alone does not guarantee exemption. The corporate structure and category of the company are important.

Short‐term professional activity: a potentially major reform

Another significant innovation is the concept of short‐term professional activity. The draft law describes it as an activity or service performed by a foreigner in Georgia for a specific period of time, not constituting long‐term participation in the local labor market and related to a specific project, event, or service. The government will have to define a specific list of activities, their duration, and criteria in a separate act.

This could be extremely beneficial for businesses. While any short project‐based trip by a foreign specialist currently risks being mired in bureaucracy, after the reform, a legal “short‐term” regime may be introduced for certain cases, without a full work permit or residence permit.

However, it’s too early to draw any definitive conclusions here: everything will depend on the specific professions and durations the government includes in the bylaw.

Who shouldn’t relax just yet?

Even if the bill is passed, it doesn’t mean complete freedom for all foreigners.

Caution is needed in situations where:

• the client is foreign, but the activity actually serves a business in Georgia;
• the individual entrepreneur works with Georgian clients or in the local market;
• the individual is only formally trying to “adjust” their activity to the foreign market;
• a work residence permit is required, but there is no proof of turnover, income, account balance, or actual entrepreneurial activity.

In other words, the new regime may be more lenient, but it doesn’t eliminate the need to properly collect documents and properly classify the activity.

What’s especially important for those seeking a temporary residence permit

Even if a work permit isn’t required, temporary residence permits won’t be automatic. The draft stipulates that for a temporary residence permit, applicants will have to prove compliance with criteria determined by the government. 1TV specifically states that applicants will be required to submit documents to the Public Service Development Agency confirming compliance with the business or employment criteria established by government decree.

This means that in practice, the key questions will be:

• What is your turnover?
• Do you have sufficient funds?
• Can you prove the source and nature of your income?
• Is there a connection between your sole proprietorship, contracts, bank receipts, and your actual activities?
• Do your documents contradict the stated “working for the foreign market” model?

Key points for entrepreneurs

1. Working for foreign clients may no longer require a work permit. If your work is related to a non‐resident and their business outside of Georgia, you are potentially exempt from the provisions of the Labor Migration Law.
2. The absence of a work permit should no longer automatically block access to a work residence permit. The draft law explicitly allows for the issuance of a work residence permit to those whose activities do not fall under the Labor Migration Law.
3. For individual entrepreneurs and freelancers, the key factor will no longer be “where you live,” but “who your client is and where their business is conducted.” This is one of the most practical and useful ideas in the amendments.
4. Directors and top managers may receive a separate regime, but only if they truly fall under the categories specified in the draft law.
5. Short‐term professional activity may become a separate legal format. However, without a government bylaw, the details are unclear.

Practical strategy: what to do now

Until the amendments come into full force, it’s best to proceed as follows:

1. Don’t base your strategy solely on Telegram summaries — look at the text of the bill and official publications. Your source material has already correctly emphasized that this is a project.
2. Divide your situation into one of the following scenarios:
   • Sole proprietor/freelancer working in a foreign market;
   • Director or top manager;
   • Short‐term project entry;
   • Traditional work for a Georgian company.
3. Check whether your foreign client is actually connected to activities in Georgia.
4. Prepare evidence of turnover, contracts, bank receipts, and the economic rationale of your model now.
5. Don’t confuse the two questions: “Do I need a permit?” and “Can I obtain a residence permit?” After the reform, these will likely have different legal paths.

FAQ

Summary

This bill could truly significantly change migration and labor practices in Georgia. Its main point isn’t that the state is "cancelling everything," but rather that it is attempting to separate:

• classical labor migration to the local market,
• international remote and entrepreneurial activity,
• corporate management,
• short‐term project visits.

For individual entrepreneurs and freelancers working for the international market, this is probably the most positive development of all the recent changes: the ability to avoid obtaining a work permit while still maintaining a path to a work residence permit if the document and economic criteria are met.