Starting September 1, 2025, Georgia will introduce a new special type of temporary residence permit (TRP) for foreign citizens working in the information technology (IT) sector. This decision is aimed at attracting qualified specialists and developing the country’s IT sector.

In this article, we will take a detailed look at:

• who is eligible for an IT TRP,
• what the requirements are,
• what documents are required,
• the processing time and cost,
• the conditions for renewal and stay in the country.

Who is eligible for an IT residence permit?

The new type of residence permit is intended for several categories of foreign citizens:

1. Employees of Georgian IT companies registered with the Georgian Ministry of Labor.
2. Individual entrepreneurs with small business status in Georgia, if they are engaged in IT activities specified by the government.
3. Managers and authorized representatives of international IT companies operating in Georgia.
4. Family members of the above persons—spouses and minor children.

Who is considered “employed in the IT sector”

For the purposes of this residence permit, the government uses international classifiers:

• ISCO-08 (code 25 and subcodes) — professions in the field of information and communication technologies.
• NACE Rev.2 — types of activities:
  • 58.21 — publishing of computer games,
  • 58.29 — publishing of other software,
  • 62.01 — computer software development activities,
  • 62.02 — IT consulting,
  • 62.03 — computer equipment management,
  • 62.09 — other information technology activities,
  • 63.1 and 63.12 — data processing, hosting, and web portal activities.

Validity and renewal

• Initial issuance — 3 years.
• Renewal — every 3 years, but for a total of no more than 12 years.

Mandatory residence requirement

• The holder of an IT residence permit is required to stay in Georgia for at least 183 days during any consecutive 12‐month period.
• Exception — treatment abroad (medical certificate required).
• Verification is carried out automatically based on data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Deadlines for applying for renewal

• Applications can be submitted no earlier than 90 days before the expiry of the current residence permit.
• The “no later than 40 days” rule does not apply.
• Family members can submit documents if the main holder has more than 6 months left on their residence permit.

List of documents

A) For IT employees

• Documents confirming at least 2 years of work experience in IT.
• Income statement for the last year — at least $25,000 (in lari), received in at least two payments with an interval of 30+ days.

B) For individual entrepreneurs (small businesses)

• Documents confirming at least 2 years of work experience in IT.
• Income statement for the last year — at least USD 25,000 (in lari).
• Document confirming small business status in Georgia.
• Confirmation of IT activity (ISCO/NACE).

C) For managers of international IT companies

• Document confirming authority (appointment order, power of attorney, etc.).

Important details

• Work experience and income can be obtained not only in Georgia, but also abroad.
• Documents from other countries must be apostilled or legalized, unless otherwise provided by Georgia’s international treaties.
• Documents may be submitted in electronic form if their authenticity can be verified through electronic registries.
• Applications can be submitted by persons with a C visa, as well as foreigners who are entitled to visa‐free entry on the basis of a residence permit from a third country.

Terms and fees

• Standard processing: 90 days, state fee of 500 lari.
• Expedited processing: 60 days, state fee of 750 lari.

Conclusion

The new IT residence permit opens up opportunities for:

• relocating IT specialists to Georgia,
• conducting business activities as a small business,
• working for international companies operating in the country’s market.

Georgia is thus seeking to create favorable conditions for the development of the digital economy and attract world‐class specialists.

How ESPERO can help

ESPERO provides a full range of services for obtaining a residence permit in Georgia, including:

• consulting on requirements and documents,
• preparation and submission of a package of documents,
• support in apostilling and legalizing documents,
• tax and legal support for IT entrepreneurs.

If you are planning to apply for an IT residence permit in Georgia, please contact our specialists. We will prepare everything you need and ensure that the process is as smooth as possible.