The path to legal employment for a foreigner without a permanent residence permit in Georgia changed substantially as of March 1, 2026. A new mechanism came into force — the right to labor activity — without which neither signing an employment contract nor conducting independent economic activity is considered lawful. Below is a step-by-step description of what a foreigner must do to be legally employed in Georgia.
The legal basis for labor migration consists of three main legislative acts: the Law of Georgia "On Labor Migration," Government of Georgia Decree No. 70 of February 20, 2026, "On Approval of the Rule for Issuing the Right to Labor Activity to a Labor Immigrant and a Self-Employed Foreigner," and the Law of Georgia "On the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons."
Who these rules apply to
The Law on Labor Migration distinguishes between two categories:
- Labor immigrant — a foreigner who wishes to be employed by a local employer in Georgia (including remotely);
- Self-employed foreigner — a foreigner who independently engages in trade, services, or other entrepreneurial/labor activity for financial gain, including as an independent contractor.
The rule does not apply, for example, to a refugee or a person with subsidiary protection status, an asylum seeker, an accredited diplomatic or consular staff member, an accredited foreign journalist, a holder of an investment residence permit, and several other categories separately listed in the law. There is also a separate regime for "short-term professional activity" — brief activity tied to a specific short-term project or event, for which no right to labor activity is required at all.
The core principle: the right first, the activity second
The law is unambiguous: a foreigner without a permanent residence permit may not begin paid labor or entrepreneurial activity in Georgia until they obtain the right to labor activity.This right is issued for a specific employer and a specific position (for a labor immigrant), or for a specific specialty and field (for a self-employed foreigner) — transferring it to another person is prohibited, and changing the position or field of activity requires a new application.
Only a foreigner who is already lawfully present in Georgia may submit an application; the right is also not granted to someone who, at the time of application, has a deferred obligation to leave Georgia.
Which body issues the right
Applications are received and decided by the State Employment Support Agency (within the system of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia). The application and documentation are submitted through a dedicated electronic system — www.labourmigration.moh.gov.ge..
Step 1: For a labor immigrant — posting the vacancy
If a foreigner wishes to be employed by a local employer, the process is initiated by the employer,not the foreigner. The employer is required to post the vacancy on the labor market information system — www.worknet.moh.gov.ge— at least 10 working days before submitting the application. This is the mechanism by which the state checks whether a suitable local candidate exists.
If, within 10 working days, the Agency is unable to offer the employer a suitable local candidate (or the employer justifiably declines the candidates offered), the employer may proceed with the procedure and submit an application for the foreigner's right to labor activity.
Exceptionswhere posting the vacancy in advance is not required at all:
- an employer holding international company or innovative startup status;
- accredited international experts of the expert corps of the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement;
- vacancies where the monthly salary exceeds GEL 15,000 and a higher education relevant to the job is simultaneously required.
Step 2: Required documentation
For a labor immigrant (the application is submitted by the employer) The employer must submit:
The employer must submit:
- information about the employer (name, identification number, addresses, field of activity, contact details);
- personal data of the person responsible for submitting the information;
- the foreigner's personal data and passport details (including a copy of the passport);
- a description of the position to be filled and its qualification requirements; the foreigner's education, profession, and experience details; a copy of the signed employment contract and its terms; an application form confirming the foreigner's consent (signed electronically); proof of payment of the service fee.
- the foreigner's education, profession, and experience details;
- a copy of the signed employment contract and its terms;
- an application form confirming the foreigner's consent (signed electronically);
- proof of payment of the service fee.
For a self-employed foreigner (the application is submitted by the foreigner personally)
- personal and passport details, as well as existing residence permit data (if any);
- a description of education, profession, and experience;
- a description of the field and content of the planned labor/entrepreneurial activity in Georgia;
- for an already established enterprise — the identification number and a document from the Revenue Service confirming annual turnover;
- for a new activity being started — a detailed business plan (investment volume, projected turnover, and a document confirming financial provision of the resources required to start the activity);
- a mandatory video interview with the Agency — after which an electronic application is generated, which the Agency then reviews;
- proof of payment of the service fee.
Step 3: Reviewing the application and the decision
The Agency is authorized to request additional information or the correction of deficiencies (usually within 10 calendar days). The overall period for reviewing the application, from the date the documentation is fully submitted, is:
- 30 calendar days — under the standard procedure (service fee — GEL 200);
- 10 working days — under expedited review (service fee — GEL 400).
The outcome is one of two decisions — granting the right to labor activity or refusing to grant it. The main grounds for refusal are: incomplete or incorrect documentation, failure to correct a deficiency, a mismatch between the foreigner's profession/qualification and labor market needs, exhaustion of the annual quota for a quota-restricted activity, or an ongoing deportation procedure against the foreigner. A refusal may be appealed in court within 1 month, although the appeal does not suspend the deportation procedure and does not create a right to work in Georgia.
Step 4: Visa or residence permit
Obtaining the right to labor activity does not yet mean the process is complete. If the foreigner:
- is not yet in Georgia — they must apply to a Georgian embassy or consulate within 30 calendar days to obtain a D1 immigration visa;
- is already in Georgia — they must apply to the Public Service Development Agency within 10 calendar days to obtain a labor residence permit or, in the case of the IT sector, a residence permit for a person employed in the IT field.
This obligation does not apply to those who already hold some form of residence permit, or to those who carry out their activity entirely remotely and do not need to enter Georgia.
How long the right remains valid
The right to labor activity, when issued for the first time, takes effect from the date the D1 visa or the corresponding residence permit is obtained, and is valid for 6 months to 1 year (up to 3 years in the IT sector). During the first five years, it may be extended each time for no more than 1 year; after a continuous five-year period, each subsequent extension may be for 1 to 5 years (in the IT sector, each extension is for no more than 3 years).
An extension must be requested no less than 30 calendar days before expiration,and the information previously submitted must be updated. The review period for an extension request is likewise no more than 30 calendar days, with a fee of GEL 200.
Obligations that remain after employment begins
- The foreigner is prohibited from working in a position or field other than the one for which the right was granted — any change requires obtaining a new right;
- the employer is required to notify the Agency of early termination of the employment contract within 5 calendar days, through the electronic system;
- a self-employed foreigner must not leave the territory of Georgia continuously for more than 6 months — otherwise the right is terminated;
- the right to labor activity is also terminated upon expiration of the D1 visa or residence permit, a deportation decision, or failure to submit required documents within the relevant deadlines.
Liability for violations
The Law "On Labor Migration" provides for fairly strict sanctions:
- for working without the right — a fine of GEL 2,000 for the labor immigrant or self-employed foreigner (doubled for a repeat offense, tripled for any subsequent repeat);
- for a local employer who employs a foreigner without the right — GEL 2,000 per each such person;
- for changing the position held or the field of activity without renewing the right — GEL 2,000; GEL 2,000 per;
- for an employer's failure to timely report termination of or changes to the contract GEL 1,000..
In addition, the legislation treats carrying out labor activity without the right as an independent ground for deportation from Georgia.
In brief — the sequence of steps
- The employer or the foreigner personally checks whether the specific case falls within the scope of the law (whether an exception applies);
- in case of employment — posting the vacancy on worknet.moh.gov.ge (unless an exception applies);
- preparing the required documentation and submitting the application on labourmigration.moh.gov.ge, and paying the fee;
- awaiting the Agency's decision (30 days, or 10 working days under expedited review);
- if the decision is positive — applying for the D1 visa or the residence permit within the deadlines set by law;
- beginning the activity only after all steps are completed, and strictly under the conditions for which the right was granted.
This material is based on the Law of Georgia "On Labor Migration," Government of Georgia Decree No. 70 of February 20, 2026, and the Law of Georgia "On the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons." For an assessment of a specific case, consultation with a lawyer or directly with the State Employment Support Agency is recommended, since the rules contain numerous exceptions and category-specific conditions (e.g., the IT sector, high-income positions, quota-restricted activities).
