Georgia Small Business / Individual Entrepreneur Visa
Georgia GEO
Georgia's individual entrepreneur framework allows foreign nationals to register a local business within one day, with no minimum capital requirement, and immediately qualify for the Small Business Status flat 1% turnover tax on revenue up to 500,000 GEL per year.
Citizens of around 95 countries can enter Georgia visa-free for up to one year, making it one of the world's most accessible low-tax entrepreneurial bases for freelancers, consultants, and digital business owners. The combination of a territorial tax system, rock-bottom cost of living in Tbilisi, and a vibrant international community has made Georgia a premier destination for location-independent entrepreneurs.
Program Details
- Category
- Entrepreneur
- Processing Time
- 1 months
- Application Fee
- $50
- Minimum Income
- —
- Minimum Investment
- —
- Family Included
- No
- Path to PR
- Yes — 5 years
- Path to Citizenship
- Yes — 10 years
- Physical Presence
- Georgia allows visa-free stays of up to one year for citizens of approximately 95 countries; registration as an individual entrepreneur gives the right to remain and operate lawfully during that period. Formal long-term residency requires a separate permit.
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Tax Impact
- Georgian individual entrepreneurs registered under Small Business Status pay a flat 1% turnover tax on all revenue up to 500,000 GEL per year, with no additional income tax. Georgia's territorial tax system means foreign-source passive income is not subject to Georgian tax for non-residents.
- Renewal Cost
- $50
No minimum income requirement to register; the 1% flat tax rate applies to individual entrepreneurs with annual turnover below 500,000 GEL (~$180,000 USD)
Application Timeline
Apply
1mo processing
Visa Granted
Initial permit
Permanent Residency
After 5 years
Citizenship
After 10 years
Key Requirements
- ✓Valid passport from a country with visa-free access to Georgia (approximately 95 countries)
- ✓Registration as an Individual Entrepreneur (IE) at the National Agency of Public Registry — can be done in person in one day
- ✓Registration for Small Business Status at the Revenue Service of Georgia
- ✓Georgian bank account to receive business income
- ✓Tax ID (personal identification number for foreigners)
- ✓Annual turnover must remain below 500,000 GEL to maintain the 1% flat rate
Am I eligible for Georgia Small Business / Individual Entrepreneur Visa?
Quick self-check based on the published criteria. Not legal advice. No data leaves your browser.
Nationality eligibility
Select your nationality to check.
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This is a heuristic, not a determination. Final eligibility depends on full documentation and immigration-officer discretion.
Nationality Restrictions
This program restricts applications from nationals of: Available to citizens of countries with visa-free or easy visa-on-arrival access to Georgia; citizens of approximately 95 countries can enter and register without a visa
Application Process — Step by Step
- 01
Decide route: company formation OR real-estate OR work-based
home countryGeorgia's residence-via-business route requires either an operating LLC with proper substance OR real-estate purchase from USD 100,000 (raised from USD 300k in prior years).
Typical duration: 2-4 weekssource ↗
- 02
Form LLC in Georgia OR complete real-estate purchase
destinationLLC registration at Public Service Hall (~1 day, USD 30 fee). Real-estate via notary; title to be registered at National Agency of Public Registry.
Typical duration: 1-3 weekssource ↗
- 03
Apply for temporary residence permit
destinationSubmit to Public Service Development Agency (SDA). Processing 30 days (standard) or 20 days (expedited, higher fee).
Typical duration: 3-6 weeks
Documents Required
| Document | Issued By | Apostille | Translate to | Validity (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | Home country | No | — | 180 |
| LLC registration extract OR real-estate title | PSH / NAPR | No | — | 90 |
| Turnover statement or bank deposit (business route) | Georgian bank | No | ka | 90 |
| Criminal record check | Home country | Yes | ka | 180 |
Realistic Costs
Some figures below are industry estimates rather than officially verified: lawyer_fee_low, lawyer_fee_high.
Excludes real-estate purchase (USD 100k minimum) or LLC operating capital. Georgia is one of the cheapest EU-adjacent residence routes.
Realistic Timeline
- Consulate wait0–0 weeks
- Decision → arrival0 weeks
- Residence card issuance4 weeks
- Total to residence card6–12 weeks
Most applications decided in 30 days; expedited 20 days. Many applicants from visa-free countries simply enter and apply in-country.
Renewal
- First renewal after
- 12 months
- Subsequent cycle
- 12 months
- Renewal fee
- $100
- Requirements
- Continued business activity or property ownership.
Path to Permanent Residency — Details
- Years required
- 5
- Integration test
- Not required
Path to Citizenship — Details
- Years required
- 10
- Language test
- Yes (basic)
- Civic test
- Required
- Oath
- Required
- Dual citizenship
- Not allowed
Tax Residency
- Trigger
- 183 days/year of presence
- Taxation scope
- Territorial (in-country only)
- Exit-tax country
- No
Health Insurance
- Mandatory
- No
Banking Setup
- Open account before arrival
- Not typically possible before arrival
Family Specifics
- Spouse work rights
- Child school enrolment
- Parent inclusion
- Not eligible
- Sibling inclusion
- Not eligible
Gotchas — Things to Watch For
- ⚠Georgia does NOT permit dual citizenship for natural-born Georgians taking foreign nationality, but naturalised Georgians may keep original (by special dispensation)
- ⚠Territorial taxation does not fully exempt Georgian tax residents on foreign-source employment income — consult Revenue Service for specifics
- ⚠Many visa-free-entry nationalities (including US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia) can enter for 365 days visa-free, making the residence permit less urgent than in most countries
What This Visa Does NOT Allow
- ×Annual turnover above 500,000 GEL, which forfeits the 1% small-business flat rate
- ×Visa-free entry alone does not confer long-term residency — a separate residence permit is required
- ×Does not automatically include a spouse or dependants
Before You Arrive — Checklist
- Decide route
- Identify LLC scope or property target
- Apostille criminal record
After You Arrive — Checklist
- LLC registration OR property purchase
- SDA application
- Tax registration (Individual Entrepreneur 1% regime, LLC 15% corporate, etc.)
- Open local bank account
Common Rejection Reasons
- •LLC deemed dormant or lacking substance
- •Real-estate valuation below USD 100k threshold
- •Incomplete criminal record / background issues
Recent Legislative Changes
2023-01-01
Real-estate residence threshold reduced to USD 100,000 (from USD 300,000 earlier).source ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I pay tax on foreign remote-work income as a Georgian resident?+
Georgia uses territorial taxation — foreign-source income is generally not taxed in Georgia. However, local employment, Georgian-source business profits, and Georgian real estate income ARE taxed. The 1% Individual Entrepreneur regime applies to small-business turnover from Georgian-registered activity; foreign-source income received personally is usually outside Georgian tax.
Good Fit For
Applying from a specific country? Your home-country tax rules, banking access, and dual-citizenship options affect every programme differently. Browse nationality guides → for tax obligations, renunciation rules, and second-passport routes.
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Sources & last verified
- Official source
- Last verified