Georgia Remotely from Georgia Programme
Georgia GEO
Georgia's Remotely from Georgia programme offers a 1-year residence permit to remote workers earning at least $2,000/month from foreign employers or clients, with no application fee and a fully online application process. Critically, Georgia already grants visa-free stays of up to 365 days to citizens of around 95 countries (including the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, Israel, and most GCC states) — for those nationalities, the programme adds little practical value beyond official residence-permit status useful for opening Georgian bank accounts and signing long-term leases.
It is most relevant to nationalities not on the visa-free list (most of South and Southeast Asia, much of Africa, and the Middle East outside Israel and the GCC). Georgia's flat 1% small-business tax (for individual entrepreneurs registered with annual turnover under GEL 500,000) and territorial-leaning tax system make Tbilisi popular with location-independent founders.
The programme is administered by the Public Service Hall and does not itself create a path to permanent residency or citizenship — those routes require separate procedures, with naturalisation generally requiring 10 years of legal residence and Georgian-language proficiency.
Program Details
- Category
- Digital Nomad
- Processing Time
- 1 months
- Application Fee
- $0
- Minimum Income
- $2,000/mo
- Minimum Investment
- —
- Family Included
- Accompanying family members may apply for a separate work/stay permit; no additional income threshold stated
- Path to PR
- No
- Path to Citizenship
- No
- Physical Presence
- Visa is valid for 1 year; presence in Georgia required. Many nationalities (including US, EU, UK) can stay visa-free for up to 1 year without this program.
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Tax Impact
- Georgia's flat 20% income tax applies to Georgia-sourced income. Virtual Zone company status (for IT services sold abroad) offers 0% corporate income tax and 0% dividend tax. Many remote workers use Georgia's favorable tax environment with low effective rates.
- Renewal Cost
- $0
$2,000/month from foreign sources (employment or freelance). Income must be demonstrably from a foreign company or foreign clients.
Key Requirements
- ✓Proof of remote employment or freelance income of at least $2,000/month from foreign sources
- ✓Employment contract or client agreements
- ✓3 months bank statements showing regular income
- ✓Valid passport
- ✓Health insurance valid in Georgia
- ✓Application through the Revenue Service of Georgia portal
Am I eligible for Georgia Remotely from Georgia Programme?
Quick self-check based on the published criteria. Not legal advice. No data leaves your browser.
Nationality eligibility
Select your nationality to check.
Minimum monthly income
Programme requires $2,000/month.
Fill in the fields above to see a verdict.
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: Program primarily targets nationalities that do not already have visa-free access to Georgia for 1 year
Application Process — Step by Step
- 01
Enter Georgia (visa-free for most nationalities)
home countryGeorgia grants visa-free 1-year stay to ~95 nationalities. The Remotely from Georgia programme is primarily a support framework for these travellers.
Typical duration: 0 weekssource ↗
- 02
Apply through programme portal
onlineOnline application documents income + work. Programme approval grants support resources, not a new visa category.
Typical duration: 2-4 weeks
- 03
Arrive + follow entry requirements
destinationMost arrivals just enter visa-free. Specific programme benefits: registration support, bank account help.
Typical duration: 1 week
Documents Required
| Document | Issued By | Apostille | Translate to | Validity (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | Home country | No | — | 180 |
| Proof of remote work ($2,000+/mo) | Employer/bank | No | — | 90 |
| Health insurance | Insurer | No | — | 365 |
Realistic Costs
Some figures below are industry estimates rather than officially verified: health_insurance_first_year, relocation_misc, total_first_year_low, total_first_year_high.
Effectively free — Georgia is visa-free for 1 year for most Westerners.
Realistic Timeline
- Consulate wait0–0 weeks
- Decision → arrival0 weeks
- Residence card issuance0 weeks
- Total to residence card0–0 weeks
Renewal
- First renewal after
- 12 months
- Subsequent cycle
- 0 months
- Renewal fee
- $0
- Requirements
- Exit and re-enter Georgia to reset visa-free stay clock.
Path to Permanent Residency — Details
- Years required
- 6
- Integration test
- Not required
Path to Citizenship — Details
- Years required
- 10
- Language test
- Yes (A2)
- 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
Special regimes
- Individual Entrepreneur 1%1% tax on turnover up to GEL 500,000 (~$155,000 USD/yr)
Small business / freelance IE registration. Favorable status for remote workers.
source ↗
Health Insurance
- Mandatory
- No
Examples: GPI Holding, Aldagi, Cigna
Banking Setup
- Open account before arrival
- Possible with bridge fintechs
Bridge fintechs
Local banks accepting applicants
Bank of Georgia, TBC Bank, Credo Bank
Family Specifics
- Spouse work rights
- Spouse enters visa-free same as applicant
- Child school enrolment
- Public Georgian + international schools in Tbilisi
- Parent inclusion
- Not eligible
- Sibling inclusion
- Not eligible
Gotchas — Things to Watch For
- ⚠Georgia grants visa-free 1 year to ~95 nationalities — most Westerners simply arrive
- ⚠Individual Entrepreneur 1% tax regime extremely popular with remote workers
- ⚠6-year PR + 10-year citizenship path; Georgia does not allow dual citizenship in most cases
- ⚠Banking strict post-2022 with Russian/Iranian/Crimean nationals due to sanctions
- ⚠Proximity to Russia / Ukraine border creates geopolitical consideration
What This Visa Does NOT Allow
- ×Long-term residence without separate permit (visa-free is 1 year per entry)
Before You Arrive — Checklist
- Book flight
- Arrange accommodation
After You Arrive — Checklist
- Register address if staying 90+ days (depending on source country)
- Open bank account (Bank of Georgia / TBC)
- Consider Individual Entrepreneur tax status (1% on turnover up to ~$155k/yr)
Common Rejection Reasons
- •None — visa-free entry is automatic
Last known legislative update for this programme: 2024-01-01.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Remotely from Georgia an actual visa?+
Not really — it is a support programme for remote workers using Georgia's 1-year visa-free entry. Most applicants could stay under visa-free rules without it. The programme provides registration and banking support.
How does the 1% IE tax regime work?+
Register as Individual Entrepreneur (small business) at Revenue Service. Pay 1% tax on gross turnover up to ~GEL 500,000 (~$155,000 USD/yr). Above that, standard rates apply. Foreign-source income for non-residents typically untaxed in Georgia under territorial rules.
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.
Related Guides
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Reference tables
Sources & last verified
- Official source
- Last verified
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