Work Permit in Georgia for IEs and Employees

Since 1 March 2026 most foreigners who work in Georgia as employees or individual entrepreneurs need permission to carry out labour activities (a work permit). Without it you cannot apply for a work residence permit or a residence permit via an IE, and working without a permit carries fines. We check whether you need a work permit, collect the documents from the tax office, file the application and prepare you for the video interview.

Permission to carry out labour activities is a document confirming a foreigner's right to work in Georgia. It was introduced by the Law of Georgia on Labour Migration as amended with effect from 1 March 2026. The permit is needed both by employees of Georgian companies and by self-employed foreigners — including individual entrepreneurs who live and work in Georgia.

A work permit and a residence permit are different documents. The work permit comes first, and the work residence permit or IE residence permit is then issued on its basis. Registering an IE or a company does not by itself give the right to work or to a residence permit.

A permit is required for foreigners who actually work in Georgia: under an employment contract with a Georgian company or as self-employed, including individual entrepreneurs. This is especially important for those planning a work residence permit or a residence permit via an IE: the Public Service Development Agency accepts such applications only from people who hold the right to work.

The law provides exceptions. As a rule, a permit is not needed by holders of a permanent residence permit or an investment residence permit, or by foreigners doing short-term work in Georgia within a single visit. The list of exceptions is detailed and changes, so we check it for your case before filing.

Our service is 250 GEL. The state fee is paid separately and depends on the processing time: 200 GEL — standard (30 days), 400 GEL — express (10 days). No hidden payments: we list everything included in the work before we start.

The permit is issued for a set period — on a first application usually no more than a year. It is extended by the same procedure as the first application, in advance — before the current permit expires. If you carry out several different types of activity, you may need several permits. We remind you of the extension dates and prepare the documents in advance.

The labour migration rules are new, and document requirements are being clarified in practice. A mistake in the type of activity, an incomplete tax office file or an unsure interview lead to a refusal, and you then have to wait to reapply. We prepare the application so that the agency has no questions and accompany you until the decision.