03 March 2021 · Residency and Citizenship Paths · Georgia
Georgia Remote Worker Visa: An Affordable Gateway to Europe
Written by Nino Zurabashvili, Georgian-qualified migration lawyer, BorderPilot contributor and habitual cappuccino critic.
You’ve heard the rumours: panoramic Caucasus vistas, low living costs, no-nonsense bureaucracy, and a time zone that lets you straddle meetings with both Singapore and Berlin. Georgia’s Remote Worker Visa (technically the “Remotely from Georgia” programme) has been a sleeper hit among digital nomads and newly remote employees who want a European-adjacent base without the EU price tag.
In this guide I’ll walk you—first-time applicants—through the exact legal criteria, paperwork gymnastics and on-the-ground realities. My aim is simple: de-stress the process so you can decide if Georgia is your next launchpad, then give you a roadmap you can actually follow.
“Georgia’s Remote Worker Visa is the bureaucratic equivalent of a friendly khachapuri baker: still formal, but warm and surprisingly swift.”
Why listen to me?
I’ve been licensing foreign workers in Georgia since 2014, when Tbilisi’s Old Town was still mostly scaffolding and hip cafés hadn’t yet outnumbered orthodox churches. I’ve escorted CEOs to the Public Service Hall, debated tax code changes on national TV, and—yes—queued in the same lines you will. What follows blends statutory requirements, hidden “practice vs. theory” insights, and personal anecdotes that can spare you expensive detours.
1. Eligibility Criteria: Can You Even Apply?
Let’s start with the fine print. Georgia’s Remote Worker Visa targets three cohorts:
-
Remote Employees
– You’re on a foreign employment contract and can prove at least USD 2,000 in monthly income. -
Freelancers & Consultants
– You invoice foreign clients and/or operate a registered entity outside Georgia, also meeting the USD 2,000 income threshold. -
Business Owners / Partners
– You own or co-own a non-Georgian company that generates a similar income for you.
If your revenue dips below the magic USD 24,000 per year, you technically fall short. That said, I have seen approvals at USD 1,900 per month where supplementary savings covered the gap, but don’t bank on leniency—document comfortable cash flow.
Quick Self-Check
Ask yourself:
- Can I demonstrate consistent remote income for the past 12 months?
- Is my employer okay with me working from Georgia? (Most contracts allow location flexibility post-COVID, but check clauses on jurisdiction.)
- Can I afford private health insurance coverage for the entire stay?
- Am I ready to pay Georgian tax after 183 days in-country?
(Spoiler: With Georgia’s 1%-to-20% flat personal tax schemes, that’s often a perk, not a drawback.)
Fail even one? You’ll need mitigation strategies—or perhaps an alternative route like Italy’s elective residency, which we unpack in our step-by-step application guide.
2. Required Documents: What Immigration Officers Will Actually Peek At
Below is the official list, followed by my commentary on each item’s “gotchas.”
Document | In Practice | Lawyer’s Tip |
---|---|---|
Passport (valid 6+ months beyond planned stay) | They do check expiration rigorously. | Renew first; extensions inside Georgia are a labyrinth. |
Completed online application form | Straightforward, but spell consistency is crucial (e.g., Ltd./LLC). | Screenshot every page before submission—no PDF copy is emailed. |
Proof of Income (bank statements, payslips, contracts) | Must show USD 2,000 per month or lump sum savings equivalent. | Convert figures into USD; attach original currency statements with an annotated conversion sheet. |
Health Insurance (coverage in Georgia) | Locals rely on GeoHosp; you can use global insurers. | Policies without explicit “Georgia” coverage wording get flagged—add a rider letter. |
Passport-size Photo (recent) | Any 3×4 cm biometric style works. | Matte finish if submitting physical backup. |
Application Fee Receipt (once invoiced) | Payment portal pops up after form approval. | Pay within 24 h; the link expires and resets the queue. |
Pro-tip: Georgian migration officers are allergic to ZIP files. Upload PDFs under 2 MB each.
3. Costs & Processing Times: The Cold Numbers
Up-Front Fees
- Government application fee: 0 GEL
(Yes, it’s free to apply—cheers to Georgian hospitality.) - Residence permit card (once approved): 70 GEL (about USD 25)
- Lawyer or translator (optional): 300–600 USD typical professional fee.
- Health insurance: USD 40–80 per month for comprehensive plans.
Living Costs (Benchmark)
- Studio in Tbilisi city centre: USD 350–500/month
- Cappuccino (for my ongoing research): USD 2
- 200 Mbps fibre internet: USD 15/month
Processing Timeline
• Online application review: 10 business days
• Entry into Georgia: Immediate once approval email arrives
• Residence card issuance: 10 days (regular) or 3 days (expedited, extra 130 GEL)
Overall, you could submit your form on Monday and hold a shiny plastic residence card 25 days later. Compare that with the nine-month slog of Australia’s subclass 189 (see our comparison piece on Canada vs. Australia permanent residency) and you’ll appreciate the Georgian pace.
4. Step-by-Step Application Walk-Through (Roadblocks Included)
Below is the route I give paying clients; consider it a complimentary preview.
Step 1 — Pre-Flight Tax Recon (Day −30 to −15)
Before you even apply, map your tax obligations:
- If you stay ≤183 days, you remain a non-resident for Georgian tax.
- >183 days triggers residency; you might qualify for Georgia’s Small Business Status (1% on turnover up to ~USD 155k).
- Update your home country on “centre of vital interests” tests to avoid dual taxation.
I always co-ordinate with a cross-border accountant at this stage. You should, too—what you save later pays for the consultation.
Step 2 — Assemble Documents (Day −14 to −2)
Common roadblock: Income verification mismatch. Georgian officers prefer bank statements rather than employer letters alone. If you freelance through several platforms (Upwork, Fiverr), consolidate them into one bank account first.
Translation: All documents not in English or Georgian must be translated into Georgian by a sworn translator. Remote applicants often skip this, leading to “request for more info” emails that reset the timer.
Step 3 — Submit Online Application (Day 0)
Use the official portal: stopcov.ge/VisitorForm (yes, it still carries the COVID-era name). Double-check:
- Names match passport line-by-line.
- You input your intended arrival date realistically—shift it later if flight schedules are uncertain.
Roadblock: Upload Limit. PDFs >2 MB silently fail. Compress before upload; don’t rely on the site to warn you.
Step 4 — Wait & Refresh Inbox (Day 1–10)
While status remains “Under Review,” resist the temptation to call. Phone inquiries merely clog the same desk officer’s workload.
Reject scenarios:
- “Insufficient income proof.”
- “Insurance coverage inadequate.”
- “Employment evidence missing.”
You can re-apply instantly; no cooling-off period. Send a more robust file set—70% of my “second-try” clients sail through.
Step 5 — Book Flights & Enter Georgia (Day 11–15)
Your approval email serves as entry permission. Print it; some airlines ask at check-in.
Arrival airport formalities: Passport control stamps you in. Keep boarding passes; you’ll need them at Public Service Hall (PSH) later.
Step 6 — Register Address & Apply for Residence Card (Day 16–18)
Within one month of arrival, visit any PSH branch:
- Bring passport, approval print-out, local address lease (or hotel confirmation).
- Pay 70 GEL at the kiosk.
You’ll give fingerprints and choose to pick up the card or receive via courier. The card isn’t mandatory to stay, but makes life easier: banking, SIM cards, e-gov services.
Roadblock: Landlord reluctance. Some owners fear tax visibility. Offer to sign a simple usafrili girebuleba (free usage letter) if they won’t issue a formal lease.
Step 7 — Post-Arrival Compliance (Day 30+)
- File Georgian taxes yearly by October.
- Renew health insurance each year; officers may ask at random.
- Leaving Georgia for <90 days interrupts your 183-day tax residency count but not the visa.
5. Frequently Missed Details (A.K.A. How Clients Almost Sabotaged Themselves)
-
Multiple Passports
Choose one document identity and stick with it for all future Georgian procedures. Dual nationals switching passports during exits get flagged in the Border Police system. -
Company vs. Personal Income
Officers want your income. A robust corporate balance sheet is irrelevant unless dividends flow through to you. -
Remote Job Loss
Lose your qualifying employment? You technically must inform the Ministry within 30 days. Most don’t; I advise lining up new income pronto to avoid headaches at renewal. -
Family Members
Spouse and under-18 kids may piggyback on your application, but must show proportional insurance coverage. Income threshold does not multiply per person—handy loophole! -
Opening a Georgian Bank Account
Contrary to Reddit rumours, you can open an account before receiving the residence card. Bring your approval email; TBC Bank is usually accommodating.
6. Life After Arrival: What Clients Love & Loathe
The Good
- One-year visa with potential for renewal → Minimal bureaucracy.
- Fast fibre internet → 20 USD for 500 Mbps in new builds.
- 5% flat tax on dividends → Pair with Estonian-style companies for excellent global tax planning.
- Friendly locals who’ll invite you to weekend supra feasts (“sample the wine,” they said… still recovering).
The Not-So-Good
- Air pollution in winter (wood-burning stoves). Consider Batumi or Kutaisi during peak smog.
- Limited English outside Tbilisi. Basic Georgian phrases can unlock landlord goodwill.
- Currency fluctuations. The lari (GEL) loves roller-coasters; hold EUR or USD savings.
7. Renewal & Path to Long-Term Residency
The Remote Worker programme currently issues a 365-day residence. Renewal is largely a formality if you still qualify:
- Re-submit income & insurance proof 30 days before expiration.
- Maintain an unbroken legal stay (no >90-day exit gaps).
- Pay the card fee again.
After six years of continuous residence, you may apply for permanent residency (“permanent residence permit of an alien”). Georgian PR eliminates yearly card renewals and counts towards eventual citizenship (after 10 years total).
Pull-quote: “Six years may sound long, but with Georgia’s tax friendliness and cost efficiency, many remote workers happily graduate from temporary nomads to permanent residents.”
8. Comparing Georgia to Other Remote-Friendly Visas
Metric | Georgia | Italy’s Elective Residency | Canada Digital Nomad Trial |
---|---|---|---|
Income requirement | USD 2,000/month | ~EUR 32,000/year passive | CAD 100,000 salary (job offer) |
Application speed | 10 days | 3–6 months | Pilot only—TBD |
Government fee | 0 USD | ~EUR 116 | CAD CAN$155 |
Tax on foreign income | Yes after 183 days (1–20%) | Yes from day one (progressive up to 43%) | Yes after 183 days (progressive up to 33%) |
For many first-time applicants, Georgia serves as a low-risk test drive of the location-independent lifestyle. Should you later crave Schengen access or Commonwealth privileges, you can graduate to routes we’ve covered in depth—see our resource on Canada vs. Australia PR.
9. Quick Fire Q&A
Q: Do I need a local sponsor?
A: No. Your foreign employer or your own freelance status suffices.
Q: Is the visa multiple-entry?
A: Yes, you can pop over to Istanbul for baklava weekends without voiding status—as long as you respect the 90-day absence rule.
Q: Can I switch to an on-the-ground Georgian job?
A: You’d need to convert to a standard work permit; paperwork is heavier, but doable.
Q: How about pets?
A: Georgia allows cats and dogs with vaccination booklets and a recent vet certificate. Register at customs on arrival.
10. Final Checklist Before You Hit “Apply”
- [ ] Passport valid 6+ months
- [ ] Bank statements ≥USD 2,000 per month (past 12 months)
- [ ] Health insurance naming Georgia
- [ ] Employer letter or freelance contracts
- [ ] Georgian translations ready
- [ ] Arrival date within 3 months
- [ ] Tax consultation booked
Tick everything? You’re ready for the Caucasus.
Curious whether Georgia aligns with your long-term goals—or if another jurisdiction might suit you better? Generate your personalised relocation roadmap in minutes with BorderPilot’s free planning tool. No pushy sales calls, just data-driven clarity.
Safe travels, and see you at the wine cellar.