Georgia D1 work / business visa

Since 1 March 2026 D1 is issued to an alien who has obtained the right to labour activities and to aliens coming to carry out entrepreneurial activity under the Law on Entrepreneurs. The right to work is granted by the State Employment Support Agency for a specific position and employer for one year, after the employer has posted the vacancy for at least 10 working days. A work residence permit follows. ^{1 2 3 4}

What you must show and pay

• Income · Applicant's monthly income from work or business in Georgia of at least five times the minimum subsistence level for an average consumer; no fixed GEL figure is published. Separately, the employer or founded enterprise must show annual turnover of at least GEL 50,000 (≈ $19,300) per foreign applicant (GEL 35,000 (≈ $13,500) for an educational or medical institution); that turnover is not the applicant's income. ³
• A fee of GEL 300 (≈ $120) · Service fee for the work residence permit with a decision in 30 calendar days; GEL 450 (≈ $170) for 20 days and GEL 600 (≈ $230) for 10 days. ³

Requirements

• The applicant has obtained the right to labour activities, or comes to carry out entrepreneurial activity under the Law on Entrepreneurs. ^{1 2}
• The right to work is granted for a specific position and employer, for one year. ^{1 2}
• The employer may apply only if no qualified local candidate is found. ²
• Exempt from the work-permit duty: refugees and persons with subsidiary or temporary protection, and registered asylum seekers. ²
• Also exempt: diplomatic and international organisation staff, and accredited journalists. ²
• Also exempt: investment residence permit holders and permanent residence holders. ²
• Monthly income of at least five times the average consumer subsistence minimum. ^{3 2}
• Annual turnover of the employer or founded enterprise of at least GEL 50,000 (≈ $19,300) per foreign applicant (GEL 35,000 (≈ $13,500) for education or medical institutions). ³
• The employer posts the vacancy in the Labour Market Management Information System for at least 10 working days. ²
• The State Employment Support Agency grants the right to work. ^{1 2}
• Without a residence permit, the holder of the right to work must obtain a D1 visa and/or a work residence permit. ^{2 1}
• Foreigners already working or running a business on 1 March 2026 must comply from 1 May 2026. ²
• Persons active in the labour migration database on 1 March 2026 must hold the permit and residence permit by 1 January 2027. ²

Stay

• Right to work: one year for one position and employer. Work residence permit initially 6 months to one year, extendable for up to 12 years in total.
• First stay: 6 to 12 months, decided case by case.
• Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

Nationality

Nationality-specific: visa or visa-free access depends on the applicant; the D-category definitions in the law do not exclude nationalities.

Work

Work for the named employer in the named position; self-employed foreigners receive a permit specifying their field, sector and activity type.

Family

Family reunification residence permit available to family members of a residence permit holder (Law Art. 15(c)). Your spouse or partner needs their own work permit to work in Georgia.

Checked 2026-10-12

Official sources

1. Law of Georgia on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons (consolidated, publication of 25/06/2026) · Legislative Herald of Georgia (matsne.gov.ge) · checked 2026-10-11
2. Change in labor migration legislation (Law on Labour Migration amendments from 1 March 2026) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia (Embassy of Georgia to Japan) · checked 2026-10-12 · published 2026-02-26
3. Migration / Residence Permits · Public Service Development Agency of Georgia · checked 2026-10-11
4. Law of Georgia on Labour Migration (consolidated text, publication of 25 June 2026) · Legislative Herald of Georgia (matsne.gov.ge) · checked 2026-10-12
5. Law of Georgia on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons (current consolidated text) · Legislative Herald of Georgia · checked 2026-10-11
6. Procedures for Reviewing and Deciding the Granting of Georgian Residence Permits · Legislative Herald of Georgia · checked 2026-10-11