GeorgiaWork

Georgia IT residence permit for tech professionals

Temporary residence permit for persons employed in information technology (IT residence permit)

In short

Georgia's IT residence permit is a three-year temporary permit for IT employees who hold a right to work, IT sole proprietors registered under specific activity codes, and managers of international IT companies, together with their families. Employees and sole proprietors need at least two years of IT experience and annual pay of at least USD 25,000. Fees are GEL 500, 750 or 1,000 depending on processing time.

Apply on Public Service Development Agency – residence permits checked 23 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
3 years on first issue.
Validity
3 years.
Fee
GEL 500Decision on the 30th calendar day; GEL 750 for the 20th day, GEL 1,000 for the 10th day.
Funds required
US$25,000 per yearMinimum annual remuneration in GEL equivalent, received at least twice in the past year at least 30 days apart.
Processing time
30, 20 or 10 calendar days, depending on the fee paid.
Work
Yes, in the IT activity on which the permit is based.
Family
Family members of the IT professional can obtain the same permit.
Path to permanent residence
Counts as temporary residence towards the 10-year permanent residence rule.
Where to apply
In Georgia, at a Public Service Hall or online.

Who qualifies

Four groups can apply: (a) labour immigrants working in IT who hold a right to work from the State Employment Support Agency; (b) small-business individual entrepreneurs whose activity falls under Georgian codes 58.21, 58.29, 62.01, 62.02, 62.03, 62.09, 63.1 or 63.12 (software publishing, programming, IT consulting, data processing and similar); (c) administrators or representatives of an international IT company; and (d) the family members of any of them.

Paperwork

Applications quote the code from the State Employment Support Agency system and include proof of experience and income and, unless the agency can check it electronically, the right-to-work decision. Foreign documents must be legalised or apostilled unless a treaty says otherwise, and translated into Georgian.

Required documents

Identity

  • Copy of passport and proof of lawful stay in Georgia.

Money

  • Proof of at least USD 25,000 annual pay received in at least two payments 30+ days apart.

Work

  • Right-to-work decision (employees) or registry extract with the IT activity code (sole proprietors).
  • Proof of at least 2 years of IT work experience.

Other

  • Recent 3x4 colour photo and fee receipt.

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Family

  • For family members: copy of the holder's permit and apostilled proof of kinship.

Experience and income test

Applicants in groups (a) and (b) must prove at least two years of work experience in IT and annual remuneration of at least USD 25,000 in GEL equivalent. The pay must have been received at least twice during the past year, with at least 30 days between payments.

Fees and processing

The IT permit is more expensive than other temporary permits: GEL 500 for a decision on the 30th calendar day, GEL 750 for the 20th day and GEL 1,000 for the 10th day. Unlike most temporary permits, which are first issued for six months to one year, the IT permit is issued for three years at once, and the 40-day advance filing rule does not apply to it.

Family members

The permit extends to the family members of the IT professional, who apply with a copy of the main holder's permit and proof of kinship.

How to apply, step by step

  1. Obtain a right to work (employee) or register as an individual entrepreneur under an eligible IT code.
  2. Gather experience, income and payment records and apostille foreign documents.
  3. Translate foreign documents into Georgian with certified translation.
  4. Apply at a Public Service Hall or online, choosing the 30, 20 or 10-day service.
  5. After approval, register family members with the main holder's permit.

Forms

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Georgian IT residence permit?

Three years on first issue.

Can a freelance developer use it?

Yes, if registered as a small-business individual entrepreneur under one of the listed IT codes and meeting the experience and income tests.

Is USD 25,000 a monthly or yearly figure?

Yearly remuneration, paid in at least two instalments over the past year.

Do employees still need the right to work?

Yes. Employees in group (a) must hold a right to work from the State Employment Support Agency.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Georgia

Visits and short stays

  • Tourist visa Maximum stay: Visa-free list (Decree No. 255): up to 1 year. C visa holders: 90 days in any 180 days; single-entry visas up to 30 days.
  • Transit visa Maximum stay: Up to 10 days for passage through Georgia

Business and self-employment

Study and training

  • Student visa Maximum stay: Permit first issued for 6 months to 1 year; extendable while studies continue, up to 12 years.

Work

  • Digital nomad visa Maximum stay: Right to stay 1 year.
  • Work visa Maximum stay: Permit first issued for 6 months to 1 year; extendable, up to 12 years in total.

Family

Residence

  • Residence permit Maximum stay: Renewed one year at a time while the property is owned; temporary permits cap at 12 years.
  • Permanent residence Maximum stay: No time limit; issued with the right of permanent living.

Online travel permits

  • e-Visa Maximum stay: Shown for your nationality on the portal; e.g. 30 days per visit on a 120/30 visa, or 90 days in 180 days.

Protection

Georgia visa guide