Moving to Georgia as a Digital Nomad: Step-by-Step Relocation Guide

Georgia’s visa-free policy has attracted a steady wave of remote workers since 2020, but in 2026 the process of actually relocating — not just visiting — is more structured than most travel blogs suggest. Tax rules have tightened, the Remotely from Georgia programme has updated its income requirements, and Georgian banks have become considerably more cautious about opening accounts for foreigners without the right paperwork. If you’re planning to stay for one to six months and work remotely the entire time, you need a clear sequence of steps before you land, not after.

Visa-Free Entry and Legal Stay: How the 365-Day Rule Actually Works

Citizens of most Western countries, including all EU member states, the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, can enter Georgia without a visa and remain for up to 365 days within any calendar year. This is not a rolling 365-day period — it resets on 1 January each year. That distinction matters: if you arrive in September 2026 and stay until August 2027, you are technically drawing from two separate annual allowances.

The entry stamp at the border is your legal basis for staying. There is no registration requirement for stays under 90 days, but for longer stays you are expected to register your place of residence with the Public Service Hall (Sakhalkho Sarkhisi). In practice, many landlords will handle this for you if you ask — it costs nothing and takes about 20 minutes. Registration is not strictly enforced in 2026, but it becomes relevant if you open a bank account, register a business, or need a formal address for any government interaction.

One practical reality that catches people off guard: Georgia does not issue a stamp when you exit by land. If you cross into Armenia or Turkey and come back the same week, border officers are generally unconcerned. But if you have been in Georgia for 340 days and are trying to reset your count by doing a border run, understand that this is a grey area. The Georgian Revenue Service tracks tax residency separately from immigration stay, and the two systems do not always communicate cleanly.

The Remotely from Georgia Programme: Who Qualifies and What It Actually Offers

The Remotely from Georgia (RFG) programme, launched in 2020, was updated again in early 2025 and remains active in 2026 under the administration of Enterprise Georgia. The programme is not a visa — Georgia does not need to issue you one — but it provides a formal confirmation letter that simplifies banking, gives you access to a dedicated support hotline, and in some cases helps with the revenue service registration process.

To qualify in 2026, you must meet all of the following:

• Be a citizen of a country eligible for visa-free entry to Georgia
• Have a monthly income of at least USD 2,000 (or equivalent in EUR or GBP), evidenced by three months of bank statements or payslips
• Be employed by a company registered outside Georgia, or work as a freelancer with clients outside Georgia
• Have valid health insurance covering Georgia for the duration of your stay

The application is done online through the Enterprise Georgia portal and typically takes five to seven business days to process. There is no application fee. Once approved, you receive a confirmation letter that you can use when opening a bank account or explaining your status to a landlord. The programme does not grant any additional immigration rights beyond what your passport already provides, but it signals to Georgian institutions that you are a legitimate long-term resident rather than an extended tourist.

One common misconception: the programme does not automatically make you a Georgian tax resident, and it does not enrol you in the 1% small business regime. Those are separate steps you take if and when you decide you want to formalise your tax situation here.

Setting Up as a Legal Entity: The 1% Small Business Regime Explained

Georgia’s tax system is one of the most straightforward in Europe and the Caucasus for self-employed individuals. If your annual revenue is under GEL 500,000 (approximately USD 185,000 at 2026 exchange rates), you can register as an Individual Entrepreneur (IE) and elect the Small Business Status, which means you pay 1% income tax on turnover — not profit. There is no VAT obligation below that threshold, and there is no corporate structure required.

The process to register involves three steps:

1. Obtain a personal identification number (PIN): Done at any Public Service Hall. Bring your passport. Takes about 30 minutes and costs GEL 5 for standard processing or GEL 20 for same-day.
2. Register as an Individual Entrepreneur: Also done at the Public Service Hall or online via the Georgian Revenue Service portal (rs.ge). You will need your PIN and a local address.
3. Apply for Small Business Status: Submitted electronically through rs.ge immediately after IE registration. Approval usually comes within 24 hours.

Once registered, you file quarterly declarations and pay the 1% tax on any income received during that quarter. Payments are made through the Revenue Service’s online portal — it accepts Georgian bank transfers, and this is one of the main reasons having a local bank account is not optional if you go this route.

A point worth understanding clearly: if you are employed by a foreign company on a salary, you do not technically need to register as an IE in Georgia. You remain subject to the tax laws of your home country in most cases (always verify with a tax adviser in your home jurisdiction). The IE route is most relevant if you are a freelancer invoicing clients directly, or if you want to formally reduce your tax exposure while living in Georgia long-term.

Banking and Money: Opening a Georgian Account as a Non-Resident

This is the step that causes the most friction in 2026. Georgian banks, particularly TBC Bank and Bank of Georgia (the two dominant players), tightened their account-opening requirements significantly after 2023 in response to pressure from international financial compliance bodies. Walking in with just a passport no longer works reliably.

What gives you the best chance of success:

• An RFG confirmation letter from Enterprise Georgia
• A signed rental agreement for a Georgian address (three months minimum is ideal)
• Three months of foreign bank statements showing regular income
• Your passport and, if registered, your Georgian PIN

TBC Bank’s digital app (TBC Pay) allows non-residents to open a basic account online in 2026, though the account comes with transfer limits until you verify in person at a branch. Bank of Georgia has a similar process through its Space platform. For most remote workers, a TBC or Bank of Georgia account is sufficient for daily life: utility payments, rent transfers, and ATM withdrawals.

If you plan to receive international transfers from clients or employers, check whether your bank permits SWIFT or SEPA inbound transfers to personal accounts — this varies by account tier. The fees for incoming international transfers at Georgian banks in 2026 are typically between GEL 5–15 per transfer, and conversion from USD or EUR happens automatically at the interbank rate with a small bank margin.

Health Insurance: What You Need, What It Costs, and What to Avoid

Georgia has a public healthcare system, but it is not accessible to non-residents on a meaningful basis. You need private health insurance from the moment you arrive, particularly if you are applying for the RFG programme, which requires it as a condition of participation.

In 2026, the main options for remote workers are:

• International travel/expat policies: Providers like SafetyWing, Cigna Global, and AXA offer plans designed for long-term travellers. SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance runs approximately USD 45–60 per month for adults under 40, covers hospitalisation and emergency care, but has notable exclusions for pre-existing conditions and routine care.
• Local Georgian insurance: GPI (Georgian Pension and Insurance), Aldagi, and Imedi L all offer short-term and annual private health policies in Georgia. A basic plan covering outpatient, inpatient, and emergency care costs between GEL 80–180 per month depending on age and coverage level. Comprehensive plans with no co-pay and dental coverage can reach GEL 400–500 per month.

For stays of three months or more, a local Georgian policy is often better value than an international plan, and Georgian private hospitals generally accept them without the paperwork friction that international policies sometimes involve. The Aversi and Curatio clinic chains, both well-established in Tbilisi and other major cities, have English-speaking staff and accept most major local insurers.

Finding Long-Term Accommodation: Rental Reality in 2026

Rental prices across Georgia rose sharply between 2022 and 2024 following the arrival of large numbers of Russian and Ukrainian nationals. The market stabilised somewhat in 2025, but prices in central Tbilisi and Batumi remain substantially higher than they were in 2021. In 2026, here is what you can realistically expect for a furnished one-bedroom apartment on a monthly contract of at least one month:

• Tbilisi (central areas including Vake, Saburtalo, Vera): GEL 1,800–3,500 per month. Higher-end apartments with modern fit-out and reliable hot water cost GEL 2,500–4,000.
• Tbilisi (outer districts including Gldani, Isani, Samgori): GEL 900–1,600 per month. Infrastructure is more variable but improving — Tbilisi’s metro extension to Gldani and Isani completed in 2025 has improved connectivity significantly.
• Kutaisi: GEL 700–1,400 per month. The most affordable major city for remote workers. Internet infrastructure has improved considerably since Wizz Air and Ryanair expanded their Kutaisi routes in 2025, bringing more foreign visitors and investment.
• Batumi: GEL 1,200–2,800 per month in the city centre. Seasonal variation is significant — prices drop 20–30% outside June–September.

The best platforms for finding long-term rentals in 2026 are SS.ge (Georgia’s dominant property listings site, in Georgian and Russian but usable with browser translation) and MyHome.ge, which has a more functional English interface. Facebook groups for expats in Tbilisi and Batumi are also active and often have direct-from-landlord listings that avoid agency fees.

Negotiate for a minimum three-month contract in writing, always with a receipt for each payment. Georgian law provides some tenant protections, but enforcement depends on having a written agreement. The smell of a wood-burning stove from the floor below on a November night is charming until you realise the apartment’s heating system hasn’t worked since 2019 — ask specifically about heating before you sign anything.

2026 Budget Reality: Monthly Cost of Living by Tier

These figures assume a single adult living in Tbilisi. Adjust downward by roughly 25–30% for Kutaisi, and expect broadly similar costs to Tbilisi in central Batumi during summer.

Budget tier (GEL 2,500–3,500/month): Outer-district apartment at GEL 1,000–1,400, cooking most meals at home, local transport only (metro and marshrutka), basic health insurance at GEL 80–100. Eating out occasionally at local restaurants where a full meal costs GEL 15–30.

Mid-range tier (GEL 3,500–5,500/month): Central apartment at GEL 2,000–2,800, mix of home cooking and regular restaurant meals, occasional taxi use (Bolt is widely available and inexpensive — a cross-city ride rarely exceeds GEL 20), mid-level health insurance at GEL 150–200, gym membership at GEL 60–120.

Comfortable tier (GEL 5,500–8,000+/month): Modern central apartment at GEL 3,000–4,500, dining out frequently (a meal at a mid-to-upper restaurant costs GEL 60–120 including wine), comprehensive health insurance, regular weekend travel within Georgia, coworking space if preferred.

Utilities (electricity, water, gas, building maintenance) typically add GEL 150–350 per month depending on season and apartment size. Georgian winters are cold enough in Tbilisi that gas heating costs climb sharply in December and January.

Mobile, Internet, and Connectivity: Getting Set Up on Arrival

Georgia has three major mobile operators: Magti, Geocell (operating as Silknet Mobile), and Beeline Georgia. All three sell SIM cards at the airport and at retail outlets across every major city, and all require only a passport for purchase — no local address needed.

In 2026, monthly data plans are inexpensive by European standards. A plan with unlimited local calls and 30GB of data typically costs GEL 20–35 per month. Unlimited data plans (with throttling after a set threshold) run GEL 40–60. Magti and Silknet have the widest 4G/5G coverage across Tbilisi; for remote areas and mountain regions, Magti generally edges ahead on signal reliability.

For home internet, Georgian ISPs have improved substantially. Speeds of 100–300 Mbps are standard in most Tbilisi apartments in 2026, and fibre connections (Silknet and Magti Fiber) are available in newer buildings throughout the city. Ask your landlord before signing whether the apartment has fibre already installed — getting a new connection set up takes three to seven days and costs around GEL 30–50 for the router, with monthly subscriptions from GEL 35–80 depending on speed tier. The warmth of a reliable 200 Mbps connection on a rainy Tbilisi afternoon, with the sound of rain tapping the old wooden shutters outside, is genuinely one of the better working environments you will find anywhere in Europe or the Caucasus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pay taxes in Georgia if I work remotely for a foreign company?

Not automatically. If you are employed by a foreign company and receive a salary, Georgia generally does not tax that income unless you formally establish tax residency here. Tax residency is triggered by spending more than 183 days in Georgia in a calendar year, or by registering as an Individual Entrepreneur. Always verify your home-country obligations with a tax adviser before assuming you owe nothing anywhere.

Can I open a Georgian bank account without registering as an Individual Entrepreneur?

Yes. A bank account and an IE registration are completely separate processes. You can open a personal account as a non-resident with your passport, proof of address, and ideally an RFG programme confirmation letter. IE registration is only needed if you want to invoice clients through a Georgian legal entity and use the 1% small business tax regime.

How long does the Remotely from Georgia application take in 2026?

The standard processing time is five to seven business days from submission of a complete application. Applications with missing income documents or incomplete insurance details are returned for revision, which restarts the clock. Apply before you travel, not after arrival. The online portal is in English and the process is straightforward if your documents are in order.

Is Georgia safe for solo female remote workers?

Georgia consistently ranks as one of the safer countries in the region for solo travellers of any gender. Street crime is low in Tbilisi and other major cities, and the remote worker community is well-established and generally welcoming. Standard urban awareness applies. The main friction points for solo female travellers tend to be cultural rather than safety-related, particularly outside Tbilisi in more conservative rural areas.

What happens if I overstay the 365-day annual allowance?

Overstaying your allowed time in Georgia can result in a fine, a ban from re-entry, or both. The Georgian border service tracks entry and exit dates electronically. If you are approaching your 365-day limit, you must exit Georgia before the limit is reached. In 2026, there is no formal extension mechanism for visa-free stays — the only legal options are to leave, apply for a residence permit through a different pathway (such as property ownership or company registration), or speak with an immigration lawyer about your specific situation.

📷 Featured image by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash.