Living in Georgia as a Foreigner: Expat Essentials for Remote Workers

Search for “moving to Georgia as a remote worker” in 2026 and you will find forum posts from 2021, outdated tax advice and three different answers about how long you can stay. This guide cuts through that. It covers the logistics for people planning one to six months, or longer, in Georgia: visa rules, the Remotely from Georgia programme, the 1% tax regime, insurance, rent and daily setup. Rules here change quickly, so confirm key details with official sources before you commit.

The One-Year Visa-Free Stay: What You Get and What to Carry

Citizens of roughly 95 countries, including the EU states, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia, can enter Georgia without a visa and stay for up to 365 days. That is unusually generous, and it is the main reason Georgia became a remote work hub. You do not need to register your address or apply for anything in advance. You show your passport at the border, get a stamp, and the clock starts.

Some nationalities do need an e-visa, which is applied for online and usually processed within days. If you are unsure which group you belong to, check the official Georgian e-visa portal rather than a travel blog.

Staying for a full year is not guaranteed in practice. Border officers can ask about your plans, so carry these items when you arrive:

• A passport valid for the whole planned stay
• Proof of accommodation, such as a booking or rental agreement
• Evidence of income or funds, such as a bank statement
• Travel insurance covering the first weeks

When your year ends, you must leave. Many people exit to Armenia, Azerbaijan or Turkey and return. Re-entry is usually allowed and restarts the 365 days. It is not a legal right, though, and officers may question repeated border runs. If you plan to stay longer than a year, start the residence permit process well before your day 365.

Remotely from Georgia and Residence Permits: When a Stamp Is Not Enough

The Remotely from Georgia programme was launched for foreign remote workers and freelancers who want an official status. Applicants have generally needed to show proof of monthly income of about GEL 5,400, health insurance valid in Georgia, and a clean record. Applications go through the government’s online portal. Because the programme has been adjusted several times, read the current requirements on the official site before you gather documents.

Most workers staying under a year do not need it. The visa-free stamp already lets you live here and work remotely for foreign clients. The programme makes sense if you want a clearer legal footing, for example for a bank, a landlord or a longer-term plan.

For stays beyond one year, these are the main residence permit routes:

• Temporary residence permit: issued for up to one year at a time, and linked to work, business activity, study or family ties.
• Property ownership permit: available to people who buy qualifying real estate. Check the current minimum value and conditions first, as they have been revised.
• Individual entrepreneur route: registering a business activity can support a residence application, but you need real documentation behind it.

Processing times and fees change, so budget a few hundred lari for official fees and allow several weeks. Hire a licensed immigration lawyer if your case is complicated. Expect to pay GEL 300–800 for a straightforward application.

Paying Tax at 1%: The Individual Entrepreneur Route

Georgia taxes residents on worldwide income, and you become a tax resident if you spend 183 days or more in the country within any 12-month period. For many freelancers, the practical answer is small business status for individual entrepreneurs. It applies a flat 1% tax on turnover up to GEL 500,000 per calendar year. There is no tax on profit, so you do not deduct expenses. You pay on what you invoice.

Here is how it works in practice:

1. Register as an individual entrepreneur on the Revenue Service portal. Registration itself is free.
2. Apply for small business status, which is also free and usually granted quickly.
3. File a monthly declaration by the 15th of the following month, even in months with no income.
4. Pay 1% of that month’s turnover through your bank or the portal.

If your turnover passes GEL 500,000 in a year, you lose the status and move to the standard regime. You also need to consider VAT once turnover reaches GEL 100,000.

Two warnings. First, Georgian registration does not cancel obligations at home. Your country of citizenship, especially the US, may still tax you. Second, if you are a tax resident elsewhere, check the double-taxation treaty between that country and Georgia. Many local accountants file the monthly declarations for GEL 50–150, which is cheap insurance against missed deadlines and penalties.

Health Insurance and Seeing a Doctor in Georgia

Foreign residents are not covered by the state health scheme, so you need private insurance. Border officers may ask for it, and the Remotely from Georgia programme requires it. Do not rely on a card from home unless it explicitly covers you in Georgia.

Your realistic options:

• Local Georgian insurers: basic plans start around GEL 400–1,200 per year. Cover is limited, and many plans rely on specific partner clinics.
• International expat plans: roughly GEL 150–400 per month depending on age, limits and whether you add evacuation cover.
• Travel insurance for nomads: flexible monthly policies, often GEL 100–200 per month. Check that they accept long stays and pre-existing conditions you may have.

Private clinics in Tbilisi and Batumi are modern, and many doctors speak English. A GP visit usually costs GEL 60–150, and a basic dental check around GEL 50–100. Pharmacies are everywhere and sell many medicines without prescriptions that would need one in Europe. Still, serious surgery is a case where insurance with evacuation cover matters. Cities like Tbilisi have strong care, but rural regions do not.

Long-Term Rentals: Lease Rules, Seasons and Real Prices

Rental prices rose sharply after 2022 and have not returned to old levels. Tbilisi is the most expensive city. Batumi swings with the seasons. Kutaisi is the cheapest of the three, and its flight links have made it more popular with longer-stay visitors.

• Tbilisi: a one-bedroom apartment typically costs GEL 1,500–2,800 per month, depending on quality and furnishing.
• Batumi: GEL 1,200–2,500 in the off-season. Summer rates can climb well above that, or landlords only offer short-term lets.
• Kutaisi: GEL 700–1,300 for a one-bedroom apartment, often with more space for the money.

Most landlords ask for a deposit equal to one month’s rent plus the first month in advance. Contracts are often written in Georgian and English. Ask for a copy, photograph the apartment’s condition on move-in, and confirm in writing who pays utilities.

Utilities are separate in most lets. Winter bills run higher because of gas heating, often GEL 150–350 per month for a one-bedroom. Internet is cheap and fast: fibre packages cost GEL 25–45 per month. Ask the landlord what the heating actually is before you sign.

If you want a month of flexibility, book a short-term stay first, then search in person. Online listings often show higher prices than what landlords accept in a face-to-face visit.

Banking, SIM Cards and Setting Up Daily Life

You can open a personal bank account with a passport at the major banks, including TBC and Bank of Georgia. Requirements vary by branch. Bring proof of address (a rental contract helps), your passport, and be ready to explain your income. Opening a business or individual entrepreneur account is a separate step, and it matters when you start paying the 1% tax. Cards are accepted almost everywhere in cities, but cash is still useful in villages and small markets.

Mobile service is cheap. Magti, Silknet and Cellfie all sell tourist and resident SIMs. Data plans usually cost GEL 15–35 per month for large allowances, and coverage is good in cities and along main roads. You will need your passport to register the SIM.

For getting around, Tbilisi’s metro and buses use a rechargeable card, with a single ride costing around GEL 1. Ride-hailing apps like Bolt are cheap for short trips. For longer distances, trains between Tbilisi and Batumi on the modern Stadler fleet take around five hours and cost a fraction of a taxi.

Learn basic Georgian greetings. People respond warmly to even a few words, and it helps when dealing with landlords and shopkeepers.

2026 Monthly Budget Reality

These figures cover a single person living in a mid-sized apartment, including rent, utilities, food, transport, insurance and a mobile plan. They exclude flights and tax.

• Budget (GEL 2,200–3,200): a smaller one-bedroom in Kutaisi or an off-season Batumi flat, mostly cooking at home, a basic insurance plan.
• Mid-range (GEL 3,500–5,200): a good one-bedroom in Tbilisi or Batumi, eating out several times a week, international insurance.
• Comfortable (GEL 5,500–8,000+): a modern apartment in a prime location, regular dining out, gym, taxis, weekend trips around Georgia.

Typical daily costs help you plan: a local lunch is GEL 15–30, a restaurant dinner GEL 35–80, a supermarket weekly shop GEL 80–160, and a coffee GEL 7–12. On a 1% tax rate, a freelancer earning GEL 6,000 in a month pays about GEL 60 in tax, plus any accountant fees. Compared with Western European costs, living here is still cheaper, but the gap has narrowed since 2022, especially for rent in Tbilisi.

What Has Changed Since 2024

• Higher rents, more choice: demand from remote workers and new arrivals pushed prices up, but supply of furnished apartments has also grown.
• More flights to Tbilisi and Kutaisi: low-cost carriers have added routes from European cities, which lowers the cost of visits home and border runs.
• Tbilisi transport upgrades: bus and metro improvements and cashless payment have made city life easier.
• Faster rail service: the Tbilisi–Batumi route has stable, modern trains and a more reliable timetable.
• Tighter paperwork culture: banks and landlords ask for more documentation. Expect questions about income and residence.
• Political developments: recent legislation and protests in Tbilisi have drawn international attention. Day-to-day life for visitors is largely normal, but check your government’s travel advice and avoid demonstrations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely in Georgia on a visa-free stay?

Yes. If you work for foreign clients or an employer abroad, the visa-free stay of up to 365 days allows it. You are not employed by a Georgian company, so a work permit is not required. Tax rules still apply once you become a tax resident after 183 days.

How much money do I need to live in Georgia in 2026?

A budget lifestyle starts around GEL 2,200–3,200 per month, mid-range runs GEL 3,500–5,200, and comfortable living costs GEL 5,500 or more. Rent is the biggest variable. Tbilisi costs the most, while Kutaisi is the cheapest of the three main cities for long stays.

What is the 1% tax for freelancers in Georgia?

It is a flat tax on turnover for individual entrepreneurs with small business status, applied to annual turnover up to GEL 500,000. You file a monthly declaration by the 15th of the next month. There are no expense deductions, and you should check your home country’s tax obligations as well.

Do I need health insurance to live in Georgia?

Georgia does not enrol foreign visitors in state healthcare, so private insurance is strongly advised. It may also be required for programmes such as Remotely from Georgia. Plans range from about GEL 100 per month for basic cover to GEL 400 for comprehensive international plans.

Can I open a Georgian bank account as a foreigner?

Yes. Major banks such as TBC and Bank of Georgia open personal accounts for foreigners with a passport and usually proof of address. Requirements vary by branch and can change. Business accounts, needed for your tax registration, involve extra documents and may take longer to set up.

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📷 Featured image by Austin Distel on Unsplash.