Long-Term Stay in Georgia: A Nomad’s Guide to Extended Living

Most nomads planning a long stay in Georgia hit the same wall in 2026. The visa rules look simple, but the tax rules, the insurance options and the rental market all need real research. Rents have climbed since 2024, and a lot of old forum advice is out of date. This guide covers the logistics of living here for one to six months, so you can plan with current numbers instead of guesses.

The One-Year Visa-Free Rule: What It Actually Covers

Citizens of about 95 countries, including the US, UK, EU states, Canada, Australia and Ukraine, can enter Georgia without a visa and stay for up to 365 days. You get a stamp or digital entry record at the border, and that is the whole process. No application, no fee, no proof of income.

The rule has limits you should understand before you book anything:

• It is a stay right, not a work permit. Visa-free entry does not give you a legal basis to take a job with a Georgian employer. Working remotely for foreign clients is a different matter, covered in the tax section below.
• The 365 days count from your entry date. Leaving and coming back has historically restarted the clock, but border officers have discretion. Do not build a plan around repeated “border runs” without checking the current practice first.
• Your passport matters. Some nationalities get only 30 or 90 days, or need an e-visa. Check the official e-visa portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for your passport before you fly.
• Bring onward-travel flexibility. Airlines sometimes ask for a return ticket. A refundable flight or a cheap exit by land to Armenia or Turkey solves this.

For a stay of one to six months, the visa-free rule is enough. You only need a residence permit if you plan to stay beyond a year or want a formal legal status.

Remotely from Georgia and Residence Permits: When You Need Paperwork

The Remotely from Georgia programme launched in 2020, when borders were mostly closed. It required proof of roughly US$2,000 in monthly income and valid health insurance. Because most nationalities can now stay a full year without it, the programme matters mainly for people from countries with short visa-free limits. Check the official Georgian government portal for its current status and requirements before applying.

For a longer, more formal stay, Georgia offers temporary residence permits. The common routes are:

• Work or business activity. This suits people who register as an individual entrepreneur.
• Property ownership. Buying property worth about US$100,000 or more can qualify you for residence.
• Study or family reasons. These are less relevant to most nomads.

Applications go through the Public Service Hall, and state fees run to a few hundred lari. Processing times vary, so apply well before your visa-free year ends. A permit lets you stay without leaving, but it also changes your tax residency picture, so read the next section before you decide.

Working Legally: The 1% Small Business Regime

This is the section most nomads skip, and it is the one that causes the most trouble later. Georgia taxes tax residents on worldwide income. You become a tax resident by spending 183 days or more in Georgia within any 12-month period. If you stay for six months or longer, you are close to that line.

If you freelance or run your own business, the practical option is to register as an individual entrepreneur (IE) with Small Business status. The key facts for 2026:

• The rate is 1% of turnover, not profit. You pay it on gross income received, with no deductions.
• The annual limit is GEL 500,000. Above that, the rate rises and the status may be lost.
• Registration is online through the Revenue Service portal. You need a Georgian tax number, and many people use an accountant to get set up.
• You file a monthly declaration, due by the 15th of the following month. Months with zero income still need a declaration.
• Foreign clients are fine. Income from clients abroad is normal for this status, but you should keep invoices and bank records.

On GEL 8,000 of monthly income, the tax is GEL 80. That is why the regime is so popular. A local accountant typically charges GEL 50–150 per month for filing and support, and it is money well spent. Rules change, and some professions are excluded, so confirm your situation with a Georgian accountant. Also check your home country’s tax rules, since leaving your home tax system is not automatic.

If you stay under 183 days and keep your home employment and tax arrangements, you may not need to register in Georgia at all. That depends on your home country and your employer, so get advice before deciding.

Health Insurance for Long Stays

Georgia does not require visa-free visitors to hold insurance, but you should not go without it. Private clinics in Tbilisi and Batumi are modern and often cheaper than Western Europe, yet a hospital stay or surgery can still cost thousands of lari. Public healthcare for foreigners is limited, so private cover is the sensible route.

Your options in 2026:

• International nomad insurance. Plans from global providers cost roughly GEL 100–300 per month for adults under 40, depending on coverage and deductible. These usually cover evacuation and travel outside Georgia.
• Local Georgian insurers. Local plans can cost GEL 40–120 per month for basic cover and work well with Georgian clinics. Check that they cover pre-existing conditions and that they accept foreigners for stays longer than a few months.
• Residence permit requirement. If you apply for a permit, you will need insurance that meets the immigration rules. Confirm the exact standard before buying.

Pharmacies are everywhere, and many medicines are sold without a prescription. If you take regular medication, bring a supply and a doctor’s letter with the generic name for the drug.

Renting an Apartment for 1–6 Months

The rental market is the biggest budget variable. Prices rose sharply between 2022 and 2025, and 2026 has not brought relief in Tbilisi. Rates below are for furnished one-bedroom apartments on monthly or multi-month leases.

• Tbilisi: GEL 1,300–2,500 per month, depending on building quality and location. Cheaper flats exist further from the centre.
• Batumi: GEL 900–1,800 in the off-season (October to April). Summer prices can jump by 50% or more, and some landlords only offer short stays at tourist rates in July and August.
• Kutaisi: GEL 600–1,100. Kutaisi is the cheapest of the three, and the Kutaisi airport has Wizz Air and other budget routes to Europe.

Search on Georgian listing sites such as MyHome.ge and SS.ge, and in local Facebook rental groups. Many landlords advertise in lari or US dollars, so ask which currency the contract uses. Expect a deposit of one month’s rent, and ask whether utilities are included. In winter, gas or electric heating can add GEL 100–250 per month in an older building.

Book a short stay first, a week or two in a guesthouse or short-term rental. Then view flats in person. Photos online often hide thin walls, weak heating and slow internet.

2026 Monthly Budget in GEL

These figures are for one person living in Tbilisi, including rent. Batumi in the off-season is similar, and Kutaisi runs about 20–30% lower.

Budget: GEL 2,200–3,000 per month

• Rent: GEL 1,200–1,600 for a small flat or a room in a shared apartment
• Food: GEL 600–800, mostly cooking at home and eating at local canteens
• Transport, SIM, internet: GEL 150–200
• Insurance: GEL 40–120
• Accountant and misc.: GEL 100–200

Mid-range: GEL 3,500–5,000 per month

• Rent: GEL 1,800–2,500 for a good one-bedroom
• Food: GEL 1,000–1,400, with regular restaurant meals
• Transport, SIM, internet: GEL 250–350
• Insurance: GEL 150–300
• Gym, weekend trips, taxis: GEL 400–700

Comfortable: GEL 5,500–8,000+ per month

• Rent: GEL 2,500–4,000 for a modern flat in a premium building
• Food: GEL 1,800–2,500, with frequent dining out and wine
• Insurance: GEL 250–400 for international cover
• Domestic travel, car rental, private services: GEL 700–1,500

A few price anchors help you check your spending. A metro ride is about GEL 1. A khachapuri costs GEL 12–20 in a standard restaurant. A glass of local wine is GEL 7–15, and a Bolt taxi across Tbilisi is usually GEL 8–15. Georgia is still cheaper than Western Europe and North America, but it is no longer the bargain of a decade ago.

Money, SIM Cards and Home Internet

Banking. TBC Bank and Bank of Georgia both open accounts for foreigners, usually with a passport and proof of address or a tax number. Some branches are more accommodating than others, so be patient and try a second branch if the first says no. International cards work in most shops, but a local account makes paying rent and taxes easier. Wise works well for transfers, but check each provider’s current rules on Georgian lari.

SIM cards. Magti, Silknet and Cellfie sell tourist and long-term SIMs. Expect GEL 20–45 per month for a plan with plenty of data. You need your passport to register. Coverage in Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi is strong, and mountain areas are patchy outside main roads.

Home internet. Fibre is widespread in cities, with plans at GEL 25–50 per month for speeds well above what most remote work needs. Ask the landlord to confirm the provider and speed before signing. Many flats already have a working connection you can keep in your name or theirs.

What Has Changed Since 2024

Several things look different for a nomad arriving in 2026:

• Rents are higher. The influx of foreign residents since 2022 pushed up prices, especially in Tbilisi and Batumi. Do not trust 2023 blog posts quoting GEL 700 one-bedrooms.
• More flights. Direct routes to Tbilisi and Kutaisi from European cities have expanded, and budget carriers have added seasonal services. Flying into Kutaisi and taking a bus or train to your base city is often the cheapest way in.
• Better rail between cities. Georgian Railway’s modern trains on the Tbilisi–Batumi line make a weekend by the sea easy. Book seats early in summer, and check the timetable because schedules change by season.
• Tbilisi metro and transport. The metro remains cheap, and payment with the Metromoney card or contactless is standard. Check current line works and station closures before planning your commute.
• Stricter attention to tax and status. Authorities and banks pay more attention to who is earning what in Georgia. Registering properly is simpler than explaining unregistered income later.

Settling In: The First Two Weeks

A sensible first-fortnight order:

1. Arrive and stay in a short-term rental for 7–14 days.
2. Buy a SIM and set up a ride-hailing app.
3. Visit flats in person and sign a lease with a clear deposit and exit clause.
4. Meet an accountant and register your business status if you need one.
5. Open a bank account and arrange insurance.
6. Learn the basics: Georgian greetings, how to read a menu and which bus or metro line is yours.

Learn a few Georgian words. “Gmadlobt” (thank you) and “gamarjoba” (hello) get warmer reactions than any phrasebook English, and landlords, bakers and neighbours remember the effort.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can I stay in Georgia without a visa in 2026?

Citizens of about 95 countries, including the US, UK, EU and Canada, can stay up to 365 days visa-free. Some nationalities have shorter limits or need an e-visa. Check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs e-visa portal for your passport before you travel, as lists and conditions can change.

Do I need to pay tax in Georgia as a remote worker?

It depends on how long you stay. Spending 183 days or more in any 12-month period makes you a Georgian tax resident. Many freelancers register as individual entrepreneurs under the 1% small business regime. For shorter stays, your home country rules may apply. Ask a Georgian accountant to confirm your situation.

How much does a one-bedroom apartment cost in Tbilisi in 2026?

Expect about GEL 1,300–2,500 per month for a furnished one-bedroom apartment, depending on the building and its condition. Cheaper options exist farther from the centre or in shared flats. Landlords may quote in US dollars, so confirm the contract currency and whether utilities are included before you pay a deposit.

Is health insurance mandatory for long stays in Georgia?

Visa-free visitors do not need insurance to enter, but it is strongly recommended. Residence permit applicants usually need it. International nomad plans cost roughly GEL 100–300 per month, while local plans can start around GEL 40–120. Check coverage for pre-existing conditions and evacuation before you buy.

Which Georgian city is cheapest for a long stay?

Kutaisi is usually the cheapest, with one-bedroom rents around GEL 600–1,100. Batumi is affordable from October to April but expensive in summer. Tbilisi has the most services and the highest rents. Your best choice depends on whether you want low costs, sea air or a larger city.

📷 Featured image by Austin Distel on Unsplash.