Breaking Legal Development: On April 15, 2026 Georgia enacted Law №1509, fundamentally amending the Law “On Labor Migration“. Combined with Government Resolution №70 (February 20, 2026), this is the most significant restructuring of Georgia’s labor immigration framework in years.
Introduction: Two Seismic Changes in 12 Months
If you are a foreign professional working in Georgia, an entrepreneur operating here, or a Georgian company employing international staff — the legal ground shifted beneath you in 2026. Twice.
The first shift: Government Resolution №70 (February 20, 2026) established a mandatory, formal work authorization regime effective March 1, 2026. For the first time, foreign nationals without permanent residence in Georgia must obtain official approval before performing compensated work or business activity.
The second shift: Law №1509 (April 15, 2026) — published to the official legal gazette on the very date of signing — introduces a package of new exemptions from the permit requirement, expands and clarifies key definitions, and creates an entirely new legal institution: “short-term professional activity”.
Together, these two instruments define the new reality of labor migration in Georgia. Understanding them is no longer optional — it is a compliance obligation.
Part I — Government Resolution №70: The Mandatory Work Permit Regime (Effective March 1, 2026)
Who Must Obtain Work Authorization?
As of March 1, 2026, work authorization is required for any foreign national without permanent residence in Georgia who:
- Performs compensated work for a Georgian employer under an employment contract;
- Conducts self-employed, freelance, or entrepreneurial activity for financial gain in Georgia.
The Authorization Process
The Employment Promotion State Agency, within the Ministry of Labour’s system, is the issuing authority.
For Georgian Employers Hiring Foreign Employees:
- Post the vacancy on the state Worknet platform for at least 10 working days;
- Document that no suitable local candidate was available;
- Submit electronic application through the migration system;
- Processing time: 30 calendar days (standard) / 10 working days (expedited);
- Service fee: Capped at 500 GEL (Law on Labor Migration, Article 13⁴(8)).
Employer Obligation: When an employment contract with a foreign national ends or is modified, the employer must report this to the Ministry’s electronic system within 5 calendar days. Missing this deadline creates cascading compliance risk — affecting both future authorization filings and the foreign employee’s immigration status.
Part II — Law №1509 (April 15, 2026): New Exemptions and Institutions
The New Exemptions from Work Authorization (Article 1, Paragraph 4)
The law adds sub-clauses “Z” through “M” to Article 1(4) of the Labor Migration Law, exempting the following from work permit requirements:
| Sub-Clause | Who Is Exempt |
| “Z” | Persons holding a valid special residence permit issued at the written initiative of a member of the Georgian government |
| “T” | Foreigners performing short-term professional activities as defined by government decree |
| “I” | Persons working for the benefit of public institutions or state-owned / state-participated enterprises |
| “K” | Foreigners performing work entirely remotely for a local Georgian employer — where the activity does not require physical presence in Georgia |
| “L” | Foreigners rendering services for a non-resident person, where the work is connected to that non-resident’s activities outside Georgia |
| “M” | Persons in management, governance, or audit committee roles at Category I, II, or III enterprises as defined by Georgia’s Accounting, Reporting and Audit Law |
Sub-clause “K” — removes a major friction point for Georgian startups and tech companies with distributed international teams.
Sub-clause “M” — This directly addresses the practical reality of international corporate governance.
The New Legal Institution: “Short-Term Professional Activity” (New Article 13⁹)
Law №1509’s most structurally innovative element is the creation of a new Article 13⁹ — a purpose-built legal framework for short-term professional visits. This is an institution with no precedent in Georgian labor migration law.
The Framework Under Article 13⁹:
- Paragraph 1: A foreign national may perform short-term professional activity without work authorization and without a corresponding residence permit, provided:
(a) the activity takes place within a temporary visit;
(b) it does not constitute long-term employment in the local labor market; and
(c) it is tied to a specific short-term project, event, or service;
- Paragraph 2: The specific list of qualifying activities, duration limits, and classification criteria will be determined by a separate government decree;
- Paragraph 3: A person performing short-term professional activity is explicitly NOT classified as a “labor immigrant” or “self-employed foreigner” under Georgian law — with significant implications for taxation, registration, and immigration status.
Updated Definition of “Self-Employed Foreigner” (Article 3, Sub-clause “G2”)
Law №1509 significantly expands the definition of “self-employed foreigner” to explicitly include: independent contractors in trade, services, or other activities; persons otherwise involved in entrepreneurial/labor processes; where the purpose is financial gain.
This broader definition captures more foreign professionals within the regulated category. Critically, it means the burden of proving an exemption applies falls on the individual or their employer — making proactive legal review essential.
Part III — Who Is Affected and What Must You Do?
Georgian Companies Employing Foreign Nationals
- Audit your entire foreign workforce against the new exemption sub-clauses;
- Document exemption eligibility with appropriate evidence — exemptions are not self-applying;
- Build the 10-working-day Worknet posting period into recruitment timelines;
- Implement a process to ensure 5-calendar-day termination reporting compliance.
Foreign IT Professionals and Remote Workers
- Fully remote work for a Georgian employer, performed from abroad without physical entry: exempt under sub-clause “K”;
- Remote work while physically present in Georgia: standard authorization applies unless another exemption covers you;
- Documentation of the fully remote nature of work is essential to substantiate the exemption.
Foreign Company Directors and Board Members
- Management, governance, and audit committee roles in Category I, II, III enterprises: exempt under sub-clause “M”;
- Review your corporate governance documents to confirm Category classification;
- Directors who also perform operational roles may face different analysis.
Self-Employed Foreigners and Entrepreneurs
- The expanded “self-employed foreigner” definition likely encompasses most independent professionals without permanent residence;
- Sub-clause “L” may exempt services rendered to non-resident clients for activities outside Georgia — but this requires careful structuring and documentation;
- Tax obligations continue regardless of work authorization status — compensation remains taxable.
Conclusion
Georgia’s 2025–2026 labor migration reform is a genuine structural overhaul — not a procedural update.
Georgia remains one of the most commercially open and accessible jurisdictions in the region for international professionals and investors. The 2026 reforms formalize and structure that openness. With precise legal guidance, the new framework is navigable — and for many, the new exemptions are genuinely advantageous.
NOMOS GEORGIA — Trusted legal advisors for international & regional companies, foreign professionals, Georgian employers, and international investors navigating Georgia’s evolving legal landscape. Our team specializes in immigration law, corporate law, and business setup across all sectors.
Contact us: nomosgeorgia.com/contact
Suggested Links
External (Official Sources):
- Law №1509 — matsne.gov.ge — Registration Code: 270000000.05.001.017705
- Law “On Labor Migration” (consolidated) — including April 15, 2026 amendment
- Employment Promotion State Agency — ssa.gov.ge
- Worknet — worknet.gov.ge
