Change in labor migration legislation

Starting from March 1, 2026, amendments to the Law of Georgia "On Labour Migration" will enter into force. The purpose of legislative changes is to improve the mechanisms for regulating and managing migration processes, reduce illegal migration, protect Georgia's labour market, and ensure its sustainable development.

According to the amendments, the employment and self-employment of foreign nationals in Georgia will be permitted only in compliance with the relevant regulations. In order for a foreign citizen to be legally employed or to carry out labor/entrepreneurial activities in Georgia, including remotely, they will be required to obtain the work permit.

The authority responsible for issuing work permits will be the LEPL State Employment Support Agency of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia. The process will be fully electronic (the registration portal will become available from March 1, 2026) and will be subject to a fee, amount of which will depend on the processing time. 

The work permit will be granted for a specific position and a specific employer for a period of one year. The employer will be responsible for paying the fee.

If a foreigner does not hold any type of residence permit at the time of submitting the application for a work permit, after obtaining such permit, he/she will be required to obtain a D1 category immigration visa and/or a work residence permit. 
 
According to the Law of Georgia "On Labor Migration", before employing a foreign national, the employer will be required to post the vacancy for at least 10 working days in the Labor Market Management Information System (worknet.moh.gov.ge). The employer will be entitled to submit an application in the special electronic labor migration system for the employment of a foreign citizen only if, during that period, no local candidate with appropriate qualifications is found for the vacancy. 

As for self-employed foreigners, in order to obtain the right to perform labor activities, they must personally complete the electronic application and pay the relevant fee. The work permit granted to a self-employed foreigner will specify the particular field, sector, and type of entrepreneurial activity. 

Failure by a foreign citizen to comply with the requirements established by the Law of Georgia "On Labor Migration" will result in fines for both the employee (including self-employed individuals) and the employer. 

For self-employed foreign nationals who, as of March 1, 2026, are already engaged in labor and/or entrepreneurial activities in Georgia, are partners of operating enterprises, or are otherwise involved in entrepreneurial or labor activities from which they derive financial benefit, the legislative amendments will enter into force on May 1, 2026. 

Foreign nationals registered in the unified database of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia ( www.labourmigration.moh.gov.ge ) whose registration status is active as of March 1, 2026, must obtain the work permit and the relevant residence permit no later than January 1, 2027.

We kindly ask you for your attention to the fact that the obligation to obtain the work permit shall not apply to the following categories of foreign nationals: 

•    A person granted refugee status, subsidiary protection, or temporary protection in accordance with the legislation of Georgia; 
•    An asylum seeker registered in Georgia;
•    A person employed at a diplomatic mission accredited in Georgia, a consular post of a foreign state, or a representation and/or body of an international organization;
•    A journalist accredited in Georgia by a foreign mass media outlet lawfully operating in Georgia; 
•    A person to whom, under an international treaty of Georgia, a different rule for employment applies than that established by the Law of Georgia "On Labor Migration";
•    A person holding a valid investment residence permit;
•    A person holding permanent residence permit. 

Detailed information regarding the rules and procedures for obtaining work permit is available on the official website of the LEPL State Employment Support Agency at the following link: https://labourmigration.moh.gov.ge/