Moving to Georgia: Residence, Work and Border Guide

Establish your current basis of stay

Record your citizenship, travel document, entry date and the precise basis on which you entered. Check any visa, permit or decision rather than relying on a general description of a 365-day stay. Eligibility varies with the entry route and personal circumstances. Keep an organised travel history and explain any prior refusal or overstay when asking for advice. Official source: SDA: migration and residence permits.

Choose a residence route that fits the facts

The State Services Development Agency publishes different residence categories and document requirements. Work, study, family and investment routes involve different evidence. Property ownership or company registration should not be treated as automatic residence approval. Identify the category first, check whether an application can be made on your current basis of stay, then prepare documents and translations for that route. Official source: SDA: migration and residence permits.

Account for the 2026 work-permission framework

The Labour Migration Law includes a right-to-work framework for covered labour immigrants and self-employed aliens effective from 1 March 2026. Assess its scope and exceptions before starting paid activity. Work permission, a D1 visa where applicable and residence requirements need a coordinated review. Transitional rules apply to specified registered workers, rather than automatically to every foreign resident. Official source: Law on Labour Migration.

Separate entry refusal from criminal proceedings

If a problem arises at the airport or land border, first identify the decision and authority involved. A refusal of entry is not itself the same event as a criminal charge. Keep the written decision and travel documents and ask promptly about the applicable procedure. The linked border guides address detention, document allegations and criminal proceedings in more detail.

Immigration Lawyer for Tbilisi

Confirm case acceptance, consultation language and any in-person work with your chosen lawyer.

For a matter in the capital, compare English-speaking lawyers in Tbilisi by practice area, working language and consultation fee.

Official sources

• SDA: migration and residence permits
• Law on Labour Migration
• Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons

Prepared by GeoLawyer from the linked official sources. Editorial source check: 15 October 2026. This is general information, not individual legal advice. Confirm the current requirements for your circumstances.