As of September 1st, 2025, a new IT Residence Permit has been introduced in the Georgian immigration law. The implementing Ordinance No. 520 of the Government of Georgia has also been approved.
We already have a detailed Consolidated Guide on Georgian Legal Residence Permits. The guide provides valuable information about the various aspects of residence permits, such as the common rules, specific procedures, a list of documents, renewal, and so on. In this article, we will do the same for the new IT Residence Permit.
Eligibility
As already discussed in one of our articles, under the new labour immigration rules, in order to qualify for an IT or work residence permit, you first have to obtain the Special Labour Permit (also known as the “Right to Work”).
After obtaining the Right to Work, you have 10 days to apply for the IT residence permit, which should also be at least 1 day before the expiry of your legal stay in Georgia.
The new IT Residence Permit is designed for individuals conducting any activity covered by ISCO-08 code 25 and the corresponding subcodes, as well as any activity covered by NACE codes 58.21, 58.29, 62.01, 62.02, 62.03, 62.09, 63.1, and 63.12.
Procedure
The procedure for applying for the new IT Residence Permit is the same as for other residence permits.
Firstly, you need to submit your application to the Public Service Hall (PSH). The applicable government fee and the time limit for the decision depend on one another. The available options are:
- 90-calendar-day application – 500 GEL
- 60-calendar-day application – 750 GEL
Following the approval, you have to apply for your residency card within 1 month after the approval of your residence permit application. Failing to request it within 6 months may result in its revocation.
The time limits, again, the time limit and fee for the residency card are interdependent:
- 10-business-day application – 60 GEL
- 5-business-day application – 80 GEL
- 3-business-day application – 100 GEL
- 2-business-day application – 120 GEL
- same-day application – 150 GEL
Finally, once the residency card is printed, you need to retrieve it from the PSH.
IT Residence Permit Application Documents
Below you can find the list of the required documents.
- Passport
At the time of the submission of the application, your passport needs to be valid with at least 1 day of validity. The passport should have the visa that is the basis of your last entry or, if you entered based on a visa-free regime, the stamp applied in the passport for your most recent entry.
- Personal Photo
This is the photo that will appear on your residency card. You can take it even at the PSH.
- Application Form
This is a form approved by the Georgian government. It asks for personal information, contact information, and other relevant data. The applicant needs to sign this in front of the operator
- Business Extract
Business (e.g., IE, LLC, branch, etc.) extract of the employer or of the business managed by the applicant. This can be found online.
- Proof of Income
This can be a certificate issued by a Georgian bank indicating the transactions of the applicant.
The received income should be equivalent to 25,000 USD in the last 12 months. This should be received at least in two payments, with at least 30 days between the payments.
This document is not required for the director of an LLC that has the International Company Status (ICS).
- Proof of Experience
This can be an employment agreement or a certificate of employment. Alternatively, this can also be service agreements or statements issued by clients.
For the IT residence permit, the Georgian authorities usually require original documents with notarized signatures and Apostilles.
This document is not required for the director of an LLC that has the International Company Status (ICS).
- Small Business Status (SBS) Certificate
In case the applicant is a Georgian SBS, they have to attach an SBS Certificate.
Family Members Under the IT Residence Permit
Family members of those who hold an IT Residence Permit also qualify for residency. For their applications, they have to have proof of relationship. This entails a document that proves the family relationship with the sponsor (for example, a birth or marriage certificate).
Validity Time of the IT Residence Permit & Renewal
The IT Residence Permit is granted for a fixed period of three years. Its renewal requires you to go through the whole process with identical requirements. Upon renewal, the residence permit will be valid for three years again.
What are the Advantages of the IT Residence Permit?
Unlike the work residence permit, the IT residence permit does not require turnover or a history of entrepreneurial activity in Georgia. Theoretically, you can come to Georgia and qualify immediately. This is particularly useful if you wish to meet the new labour migration requirements.
Furthermore, right from the first approval, it is granted for three years.
Are you ready to get started? Fill out the residence permit application form to engage ExpatHub’s assistance.
You can also review the pricing details and what’s included in each service package before proceeding.
