The Temporary Residence Permit for Persons Employed in the Information Technology (IT) Sector is a specialized immigration status available to foreign nationals engaged in IT-related work or business in Georgia. Unlike general work-based residence permits, the IT residence permit is designed to attract and retain technology professionals and entrepreneurs, providing more favorable terms in recognition of the strategic importance of the IT sector to Georgia’s economic development.
Who Is Eligible?
Georgian law identifies four distinct categories of persons eligible for the IT residence permit.
Category 1
IT-Sector Labor Immigrants. Foreign nationals employed in the IT sector as labor immigrants, i.e., individuals holding a valid work right and employed by a Georgian employer in an IT position classified under the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-08) Code 25 and its sub-codes (e.g,. Software Developers, Web and Multimedia Developers, Database Designers and Administrators, Systems Administrators and so on.). These applicants must demonstrate at least two years of professional experience in the IT field and prove that their annual compensation over the preceding twelve months was no less than the GEL equivalent of USD 25,000, evidenced by at least two payments received at intervals of no fewer than 30 days.
Category 2
Self-Employed IT Entrepreneurs. Self-employed foreigners registered in Georgia as individual entrepreneurs with small business status, carrying out activities in the IT sector under specific codes of the Georgian National Classifier of Economic Activities. These activities include computer programming, computer consultancy, computer facilities management, other IT and computer service activities, and data processing and hosting. These individuals must likewise demonstrate a minimum of two years of IT-sector experience and annual earnings of at least USD 25,000 in GEL equivalent, supported by the same payment frequency requirement.
Category 3
Directors and Representatives of International IT Companies. Foreign nationals authorized to manage and represent an organization holding international company status that operates in the IT sector. Unlike the first two categories, these applicants are not subject to experience or income thresholds but must provide documentation proving their authority to act on behalf of the international company.
Category 4
Family Members. Family members of any foreign national holding an IT residence permit under any of the three categories described above. Family members must submit proof of their kinship with the primary permit holder and a copy of the holder’s valid residence permit.
What Is Changing from 1 March 2026?
Effective 1 March 2026, the Government of Georgia has introduced a comprehensive new regulatory framework that fundamentally reshapes the conditions under which foreign nationals may engage in employment and entrepreneurial activity in Georgia.
The most significant amendments include the introduction of the mandatory “right to work”. Such a “permit” must now be obtained from the LEPL State Agency for Employment Promotion (the “Agency”) before any foreign national without a permanent residence permit may engage in paid employment or entrepreneurial activity in Georgia.
Moreover, a labor market test has been introduced, requiring employers to first post vacancies on Georgia’s official employment portal for a minimum of 10 working days and demonstrate efforts to hire qualified local candidates before seeking authorization to employ a foreign worker. Self-employed foreigners must now apply directly to the Agency through a dedicated electronic system and undergo a mandatory video interview before their application can be processed.
How Do the Changes Specifically Affect the IT Residence Permit?
While the new framework imposes significant additional regulatory burdens on foreign workers and employers in most sectors, IT-sector professionals benefit from several notable exemptions and preferential conditions.
Exemption from the Labor Market Test:
The labor market test does not apply to companies holding international company status or innovative startup status, categories under which many IT employers fall. It should be noted, however, that foreign directors and representatives of such companies are classified as self-employed persons under Georgian law and, as such, remain obligated to obtain the mandatory right to work from the Agency before commencing any activity in Georgia. That said, the IT residence permit framework offers a significantly simplified pathway for these directors – applicants under Category 3 are exempt from the income and experience thresholds applicable to other IT permit categories, making the IT residence permit a particularly accessible option for foreign executives of international IT companies.
Extended Duration of the Right to Work:
The initial work right for IT-sector workers, whether employed or self-employed, may be issued for up to three years, compared to a maximum of six months to one year for workers in other sectors. Extensions for IT-sector workers may likewise be granted for up to three years at a time, without the five-year cumulative threshold that applies before non-IT workers become eligible for longer extension periods.
Residence Permit Application Deadline:
Once the right to work is obtained, a foreigner already present in Georgia must apply for the IT residence permit at the Agency within 10 calendar days; failure to meet this deadline results in automatic termination of the right to work.
Processing Timelines and Fees:
The IT residence permit carries the following processing timelines and fees: standard issuance on the 90th calendar day, 500 GEL; expedited issuance on the 60th calendar day, 750 GEL.
Transitional Provisions
Self-employed foreigners already conducting business in Georgia as of 1 March 2026, including active company partners and foreign directors, will have until 1 May 2026 before enforcement mechanisms are activated against them. Labor immigrants already registered in the Ministry’s database with active registration status must obtain a work permit and corresponding residence permit by 1 January 2027. Accordingly, IT-sector professionals currently operating in Georgia are advised to assess their compliance position without delay and initiate the requisite application procedures well in advance of the aforementioned transitional deadlines.