Georgia Residence Permits Compared: Which One Fits You in 2026
Every Georgian residence permit in one place: work, IT, property, investment, family, study and permanent. What each needs, how long it lasts and what it costs.
Overview
- Georgia has about eight residence permits that matter to Westerners. Most people qualify through work, property, family or study.
- The property route now needs real estate worth more than $150,000. The investment route needs $300,000 and gives you 5 years at once.
- Work and IT permits now need a work permit first. That rule started on March 1, 2026.
- Permanent residence usually takes 10 years of permits in a row. The investment route and marriage to a Georgian citizen are faster.
If you're from the US, UK, Canada or Australia, you can already stay in Georgia for a year without a visa. So the real question isn't whether you can come. It's whether you need a status that lasts longer, lets you work for Georgian clients, or puts you on the path to permanent residence.
Here's every route, what it needs and who it suits.
Rules current as of October 28, 2026.
The permits side by side
| Permit | Main condition | First permit lasts | Leads to permanent residence? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work | Work permit, plus a Georgian employer or business | 6 to 12 months | Yes, after 10 years |
| IT | Work permit, 2 years of IT experience, $25,000 IT income | 3 years | Yes, after 10 years |
| Property | Georgian property worth more than $150,000 | 1 year | Yes, after 10 years |
| Investment | Property or business investment of $300,000 | 5 years | Yes, after 5 years |
| Spouse of a Georgian | Marriage to a Georgian citizen | 1 year | Yes, after 5 years of marriage |
| Family of a resident | Spouse or child of someone with a Georgian permit | 3 years | Yes, after 10 years |
| Study | Place at an approved Georgian school or university | 6 to 12 months | No, study years don't count |
| Permanent | 10 years of permits in a row | No end date | It is permanent residence |
Work residence permit
This one is for people who work for a Georgian company or run a Georgian business. Since March 1, 2026, you need a work permit before you can apply. You then have 10 days to file.
The first permit lasts 6 to 12 months, and you renew it from there. You also have to show a steady income. In practice, that's at least five times Georgia's subsistence minimum each month.
If you work remotely for foreign clients, you may not need this at all. See whether freelancers and remote workers need a permit.
IT residence permit
This is the best long-stay route for software and IT people. It lasts 3 years, and each renewal gives you 3 more.
You need a work permit first, at least 2 years of IT experience, and $25,000 of IT income over the last 12 months, paid in at least two payments 30 days apart. You also have to spend at least 183 days a year in Georgia. That last rule makes it a poor fit if you travel most of the year.
Property residence permit
Buy residential or commercial property in Georgia worth more than $150,000 and you can get a 1-year permit for you, your spouse and your children. It renews each year as long as you still own the property.
The threshold was $100,000 until March 1, 2026. Two things trip buyers up. The value is set by a certified valuation report, not the price you paid. And agricultural land doesn't count. Before you buy with a permit in mind, have the title and the valuation checked.
Investment residence permit
This route needs $300,000. You can put it into property, or into a Georgian business. The business route then has turnover targets: $50,000 at the end of year 1, $100,000 at the end of year 2, and $120,000 a year after that.
The first permit lasts 5 years. The government counts this route toward permanent residence after those 5 years, which is half the normal wait. Holders of a valid investment permit are also exempt from the new work permit rule.
Family permits
Married to a Georgian citizen. This route changed on September 1, 2026. You now get a 1-year permit first, then 2 more years, up to 5 years in all. Permanent residence comes after 5 years of marriage. The authorities also check more closely that a marriage is real.
Spouse or child of a foreign resident. If your spouse or parent already holds a Georgian residence permit, you can get a 3-year family permit. Their permit needs at least 6 months left on it when you apply.
Parent of a Georgian child. Parents of a minor Georgian citizen can get an open-ended permit.
Study permit
If you've been accepted by an approved Georgian university or professional school, you can get a study permit for 6 to 12 months at a time. Since September 1, 2026, you can lose it if you don't earn enough credits or suspend your studies for more than 90 days. Study years don't count toward permanent residence.
Permanent residence
The standard route is 10 years in a row on residence permits. Study, medical and diplomatic permits don't count. The investment route and marriage to a Georgian citizen get you there in 5.
Permanent residence has a big practical benefit in 2026. Holders don't need a work permit for anything.
What it costs
For most permits, the government charges 300 GEL for a decision in 30 days, 450 GEL for 20 days or 600 GEL for 10 days. The IT permit costs 500 GEL for 90 days or 750 GEL for 60 days. The ID card costs 60 GEL to 150 GEL more, depending on how fast you want it.
Those are state fees only. A refused application costs you the fee and the time, and you'll need to start again.
Renewing a permit
You can renew from inside Georgia from 90 days before your permit ends up to 40 days before. Miss the 40-day mark and you can't renew from inside Georgia. Property and investment permits don't have the 40-day limit. You can also start a renewal online from abroad, but the original documents have to reach a Public Service Hall soon after.
Which one fits you
- You work remotely for foreign clients and stay under a year. You may need nothing beyond the visa-free stay.
- You work in IT and want to stay for years. The IT permit.
- You're buying a home anyway and it costs more than $150,000. The property permit.
- You want the fastest route to permanent residence and have $300,000 to place. The investment permit.
- You married a Georgian. The spouse permit.
- You work for a Georgian company. The work permit and the work residence permit, in that order.
How we can help
We look at your situation, tell you which route fits and what it costs, and then check your documents, file the application and follow it to a decision. We handle renewals too. Ask us about a permit or see what we do.
If you already work in Georgia, read our guide to the January 1, 2027 work permit deadline first.