What is Georgia's The 365-day visa-free stay (what most people actually use)?

Citizens of roughly 98 countries, who may enter and remain in Georgia for a full year without any visa or permit. Remote workers, in practice. It lasts 365 days per entry. Leaving and re-entering starts a fresh year. None, and this is the catch. Visa-free days are not legal residence, so they build nothing toward permanent residence (6 years) or citizenship (10 years, and Georgia generally does not permit dual nationality without a presidential exception).

What is Georgia's Short-term residence permit (property ownership)?

Foreigners who own Georgian property and want actual legal residence rather than visa-free days. It lasts 1 year, renewable annually while you own the property. Counts as legal residence toward permanent residence after 6 years — unlike visa-free days, which count for nothing.

What is Georgia's Work residence permit?

People employed by a Georgian company, or running a registered Georgian entrepreneurial activity. It lasts up to 6 years cumulatively, issued in shorter increments. Counts toward permanent residence after 6 years of legal residence.

What is Georgia's Study residence permit?

Students at Georgian institutions — notably the English-taught medical programmes that draw large international intakes. It lasts course length, renewed as required. Counts as legal residence toward the 6-year permanent-residence clock.

GlobeQuest

Moving from Azerbaijan to Georgia

What your passport gets you at the border — and what it takes to actually stay.

Azerbaijan

GeorgiaShort stay

Visa-free · 360 days

Azerbaijan passport holders can enter Georgia without a visa and stay up to 360 days.

This is short-stay visitor policy only. It does not let you work, study or settle in Georgia — that needs a residence permit.

Passport Index · updated 17 February 2026Georgia's official immigration service

Long stay

How you actually move to Georgia

Digital nomadHigh confidenceVerified July 2026

The 365-day visa-free stay (what most people actually use)

Citizens of roughly 98 countries, who may enter and remain in Georgia for a full year without any visa or permit. Remote workers, in practice.

What you need

Nationality of one of the ~98 eligible countries
A passport valid for the duration of stay
Nothing else — no application, no fee, no registration

How long it lasts: 365 days per entry. Leaving and re-entering starts a fresh year.
Path to permanent residence: None, and this is the catch. Visa-free days are not legal residence, so they build nothing toward permanent residence (6 years) or citizenship (10 years, and Georgia generally does not permit dual nationality without a presidential exception).
Cost: Nothing.
Processing time: None — it applies on arrival.

Worth knowing

This is the most generous visa-free regime of any country in this dataset by a wide margin, and it is why Tbilisi filled with remote workers without any nomad-visa programme.
Because it is entry rather than residence, it gives you no residence card — which complicates long leases, some banking, and anything requiring proof of address.
You become a Georgian tax resident after 183 days regardless of your immigration status. Georgia's 1% small-business regime for individual entrepreneurs under a turnover cap is the reason many people register locally anyway.
The 'Remotely from Georgia' programme launched in 2020 was a pandemic-era entry scheme, not a residence permit, and should not be relied on today — confirm current arrangements with the MFA.

Sources:Georgian MFA — visa and migration

InvestmentMedium confidenceVerified July 2026

Short-term residence permit (property ownership)

Foreigners who own Georgian property and want actual legal residence rather than visa-free days.

What you need

Ownership of Georgian real estate with a market value above USD 150,000, confirmed by an accredited valuation
The property registered in your name at the public registry
Clean record and standard documentation

How long it lasts: 1 year, renewable annually while you own the property.
Path to permanent residence: Counts as legal residence toward permanent residence after 6 years — unlike visa-free days, which count for nothing.
Cost: Modest application fees; the valuation and the property purchase are the real costs.
Processing time: Around 30 days at PSDA.

Worth knowing

The valuation, not the purchase price, is what must clear USD 150,000. Buy near the line and an appraisal can sink the application.
Foreigners cannot own agricultural land in Georgia. This route is residential and commercial property only.
If your nationality already gets 365 visa-free days, the only reason to take this permit is to start the clock toward permanence.

Sources:Public Service Development Agency — residence permits

Work / sponsoredMedium confidenceVerified July 2026

Work residence permit

People employed by a Georgian company, or running a registered Georgian entrepreneurial activity.

What you need

Employment with a Georgian-registered entity, or your own registered business activity
Evidence the business or employer meets minimum turnover requirements per foreign employee
Documented income at the level required for the permit category

How long it lasts: Up to 6 years cumulatively, issued in shorter increments.
Path to permanent residence: Counts toward permanent residence after 6 years of legal residence.
Cost: Low — a few hundred lari in fees.
Processing time: Around 30 days, and Georgia's public services are genuinely fast by regional standards.

Worth knowing

Turnover requirements per foreign employee mean a newly-formed company usually cannot sponsor anyone in its first year.
Registering as an individual entrepreneur and taking the 1% turnover tax regime is the route many freelancers use — it gives both a tax status and a basis for residence.

Sources:Public Service Development Agency — residence permits

StudentMedium confidenceVerified July 2026

Study residence permit

Students at Georgian institutions — notably the English-taught medical programmes that draw large international intakes.

What you need

Enrolment at an authorised Georgian institution
Proof of funds and accommodation

How long it lasts: Course length, renewed as required.
Path to permanent residence: Counts as legal residence toward the 6-year permanent-residence clock.
Cost: Nominal permit fees plus tuition, which is low by international standards.
Processing time: Around 30 days.

Worth knowing

Georgian medical degrees are widely used as a cheaper route into medicine, but recognition in your home country is the thing to verify first — it is not automatic anywhere.
A study permit is legal residence, so students accumulate time toward permanence that visa-free residents do not.

Sources:Public Service Development Agency — residence permits Georgian MFA — visa and migration

On the ground