LumenWhat are the requirements for Georgia's IT residence permit?
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Georgian law gives an IT temporary residence permit to IT workers and individual entrepreneurs with small business status with the right to work, at least 2 years of IT experience and annual IT income of at least USD 25,000 in GEL. It lasts 3 years and ends if you are outside Georgia 183 days or more in 12 months.
Key facts
| What | The law says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who | A labour immigrant, or a foreigner registered in Georgia as an Individual Entrepreneur with Small Business Status, with the right to labour activities and doing IT activities set by a government ordinance; plus family members | Law on the Legal Status of Aliens, art. 15(l) |
| Also | A person authorised to manage and represent an international IT company, with the right to labour activities, and family members; they submit proof of that authority | Law on the Legal Status of Aliens, art. 15(l) |
| Experience | At least 2 years of labour or economic activity in IT | Law on the Legal Status of Aliens, art. 15(l) |
| Income | Annual IT remuneration of at least USD 25,000 equivalent in GEL | Law on the Legal Status of Aliens, art. 15(l) |
| First permit | 3 years | Law on the Legal Status of Aliens, art. 16(1)(h) |
| Extensions | 3 years at a time, up to 12 years | Law on the Legal Status of Aliens, art. 16(3¹) |
| Staying in Georgia | The permit ends if you are not in Georgia 183 days or more in any continuous 12 calendar months | Law on the Legal Status of Aliens, art. 21(1⁴) |
| Visa you came on | Can be issued even if you stay on an ordinary C category visa or under art. 10(3¹) | Law on the Legal Status of Aliens, arts. 14(1³), 14(1⁴) |
Who qualifies
The law creates a temporary residence permit for people employed in information technology (art. 15(l)). It covers labour immigrants and foreigners registered in Georgia as Individual Entrepreneurs with Small Business Status who have the right to labour activities and carry out IT activities listed in a government ordinance, together with their family members. It also covers people authorised to manage and represent international IT companies.
Labour immigrants and individual entrepreneurs must submit a document confirming at least 2 years of experience in IT work or business, and a certificate showing annual IT remuneration of at least USD 25,000 equivalent in GEL. The procedure and any additional documents are set by a government ordinance.
How long it lasts
The first permit is issued for 3 years (art. 16(1)(h)) and can be extended by 3 years at a time, up to 12 years (art. 16(3¹)).
The 183-day rule
The law ends the permit if the holder is not physically in Georgia for 183 days or more during any continuous 12 calendar months (art. 21(1⁴)). Time spent abroad specifically for medical treatment counts as time in Georgia. The government sets how this is monitored.
Related questions
- Unlike most permits, the IT permit can be issued to a person staying in Georgia on an ordinary C category visa (art. 14(1³)).
Sources
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