Georgia adopts C5 visa for remote workers with 365 day stay limit

What the C5 visa covers

Georgia's parliament adopted the C5 visa at third reading on April 16, 2026, creating a multiple-entry short-stay category valid for up to five years for remote workers tied to foreign employers or clients. The law took effect on publication, though secondary regulations on income thresholds and online procedures are still being finalized.

Stay time is capped at a cumulative 365 days across the five-year validity, per guidance from Georgian expat advisors interpreting the statute. The visa explicitly bars work for Georgian employers or services sold into the local market, so no Georgian work permit is required as long as income originates abroad.

Who the visa is built for

The C5 targets remote employees, freelancers and entrepreneurs from non-visa-exempt countries who previously had no clear legal path for extended stays in Georgia. Spouses and minor children can be added under the same category.

Applicants must hold citizenship of a "safe country," a list the government has yet to publish but is expected to mirror existing visa-free practice. Anyone planning to work for a Georgian company or serve Georgian clients falls outside C5 and must use the D1 work visa track instead.

Nationals who already enjoy Georgia's one-year visa-free regime may still prefer that route, though the C5 offers formal legal cover for remote work that visa-free entry treats only as tourism.

Fees, processing and what applicants need

The statute sets a fee range of $20 to $500, reflecting standard versus expedited processing. One expat advisory currently lists a $300 flat fee for e-Visa portal applications, with processing in about five business days and up to 10 in some cases.

Expected documentation includes:

• Proof of remote employment or freelance contracts with foreign entities
• Evidence of sufficient funds (threshold pending in secondary regulation)
• Valid health insurance
• Standard identity and biometric documents

Applications can be filed at Georgian consulates or through the e-Visa portal. Income thresholds and the official safe-country list haven't yet been published, so applicants filing now should expect rules to firm up over the coming months.

Read our full Georgia guide for the complete picture.