Georgia waives turnover proof for 3 startup residence permits under July 9 rule
| Standard Company | 50,000 GEL |
|---|---|
| Medical/Educational | 35,000 GEL |
| New Startup (≤3 months) | 0 GEL |
Georgia waives turnover proof for 3 startup residence permits
Georgia removed its turnover-proof requirement for up to three foreign workers at qualifying startups on July 9, replacing it with a six-month exemption under Government Decree No. 317.
The exemption lasts six months
Georgian companies and individual entrepreneurs registered within the previous three months can sponsor first-time labour residence permit applicants without documenting revenue. The employer instead submits an internal certificate stating how many foreign workers it employs.
Each permit issued through the exemption lasts six months. Applicants still need an employment contract with at least six months remaining, registration in the labour migrant database, proof of personal funds and the standard residence documents covered in Georgia’s residency rules.
Established employers still face turnover tests
Before the amendment, employers generally had to prove annual turnover of at least 50,000 Georgian lari (about $18,400) per foreign employee. The threshold is 35,000 lari (about $12,900) for educational and medical institutions.
Those rules still apply to businesses more than three months old, employers seeking permits for more than three foreign workers and later extensions of startup permits. If the standard revenue certificate isn’t available, employers may provide other convincing evidence, such as bank records or tax filings.
Startups face a short application window
The practical deadline is tied to the company’s registration date: eligible employers must file while the business remains no more than three months old and before it has sponsored labour residence permits under the regular route. By the six-month extension stage, the company must meet the standard turnover threshold to keep sponsoring the worker.
Remote workers registered as small-business individual entrepreneurs and billing only nonresident clients remain exempt from Georgia’s work-permit regime. Foreigners employed by Georgian startups or serving Georgian clients are treated as labour immigrants and may use the startup exemption if all conditions are met.
Frequently asked questions
Which Georgian companies can skip turnover proof for foreign worker permits?
How many foreign workers can a new Georgian startup sponsor under the exemption?
How long are the startup work residence permits valid in Georgia?
What documents replace turnover proof for eligible startups in Georgia?
What happens when the six-month permit expires in Georgia?
Do foreign workers still need a work permit or residence permit in Georgia?
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