Georgia’s C5 visa is on the books

Georgia’s Parliament approved the C5 digital nomad visa on April 16, so remote workers now have a formal route for longer stays, though the start date and application portal still aren’t live. The permit is multiple-entry and valid for up to 5 years, with each visit capped at 12 consecutive months, which is a pretty friendly setup if you want repeat time in the country without visa-run chaos.

The fee is still being finalized and the government says it should land somewhere between $20 and $500. Standard and e-visa options are planned, with the electronic route expected to move in 5 working days once the system is open, which sounds smooth, honestly, if the paperwork matches the promise.

Who this helps and who it shuts out

This is aimed at remote workers paid by non-resident employers only, so freelancers, IT staff and employees of foreign companies are the clear winners. Spouses and minor children can come too, which makes the C5 more useful than a solo-only nomad permit and it keeps Georgia attractive for longer family stays.

There’s a catch, though. Applicants need citizenship from countries that Georgian authorities treat as “safe,” they must enter for tourism while working remotely and they can’t step into the local labor market, which means no taking Georgian jobs on the side.

What to do before the portal opens

Applications will go through the official digital platform and the file needs proof of remote work, a valid passport, health insurance and financial documents. Incomplete submissions get rejected immediately, no second chances, which is blunt but clear, so tidy paperwork matters more than wishful thinking.

The state still has wide discretion to refuse applications for immigration-policy reasons and there’s no appeal if that happens, which is the part people should watch most closely. Existing visa-free visitors can keep using their current status for now, so nothing changes overnight, but anyone planning a longer stay should track visa updates and the official portal before booking anything nonrefundable.

Read our full Georgia guide for the complete picture.