In Georgia, foreigners may be permitted to work without a residence permit or a work permit in specific instances.
This applies exclusively to short-term activities related to specific projects, without long-term involvement in the local labor market.
The Sector Economy and Economic Policy Committee of the Parliament of Georgia will consider planned amendments to the Law of Georgia “On Labor Migration” on April 14, followed by a plenary session. The initiative was proposed by deputies from the Georgian Dream (Kartuli Otsneba) party.
Foreigners may be granted permission for short-term work in Georgia without a residence permit or work permit. This will be possible if an individual arrives temporarily to work on a specific project or event, without seeking long-term employment in the country.
According to the draft bill, foreigners will be able to engage in short-term work in Georgia if it is linked to a specific project, event, or service. The government will determine which specific types of activities fall under this rule and for what duration.
Furthermore, such foreigners will not be classified as labor migrants or self-employed individuals in Georgia.
Plans are also in place to add several categories to the Law “On Labor Migration” that will be exempt from its requirements.
These include individuals holding a special residence permit (VNZh) issued at the initiative of a member of the Georgian government, employees of state institutions and companies with state participation, and those working remotely from abroad for a Georgian employer.
Additionally, exemptions will apply to services provided to non-residents outside of Georgia, as well as roles in management or audit committees of companies classified as first, second, or third category under the Law on Accounting, Reporting, and Auditing.
Georgian Dream representatives stated that practical challenges have shown that when a foreign specialist’s visit is short-term and tied to a specific one-off project or service, applying general immigration procedures creates excessive administrative barriers, while the new regulations will ensure flexibility and efficiency.
«Specifically, this concerns employment in public institutions and state-owned enterprises, as well as forms of remote work such as activities performed for a local employer from another country or providing services to a non-resident outside Georgia. Furthermore, activities in the governing bodies or audit committees of first, second, and third-category enterprises, as defined by the Law on Accounting, Reporting, and Auditing, will be exempt from regulation, which will significantly improve the sector’s operational efficiency,» the explanatory note to the bill states.
