Georgia freelancer and self-employed options in 2026

Georgia does not have one all-purpose "freelancer visa." The correct route depends on whether you are entering as a freelancer, performing Georgian economic activity, operating as a Georgian individual entrepreneur, serving foreign clients, or qualifying for the dedicated IT residence route.

D2 includes freelancers

Georgia's Law on the Legal Status of Aliens expressly lists freelancers in the D2 immigration-visa category.

That does not mean every freelancer in Georgia is exempt from the separate 2026 labour-migration framework.

A visa category answers an immigration question. It does not by itself settle whether you need:

  • the right to work;
  • Georgian business registration;
  • tax registration or Small Business Status;
  • a residence permit; or
  • another work-related approval.

Self-employed right-to-work rules

From 1 March 2026, the Law on Labour Migration applies to many foreign nationals carrying out paid entrepreneurial or self-employed activity in Georgia. A self-employed foreigner generally applies personally for the right to work rather than through an employer.

The application should match the real profession or economic activity. Changing the activity can affect the approval position.

The law contains exclusions and Government-defined exemptions, so a foreign customer or foreign bank payment should not be treated as an automatic exemption.

Georgian Individual Entrepreneur status is not residence

A foreigner can separately consider Georgian business registration and, where eligible, tax statuses such as Small Business Status administered through the Revenue Service.

Those are business/tax concepts. Registering an individual entrepreneur does not itself grant a visa, residence permit or right to perform covered work.

If the applicant's activity falls within specified IT classifications and the person meets the experience/income criteria, the IT residence permit may be a more direct immigration route.

Foreign-client remote work is fact-sensitive

Georgia now also has a C5 short-term category for tourism combined with qualifying activity performed only for a non-resident where that activity is connected with the non-resident's activity outside Georgia.

That C5 route should not be confused with:

  • D2 freelancer status;
  • a Georgian self-employed business;
  • the old pandemic-era Remotely from Georgia initiative; or
  • the IT residence permit.

See remote work and C5 for the distinction.

Residence options for a self-employed person

Depending on the facts, a self-employed foreigner may rely on:

  • a work residence basis connected with qualifying entrepreneurial activity;
  • the dedicated IT residence permit;
  • qualifying property or investment residence;
  • family or study residence; or
  • another lawful stay route.

SDA's work-residence requirements include income and enterprise-turnover tests. A business registration certificate alone does not satisfy every residence requirement.

Related Georgia routes

Editorial note: Tax residence, business registration and immigration permission are separate. This page does not assume that a tax status creates immigration rights.

Official and supporting sources

Related routes in Georgia