HNWI and Golden Visa — property-based residency
Trust L1Updated Dec 23, 2025
Tbilisi
Contract checks and legal onboarding essentials.
Most newcomers assume they can start work without paperwork, but Georgian labour law requires a written contract for any fixed-term job or if the employee asks, with a maximum six-month probation and at least 24calendar days of paid leave. If you want to run your own venture, setting up a Georgian LLC (Shpk) is straightforward: you need a local address and, since 2021, just one shareholder-there's no minimum share capital, and the registration fee is about200GEL. Any property purchase, LLC formation, or power-of-attorney must go through a public notary (you'll find offices near Freedom Square and Vake), and the deed is then recorded at the National Agency of Public Registry (NAPR) - the Public Service Hall. For residency, buying a $100,000 property in Saburtalo qualifies you for a one-year Temporary Residence Permit, and Georgia's flat20% personal income tax and 15% corporate tax on profit distribution make it expat-friendly; remember to check the double-tax treaty with your home country (e.g., Germany, UK, France, China).Today, visit the NAPR website to download the property registration checklist and book a notary appointment.
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Saburtalo · Experience date Feb 16, 2026
Buying property in Georgia (minimum value $100,000 for some programs, originally $35,000 for residence permit) can qualify for a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP). The property-based TRP: valid for 1 year, renewable, requires the property to remain in your ownership. Benefits: official resident status, ability to open accounts as a resident, easier subsequent permanent residency application. The Georgian Golden Visa equivalent: invest $300,000 in Georgian property for fast-tracked residency and eventual citizenship path. Citizenship: 10 years legal residence OR $300,000 investment route. Georgian citizenship allows travel to 112 countries visa-free including Schengen.
Freedom Square · Experience date Nov 14, 2025
Georgia has double taxation treaties (DTTs) with: Germany, France, UK, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, China, India, and many others (40+ countries). These treaties determine where you pay tax on specific income types. For expats: a DTT can mean: you pay tax only in Georgia (lower rates) rather than your home country on Georgian-sourced income. Complexity: home country tax residency rules may mean you owe tax there regardless. UK example: if you remain a UK tax resident while working from Georgia, HMRC still taxes your worldwide income. Breaking home-country tax residency is a separate (complex) step before Georgian territorial taxation fully applies.
Fabrika · Experience date Jan 11, 2026
Setting up a Georgian LLC (Shpk — Shromilebuli Pasuxismgeblobis Kompania, equivalent to UK Ltd): Required: 2 shareholders minimum (or 1 since 2021), minimum share capital (no minimum), company address (can use a registered agent address). Registration at the Public Service Hall: $150–300 for legal and registration fees, takes 1–3 days. Georgian LLC: suitable for scaling businesses, hiring Georgian employees, and EU B2B contracts where a limited company is preferred over an IE. Most small freelancers: IE registration is sufficient and simpler. Georgian LLC is used when raising investment or contracting with large Western companies that require a limited liability entity.
Vake · Experience date May 5, 2026
Operating as a foreign company branch in Georgia (rather than registering a local entity): possible but more complex. Required: board resolution from parent company, apostilled registration documents from home country, certified Georgian translation, local director appointment, and registration at NAPR. Useful for: multinational companies wanting a Georgian presence without a fully separate entity. Tax: a foreign branch is taxed on Georgian-sourced income at standard corporate rates. Most small international operators prefer registering a new Georgian LLC or IE — simpler, cheaper, and achieves the same practical goals for most business purposes. Consult a Georgian law firm for complex multinational structures.
Vera · Experience date May 7, 2026
Tbilisi has a growing startup and tech ecosystem. Key resources: Georgian Innovation and Technology Agency (GITA) — offers grants and support for Georgian-registered startups. Tbilisi Startup Week (annual event). Accelerators: Credo Bank Innovation Hub, Tbilisi-based Tera accelerator. Co-working and community: Fabrika, Impact Hub. Georgian tech companies are active in fintech (TBC Pay, BOG), logistics, and e-commerce. Foreign entrepreneurs can register a Georgian company and access these ecosystems. Advantage: very low operating costs, well-educated Georgian tech talent ($800–1,800/month salary range), and EU market access through Georgia's DCFTA trade agreement with the EU.
Vake · Experience date Apr 7, 2026
Documents from foreign countries for Georgian applications (criminal record certificate, birth certificate, education certificates) may require an apostille. Georgia is a Hague Convention signatory — apostilled foreign documents are accepted directly. Apostille from EU/UK: issued by designated authority in each country (UK: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office; US: Secretary of State office in each state). Cost: $20–50 typically. Then: may need certified translation into Georgian by an accredited Georgian translator (30–80 GEL/page). Plan ahead: apostille processing takes 1–4 weeks in most countries — initiate before leaving home if you plan to apply for Georgian residency.
Rustaveli · Experience date Dec 4, 2025
Georgia's Labour Code (2013, revised 2020): employment contracts must be in writing for fixed-term or if employee requests. Maximum probationary period: 6 months. Annual leave: 24 calendar days (minimum). Sick leave: 30 days/year at full pay (employer-funded for first 3 days, then social security). Overtime: 25–50% premium over regular hourly rate. Dismissal: employer can terminate for legitimate reasons with 30-day notice (or payment in lieu). Severance: not legally mandated beyond notice period in most cases. Social security contributions: employer pays 2% of salary to pension fund (since 2019 pension reform). These rules apply to formal Georgian employment contracts.
Vake · Experience date Mar 6, 2026
TBC Bank offers business accounts for Georgian Individual Entrepreneurs and LLCs. Open with: passport, IE registration certificate (from Revenue Service), and business address. Process: TBC Business branch visit, 1–3 days to open. Features: Georgian IBAN, business Visa/Mastercard, SWIFT for international transfers, internet banking in English, invoicing tools. Cost: minimal monthly fees (10–20 GEL). BOG Business: similar features. Georgian business accounts accept incoming SWIFT transfers from Western companies and clients — essential for B2B invoicing. Tip: open IE first, then open business account same day at TBC — the whole process from registration to account takes one working day.