Georgia (GE)
Caucasus gateway with long visa-free stays for many nationalities, low business taxes, mountain-and-wine culture, and a fast-changing 2026 work-permit environment.
Capital: Tbilisi
Region: Europe
Language: Georgian
Currency: GEL (₾)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 34)
Emergency: 112
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Business Setup
Start a business or go freelance in Georgia.
🧑💻 Freelancer / Self-Employed Guide
Steps to register:
- 1 1. Confirm your immigration status permits commercial activity — visa-free entry (available to most nationalities) allows business registration but not physical employment by a Georgian employer. Ensure you have valid residence basis if staying long-term.
- 2 2. Register as an Individual Entrepreneur (IE) at the Public Service Hall (PSH) in person or online at moj.gov.ge. Fee: GEL 100. Processed within 1 business day (in-person) or 2–3 days online. Bring passport and proof of Georgian address.
- 3 3. Activate your Revenue Service account at rs.ge to obtain your taxpayer ID and access online tax filing.
- 4 4. Apply for Small Business Status (მcire biznes statusi) at the Revenue Service if your activity qualifies — available to IEs and LLCs with turnover up to GEL 500,000/year. Flat 6% tax on gross turnover instead of 20% PIT. Not all activities qualify — check the excluded activities list at rs.ge before applying.
- 5 5. Open a Georgian business bank account at Bank of Georgia (bog.ge) or TBC Bank (tbcbank.ge) — required for local invoicing and international SWIFT transfers.
- 6 6. Track GEL turnover monthly — once annual turnover exceeds GEL 100,000, VAT registration at rs.ge becomes mandatory.
- 7 7. Keep all contracts, invoices, and bank statements. Retain records for 5 years for Revenue Service audit purposes.
- 8 8. File annual income tax returns by 1 April at rs.ge.
Tax registration
Register with the Revenue Service at rs.ge within 5 business days of starting commercial activity. Receive your UKPPN (unique taxpayer identification number). Small Business Status application is separate and requires Revenue Service approval — not automatic upon IE registration. File annual personal income tax returns by 1 April.
VAT threshold
GEL 100,000 annual taxable turnover in any continuous 12-month period triggers mandatory VAT registration. VAT rate: 18%. Register at rs.ge before reaching the threshold. VAT returns are filed and paid monthly.
Invoicing
Georgian-format invoices (ანგარიშ-ფაქტურა) or acts of work completion (სამუშაოს მიღება-ჩაბარების აქტი) are required for VAT-registered businesses. Non-VAT-registered IEs may use simpler invoice formats. Electronic invoices via the rs.ge portal are standard practice. Include: seller name and taxpayer ID, buyer name and taxpayer ID, description of services, GEL amount, VAT amount (if applicable), and date.
Social security
Georgia has no broad employer/employee payroll social insurance comparable to EU countries. Mandatory pension: employees and self-employed contribute 2% each to individual pension savings accounts; the state adds a further 2% (Pension Agency — pensionagentura.ge). Applies to those born after 1967. There is no mandatory public health insurance contribution — consider a private health policy.
💡 Georgia consistently ranks in the global top 10 for ease of starting a business. The Small Business Status (6% flat tax) and the Estonian-style corporate tax deferral (0% on retained profits, 15% only on distributed profits) make it exceptionally attractive for freelancers and digital businesses. Key 2026 consideration: confirm your specific activity qualifies for the relevant tax regime before invoicing — the Revenue Service periodically updates the excluded activities list. Many digital nomads use Georgia as a low-tax base while serving foreign clients.
🏢 Business Structures
IE · Individual Entrepreneur (ინდივიდუალური მეწარმე)
Sole trader / Self-employed individual
None required
Min. capital
1 business day (Public Service Hall in-person); 2–3 business days online
Setup time
Liability: Unlimited personal liability — personal assets not separated from business debts
Setup cost: GEL 100 (Public Registry fee, payable at Public Service Hall or online via moj.gov.ge)
Best for: Freelancers, consultants, and small service businesses. Most popular form for expat contractors. Small Business Status (6% flat tax on turnover up to GEL 500,000) is available to qualifying IEs — a major tax advantage.
LLC · Limited Liability Company (შეზღუდული პასუხისმგებლობის საზოგადოება — შ.პ.ს.)
Private limited company
No minimum (GEL 1 share capital is typical)
Min. capital
1–3 business days online via moj.gov.ge
Setup time
Liability: Limited to company assets; directors may be personally liable for deliberate misconduct or insolvency trading
Setup cost: GEL 100 online / GEL 200 in-person (Public Registry fee at moj.gov.ge) + legal/accounting support GEL 500–1,500 if needed
Best for: Businesses seeking limited liability, multiple founders, local hiring, and professional banking. Required when working with larger corporate clients. Corporate income tax: 15% (only on distributed profits under Georgia's deferred taxation system).
Branch · Branch of a Foreign Company (უცხოური საწარმოს ფილიალი)
Registered branch of a foreign company
None required (parent company capital applies)
Min. capital
2–4 weeks
Setup time
Liability: Parent company bears full liability for all Georgian branch obligations
Setup cost: GEL 100–200 registration fee + apostilled foreign documents (certified translation GEL 200–500)
Best for: Foreign companies operating locally without creating a separate subsidiary. Common for NGOs and donor organisations. Branch profits subject to Georgian corporate income tax.
JSC · Joint Stock Company (სააქციო საზოგადოება — ს.ს.)
Joint-stock company / Corporation
No statutory minimum for closed JSC; GEL 100,000+ practical for open (publicly traded) JSC
Min. capital
2–4 weeks
Setup time
Liability: Shareholders liable only to the extent of their share capital
Setup cost: GEL 100 registration fee + legal/corporate governance costs GEL 2,000–10,000+
Best for: Larger businesses, regulated sectors (banking, insurance, telecommunications), or companies planning external share issuance. Rarely chosen by SMEs — LLC is preferred for its simplicity and lower ongoing compliance.
Representative Office · Representative Office (წარმომადგენლობა)
Non-commercial liaison presence
None required
Min. capital
1–2 weeks
Setup time
Liability: Parent organisation bears full responsibility for all representative office activities
Setup cost: GEL 100–200 registration fee at Public Registry; no capital deposit required
Best for: Market research, liaison, donor agency presence, and non-revenue activities. Cannot issue invoices or conduct commercial transactions. No Georgian corporate income tax on representative-only activities.
Business Setup
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