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.
Family Rights & Benefits
Maternity, parental leave and child benefits in Georgia.
Family rights in Georgia are governed by the Labour Code of Georgia (employment aspects), the Law of Georgia on Civil Status Acts (birth, marriage, divorce registration), and the Civil Code. The 2020 Labour Code reform significantly improved family-related employment rights — particularly maternity leave (extended to 730 days), paternity leave (introduced), and parental leave provisions. Important caveat for expats: most Georgian state family benefits (childbirth grant, monthly child allowance, maternity benefit from SSTG) are available to Georgian citizens and to formally employed workers registered with the pension system. Expats employed by Georgian companies with proper pension contributions are generally eligible for employment-related benefits. Expats not formally employed in Georgia (digital nomads, visitors) are not eligible for Georgian state family benefits and must rely on private arrangements.
Maternity and Parental Leave
Before birth: 126 calendar days before the expected birth date (approximately 18 weeks prenatal). The 126 days prenatal leave begins on the date specified in the medical certificate from the obstetrician. Payment: the SSTG (Social Service Agency — sssg.gov.ge) pays the maternity benefit from the public budget — this is 100% of the employee's average daily wage calculated over the previous 12 months of employment. The employer continues to pay salary through normal payroll and is reimbursed by SSTG.
After birth: 57 calendar days after birth (approximately 8 weeks postnatal — included within the total 183-day paid leave). After the 183 paid days, the employee has the right to take up to 547 additional calendar days of unpaid parental leave (job-protected), making total potential leave 730 calendar days (2 years). The 183 paid days covers the full maternity period (prenatal + postnatal combined). If the birth is complicated or there are multiple children, additional days may be granted on medical grounds.
Job protection: Full job protection for the entire 730-day period (183 days paid + 547 days unpaid). The employer cannot dismiss a pregnant employee or one on maternity/parental leave. The position must be held open or an equivalent position offered on return. Notice of return must be given by the employee at least 2 weeks before planned return.
Paternity and Shared Parental Leave
Max duration: Paternity leave: 5 working days paid leave granted to the father (or other parent) within 2 months of the child's birth. No SSTG benefit — this is paid by the employer at 100% of daily salary. Shared parental leave: the full 547-day unpaid parental leave (beyond the 183-day paid maternity period) can be taken by either parent, not just the mother. The leave can also be split between parents — each parent can take portions of the 547 days. The employer must be given at least 2 weeks notice before starting or returning from parental leave.
Split rules / Elterngeld: Parents can split the 547-day unpaid parental leave between them. Each parent can take their share in full or in parts. Only one parent can be on parental leave at any given time unless the employer agrees otherwise. The total combined parental leave for both parents cannot exceed 547 days beyond the initial 183-day maternity period.
Benefits
Childbirth Grant (Georgian citizens only)
1,000 GEL for first child; 1,500 GEL for second child; 2,000 GEL for third and subsequent children
Duration: One-time payment
Eligibility: Georgian citizens only. Foreign nationals — including expats — are NOT eligible for the Georgian state childbirth grant, regardless of residence permit status or employment in Georgia.
How to apply: Apply at Social Service Agency (SSTG) offices or sssg.gov.ge (Georgian citizens only)
This benefit is explicitly not available to expats. If your spouse is a Georgian citizen and the other parent is an expat, the Georgian citizen parent may be eligible — consult SSTG.
Monthly Child Allowance (Georgian citizens only)
Varies by family income — Targeted Social Assistance (TSA) programme; for very low income families: 70–200 GEL/month per child depending on household income score
Duration: Monthly, ongoing while income qualifies
Eligibility: Georgian citizens with household income below the poverty threshold. Expats are not eligible.
How to apply: SSTG — sssg.gov.ge
This is a poverty-targeted benefit for Georgian citizens. Not available to expat families.
SSTG Maternity Benefit (formally employed)
100% of average daily wage (calculated over previous 12 months) × 183 days
Duration: 183 calendar days
Eligibility: Employees formally employed by a registered Georgian company who are contributing to the pension system (2% employee pension contribution). Expats employed by Georgian companies are eligible. Digital nomads, solo traders, and visitors are not eligible unless they have been making pension contributions voluntarily.
How to apply: Employer submits documentation to SSTG on behalf of the employee. The benefit is paid through the employer who is subsequently reimbursed.
This is the most significant Georgian family benefit available to formally employed expats. Ensure your employer is registered and paying pension contributions from your first month of employment — this is what establishes SSTG benefit eligibility.
Sick Child Leave
100% salary for first 10 days of child sick leave; SSTG benefit for days 11 onwards
Duration: Per illness episode; up to 10 days employer-paid per instance
Eligibility: Employed parents (Georgian citizens and formally employed expats)
How to apply: Notify employer; obtain medical certificate for the child from Georgian doctor
For children under 14: employer pays first 10 days at 100% salary per illness. For older children or extended illness, SSTG provides a benefit at reduced rate. Medical certificate required from day 1.
Sick child leave
Parents are entitled to take sick leave when their child is ill. For children under 14: 100% salary from employer for first 10 calendar days of each illness episode; SSTG benefit from day 11 onwards (reduced rate). A medical certificate from a Georgian paediatrician is required. Many Tbilisi private clinics (Aversi, Mediclub) issue paediatric sick certificates same-day. Parents with disabled children: an additional 10 unpaid leave days per year are guaranteed by the Labour Code regardless of child illness.
Birth registration
Birth registration in Georgia: 1. Hospital provides a birth notification document (ბავშვის დაბადების ცნობა) within 24 hours of birth. 2. Register the birth at the Civil Registry Agency (CRA) within 30 days of birth — cra.gov.ge. Both parents' passports are required; if parents are married, marriage certificate; if unmarried, joint parental declaration. CRA issues a Georgian birth certificate. Cost: 5–20 GEL. 3. Expat parents should simultaneously register the birth at their home country's embassy in Tbilisi. Most Western embassies (USA, UK, Australia, EU countries) have established processes for consular birth registration. This is essential to secure the child's home country citizenship from birth. Processing times vary (1 day to 4 weeks depending on country). 4. Georgian citizenship: children born in Georgia to non-Georgian parents do NOT automatically receive Georgian citizenship. Georgia does not offer "birthright citizenship" (jus soli) in the way some countries do. 5. Apostille: if the Georgian birth certificate will be used in the child's home country, obtain an apostille from the Ministry of Justice of Georgia. Cost: 30–80 GEL.
Childcare rights
Childcare rights and options in Georgia for expats: State childcare: Tbilisi municipal kindergartens are available to residents (including those with residence permits) at very low cost or free. However, they operate exclusively in Georgian — not practical for non-Georgian-speaking expat children. Private English-language nurseries and kindergartens: 300–800 GEL/month in Tbilisi. No state subsidy for expats. Popular options in Vake and Saburtalo areas. International school childcare: QSI International School has pre-school and kindergarten departments. Nanny/au pair: widely available in Tbilisi at 600–1,500 GEL/month for full-time. Many Georgian families (and expats) employ live-out nannies. The Georgian labour market has good supply of English-speaking nannies due to high English language education levels among younger Georgians. The "Expats in Georgia" Facebook group is the best source for nanny recommendations and current nursery availability.
Family Rights
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