# Georgia work visa (D1): hiring workers from abroad Many Georgian companies hire workers from India, Nepal, the Philippines, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nigeria. Since 2026 this is possible only with a right to work and a D1 visa. Here is the route for both the employer and the worker. - Confidential - Georgian · English · Russian - Free first consultation - Courts of all instances Under the Law on Labour Migration, a foreigner may work in Georgia only with a work residence permit, a D1 visa or another residence permit — together with a right to work. A citizen of a visa country cannot start work on a tourist visa or an e-visa. The local employer applies for the right to work after signing the employment contract; a self-employed foreigner applies directly. The Ministry decides within 30 calendar days of a complete application. ## Step by step - Your Georgian employer signs an employment contract with you - The employer applies to the Ministry of Labour for your right to work - The Ministry decides within 30 calendar days of a complete application; the fee is up to GEL 500 - With the right to work you get a D1 visa at a Georgian embassy or consulate - After arriving, for longer work you apply for a work residence permit in Georgia ## Entry and documents by country CountryHow to enterDocumentsIndiaE-visaApostilleNepalE-visaLegalisationPhilippinesE-visaApostillePakistanVisa; e-visa with a Schengen/OECD visaApostilleBangladeshVisa; e-visa with a Schengen/OECD visaApostilleNigeriaVisa; e-visa with a Schengen/OECD visaLegalisation Below are the differences for each country. Documents for Georgian authorities need a certified Georgian translation. ## General rule for visa-country citizens If you hold a valid visa or residence permit of the USA, the UK, an EU country, a Gulf state or another listed country, you can enter Georgia visa-free for 90 days in any 180 (Government Resolution No. 256). Tourists need insurance with GEL 30,000 cover. A tourist visa or e-visa doesn't give the right to work. ## Citizens of India - An e-visa at evisa.gov.ge — usually for 30 days within 120 - India is a party to the Apostille Convention (since 2005): your documents need an apostille - Criminal record certificate — a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC), via Passport Seva or an Indian mission abroad - If you already hold a valid US, UK or Schengen visa, you don't need an e-visa — you enter visa-free for 90 days in any 180 ## Citizens of Pakistan - Visa — an e-visa only with a valid Schengen or OECD-country visa or residence permit; otherwise at a Georgian embassy or consulate - Pakistan is a party to the Apostille Convention (since 2023): your documents need an apostille - Criminal record certificate — a Police Character Certificate, from the district police or via a Pakistani mission abroad - If you live in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar or another Gulf state, a valid residence permit there lets you enter Georgia visa-free for 90 days in any 180 ## Citizens of Bangladesh - Visa — an e-visa only with a valid Schengen or OECD-country visa or residence permit; otherwise at a Georgian embassy or consulate - Bangladesh is a party to the Apostille Convention (since 2025): your documents need an apostille - Criminal record certificate — a Police Clearance Certificate from Bangladesh Police (online application) - Bangladesh joined the Apostille Convention in March 2025 — ask the issuing office for an apostille instead of the old legalisation ## Citizens of Nepal - An e-visa at evisa.gov.ge — usually for 30 days within 120 - Nepal is not a party to the Apostille Convention: documents need consular legalisation — first by your Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then by a Georgian embassy or consulate - Criminal record certificate — a Police Report (police clearance) from Nepal Police Headquarters - Nepal's own rules may require a labour permit from the Department of Foreign Employment before you leave to work abroad — check before you travel ## Citizens of the Philippines - An e-visa at evisa.gov.ge — usually for 30 days within 120 - The Philippines is a party to the Apostille Convention (since 2019): your documents need an apostille - Criminal record certificate — an NBI Clearance from the National Bureau of Investigation - Philippine rules require overseas workers to be cleared by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) before departure — check before you travel ## Citizens of Nigeria - Visa — an e-visa only with a valid Schengen or OECD-country visa or residence permit; otherwise at a Georgian embassy or consulate - Nigeria is not a party to the Apostille Convention: documents need consular legalisation — first by your Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then by a Georgian embassy or consulate - Criminal record certificate — a Police Character Certificate from the Nigeria Police Force - Be careful with job offers: before paying anyone, check that the employer is a real company registered in Georgia and that the job comes with a right to work ## Fines - Employing without a right to work — GEL 2,000 for the employer, per worker - Working without a right to work — GEL 2,000 for the worker - Repeated — double the amount - A worker without a lawful basis risks detention and expulsion ## Our services - Planning the hiring route for your company - Employment contracts in Georgian and in the worker's language - Right to work application and follow-up - D1 visa and work residence permit documents - Defence in labour inspection fine cases - Appealing refusals ## Questions & answers ### Can a foreign worker start on a tourist visa or e-visa? No. They need a right to work and a D1 visa or a suitable residence permit. ### Who applies for the right to work? The local employer — after signing the employment contract. A self-employed foreigner applies directly. ### How long does it take and what does it cost? Up to 30 calendar days after a complete application. The fee is up to GEL 500. ### What is the fine for working without a right to work? GEL 2,000 for the worker and GEL 2,000 for the employer per worker; double if repeated. ## Legal basis - [Law on Labour Migration](https://matsne.gov.ge/ka/document/view/2806732) - [Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons](https://matsne.gov.ge/ka/document/view/2278806) - [Government Resolution No. 256 of 5 June 2015 — holders of other countries' visas and residence permits](https://matsne.gov.ge/ka/document/view/2867377) Official texts (in Georgian) — Legislative Herald of Georgia, matsne.gov.ge. Related practice area: [Corporate law](https://mmlaw.ge/en/corporate-lawyer/) ## Related topics - [#For foreigners](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/) - [#Employment](https://mmlaw.ge/en/employment-lawyer/) - [#Business](https://mmlaw.ge/en/corporate-lawyer/) - - [Work permit & sole trader · For foreigners](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/work-permit-and-sole-trader/) - - [IT companies and IT specialists · For foreigners](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/it-companies-in-georgia/) - - [Working remotely from Georgia · For foreigners](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/working-remotely-from-georgia/) - - [Company & business · For foreigners](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/company-registration-in-georgia/) - - [Work permit in Georgia for foreigners from 2026](https://mmlaw.ge/en/blog/work-permit-georgia/) - - [Individual entrepreneur in Georgia: the 1% tax for foreigners](https://mmlaw.ge/en/blog/individual-entrepreneur-georgia-1-percent-tax/) - - [Gambling licence · For foreigners](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/gambling-licence-georgia/) - - [Bank account for non-residents · For foreigners](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/bank-account-in-georgia-for-foreigners/) For foreigners ## How we can help - [Criminal cases](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/criminal-defense-for-foreigners/) — Defense if you are detained or charged — with an interpreter and contact with your consulate. - [Immigration cases](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/immigration-lawyer-georgia/) — Refused entry? We find out why for 1 300 ₾. Also overstays, deportation and residence-permit appeals — fast and in your language. - [Buying property](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/buying-property-in-georgia/) — Check the property, sign a safe contract and register ownership — in person or remotely. - [Disputes with developers](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/disputes-with-developers/) — Construction is late, the developer won't refund, or the flat is mortgaged — we protect the buyer's interests. - [Company & business](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/company-registration-in-georgia/) — LLC registration in Georgia for foreigners from 1 800 ₾, a virtual business address and bank account opening — in person or remotely. - [Work permit & sole trader](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/work-permit-and-sole-trader/) — The right to work, registering as an individual entrepreneur, the 1% small business tax and the right residence permit. - [Residence permits](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/residence-permit-in-georgia/) — Work, business, property, family and investment residence permits — applications, extensions and appeals. - [Family cases](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/family-law-for-foreigners/) — International divorce, children and alimony, recognition of foreign decisions. - [IT companies and IT specialists](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/it-companies-in-georgia/) — Three tax regimes for IT in Georgia: 1% sole trader, virtual zone and 5% international company — conditions and the 2026 change. - [Gambling licence](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/gambling-licence-georgia/) — Casino, slots, betting and online permits in Georgia: who can get one, the conditions and what operators may not do. - [Georgian citizenship for foreigners](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/georgian-citizenship-for-foreigners/) — The ordinary route (10 years), through marriage (5 years), the exceptional route and the rule for those born in Georgia — until 2027. - [Marriage in Georgia for foreigners](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/marriage-in-georgia-for-foreigners/) — How foreigners marry in Georgia: conditions, documents, apostille, translation, witnesses and using the marriage certificate abroad. - [Driving licence for foreigners](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/driving-licence-georgia-foreigners/) — A foreign licence is valid for 1 year: exchange without exams, the 185-day rule for a Georgian licence, fines for driving without one. - [Bank account for non-residents](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/bank-account-in-georgia-for-foreigners/) — How a foreigner opens a personal or business account at a Georgian bank, what the bank asks for, why it refuses and how to prepare. - [Tax residency in Georgia](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/tax-residency-georgia/) — When you become a Georgian tax resident, the residence certificate, HNWI status and the exemption for foreign income. - [Double tax treaties](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/double-tax-treaties-georgia/) — Georgia's 58 double tax treaties: how they work, dual residency and the rates with the UK, Germany and the US. - [Crypto: tax and VASP registration](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/crypto-in-georgia/) — An individual's crypto income is tax-exempt; a crypto business needs National Bank VASP registration and capital. - [Checking a Georgian company](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/checking-a-georgian-company/) — Before you pay or sign with a Georgian company: business registry, pledges, debtors register, court cases and tax debt. - [Land for foreigners](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/can-foreigners-buy-land-in-georgia/) — Foreigners can buy non-agricultural land; agricultural land only through inheritance or an investment plan. - [Working remotely from Georgia](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/working-remotely-from-georgia/) — Digital nomads and remote employees in Georgia: visa-free stay, the work permit question, the 20% tax trap and the 1% sole trader. - [A child of foreign parents born in Georgia](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/baby-born-in-georgia/) — A child of foreign parents born in Georgia: birth certificate, apostille, citizenship, residence and leaving Georgia with the child. - [Car with foreign plates and customs clearance](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/foreign-car-in-georgia/) — Driving a foreign-registered car in Georgia: the 90-day limit, border insurance, fines, selling the car and import excise from 2026. - [How long you can stay](https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/how-long-can-you-stay-in-georgia/) — 1 year visa-free for 94 countries, 90 days in 180 or a visa for others: how days are counted, visa runs, residence and overstay fines. --- Source: https://mmlaw.ge/en/foreigners/georgia-work-visa-d1-hiring-foreign-workers/ · MMLAW · +995 551 00 43 00 · info@mmlaw.ge