Americans can live in Georgia for up to a year with no visa at all, and work remotely for foreign employers or clients the whole time. Stay 183 days and register as an Individual Entrepreneur, and qualifying business turnover can be taxed at just 1%.
Checked against the sources at the end on November 2, 2026. This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you apply.
At a glance
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Visit first | Up to 365 days |
| Route for remote workers | Visa-free stay of up to 1 year |
| Money you need to show | No income minimum. Since January 1, 2026, all visitors need health and accident insurance covering the whole stay, at least 30,000 GEL |
| Length | Up to 1 year per entry |
| Government fees | None for the stay; mandatory travel health insurance since Jan 2026 |
| Timeline | Nothing to apply for in advance |
| Where you apply | Nothing to apply for: your entry stamp starts the 365 days. Longer stays need a residence permit (for example through property, work or a business) |
| Family | Each family member gets their own visa-free year |
| Long-term residence | Residence permits are available through property, investment, work or business; permanent residence after 6 years |
| US taxes | Still due every year. See our US taxes and banking guide |
Who qualifies
Americans can live in Georgia for up to a year with no visa at all, and work remotely for foreign employers or clients the whole time. Stay 183 days and register as an Individual Entrepreneur, and qualifying business turnover can be taxed at just 1%.
- Remote employees of companies outside Georgia: yes.
- Freelancers and business owners: yes.
- Money: No income minimum. Since January 1, 2026, all visitors need health and accident insurance covering the whole stay, at least 30,000 GEL.
Open question: Which remote-work activities qualify for the 1% regime depends on how you register; get local advice.
Documents
Order US documents first: apostilles and FBI checks are the slowest part.
- US passport
- Health and accident insurance covering your whole stay (at least 30,000 GEL)
Step by step from the US
- Decide how long you'll stay and check the visitor rules above.
- Before you fly: Nothing to apply for: your entry stamp starts the 365 days. Longer stays need a residence permit (for example through property, work or a business).
- Buy health insurance for the whole trip.
- Track your days for both immigration and tax.
- For a longer move, look at the residence routes below with a local adviser.
Taxes
- 183 days in 12 months makes you a Georgian tax resident
- Individual Entrepreneurs with "small business status" can pay 1% on turnover up to about 500,000 GEL a year; some professional services don't qualify
- Georgia taxes residents mainly on Georgian-source income
- No US-Georgia totalization agreement
- US citizens still file a US return every year. The foreign earned income exclusion is up to $132,900 for 2026; the foreign tax credit is the alternative. See our US taxes guide.
Common mistakes
- Border runs are watched more closely since 2025, and overstay fines are higher
- Get the insurance before you fly: it's now checked
- Small business status has activity restrictions; check with a local accountant
Where to live in Georgia
Our city guides cover costs in dollars, neighborhoods, live weather and the time difference: Tbilisi · Batumi · Kutaisi · Telavi.
Moving with a partner or kids? See Moving abroad with family.
Sources
Checked on November 2, 2026. Where sources disagree, we say so above.
- Georgia Ministry of Foreign Affairs: visa policy (official)
- Where in the World is Nina: Georgia's free year in 2026 (Aug 2026)
Get an email when Georgia's rules change
Income minimums, fees and paperwork change often, and old advice sticks around online. When the rules change for Georgia, we'll send you one short email with what changed and the source. Nothing else.
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