The Government of Georgia introduced significant amendments to the procedure for issuing work permits and residence permits (residence visa) for foreign nationals. The corresponding amendments were approved on July 9 by a government decree. The changes affect the document requirements that foreigners must submit when applying for a residence permit and work permits in accordance with the Georgian Law "On Labor Migration".
A key change concerns the documentary formalization of work activities. Now foreign nationals working in Georgia in accordance with labor migration legislation are obligated to submit a document confirming the performance of such activities, along with all other required documents. This requirement is designed to ensure transparency and control over compliance with labor standards.
The new rules establish minimum financial requirements for employers. For most enterprises, the minimum annual turnover must be 50,000 Georgian lari per foreign worker. For educational and medical institutions, a reduced threshold of 35,000 Georgian lari per foreign employee has been set. These figures must be confirmed by appropriate documentation.
However, a foreigner cannot always provide a standard package of documents due to objective reasons. In such cases, the legislation provides for the possibility of submitting other reliable evidence confirming that the employer's annual turnover meets the established requirements. This allows for a more flexible approach when reviewing applications in non-standard situations.
Special benefits are provided for recently established companies. If an enterprise has been registered no more than three months ago, employs no more than three foreign employees, and a foreign national is obtaining a residence permit for the purpose of work for the first time, confirmation of the company's annual turnover is no longer required. In this case, the employer need only submit a certificate regarding the number of foreign workers. It is important to note that such a residence permit will be issued for a period of only six months.
In certain cases, foreign nationals will be required to provide information about the enterprise's category by size or the organization's status as a subject of public interest. This information will be determined based on data available to the public on the portal of the State Register of Accounting, Reporting and Audit Reportal.ge. This simplifies the verification process and makes it more transparent for all participants.
These changes are aimed at streamlining the document processing procedure for labor migrants and reducing administrative barriers, especially for start-up companies. At the same time, they tighten the requirements for confirming employers' financial viability, which should ensure the protection of foreign workers' interests and fair competition in the labor market.