Employer hires a foreign national: what it must do: what to do under Georgian law

What to do

1. Does the regime apply: the regime applies to a foreign national without a permanent residence permit (Law of Georgia on Labour Migration, Art. 3); exemptions include refugees and persons under protection, diplomats, accredited journalists, holders of an investment residence permit, and others (Rules on the Right to Work, Art. 1). If the regime applies: employment is permitted only after the right to work has been obtained (Rules on the Right to Work, Art. 2). In addition to the right to work, the employee needs a work residence permit, a D1 visa, or another residence permit (Law on Labour Migration, Art. 13³).
2. Procedure: first, the vacancy is posted on worknet.moh.gov.ge at least 10 working days before the application (Rules on the Right to Work, Art. 5); the employer files the application after the contract is concluded (Law on Labour Migration, Art. 13⁴); the decision is made no later than the 30th calendar day (on an expedited basis, the 10th working day) (Rules on the Right to Work, Art. 5); the fee is paid by the employer — 200 GEL (expedited processing costs more) (Rules on the Right to Work, Art. 11).
3. Contract: the contract must be fixed-term and written, in Georgian and in a language understood by the employee (Law on Labour Migration, Art. 13²); the right is tied to the employer and the position; a change of position requires a new right (Rules on the Right to Work, Art. 2). Otherwise, the same rules apply as for any employee (Labour Code; income tax withheld at source).
4. Already working without the right: employing a foreign national without the right incurs a fine of GEL 2,000 on the employer for each foreign national (Law on Labour Migration, Art. 16¹); for a repeat violation — a double fine, and thereafter a triple fine calculated on the double (Art. 16¹). If the person was in the database before the reform: foreign nationals registered in the database as of 1 March 2026 must obtain the right and a residence permit by 1 January 2027 (Law on Labour Migration, Art. 17). Stop the work until the right is obtained.
5. Support: notify the Agency of an early termination of the contract no later than 5 calendar days after it (Rules on the Right to Work, Art. 7); failure to report the termination, change or extension of the contract — GEL 1,000 for each person (Law on Labour Migration, Art. 16⁵); obstructing the Labour Inspection or failing to present the foreign national’s documents — a separate fine based on the employer’s turnover (Law on Labour Migration, Art. 16²).
6. Where to apply: Employment Support Agency (labourmigration.moh.gov.ge) — right to work; Public Service Development Agency — residence permit; Labour Inspection Service — control and fines.
7. Evidence: copy of the foreign national’s passport and residence permit or visa; the decision on the right to work; the fixed-term bilingual contract; a screenshot of the vacancy on worknet.
8. Traps: letting the person work “while the application is being considered” — a fine for each person; an open-ended contract, or one only in Georgian; moving the foreign national to another position without a new right; not reporting the early termination of the foreign national’s contract.

Be sure to check

• a foreign national may work only after obtaining the right to work; the application is filed by the employer
• procedure: vacancy on worknet → application → decision; the fee is paid by the employer
• the contract is fixed-term and written, in Georgian and in a language the employee understands; the right is tied to the position
• fine to the employer for each foreign national without the right; notice of early termination