Georgia 1-Year Visa-Free for Nomads (2026)
Georgia grants citizens of 95+ countries visa-free stays of up to 365 days. Here is how the rule works, who qualifies, and how Tbilisi compares as a base.
Georgia 1-Year Visa-Free for Nomads
Georgia (the country, not the US state) offers what is arguably the simplest long-stay regime on Earth for nomads: walk in with a passport, get a stamp, stay up to 365 days — no visa, no application, no income test, no fee. For citizens of 95+ countries, it remains the lowest-friction path to a year-long base.
Disclaimer: Immigration policy can change. Confirm current rules at the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs before booking. This article is informational, not legal advice.
How the 365-day rule works
Georgia's Decree no. 255 (2015, repeatedly amended) grants visa-free entry and visa-free stay of up to 365 days from the date of each entry to nationals of:
- All EU member states + Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, UK
- US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand
- Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan
- Israel, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman
- Most Balkan and Caucasus neighbors
The full list (95+ countries) is in the MFA Visa Policy page. Some nationalities receive 90 days only — always verify your specific passport.
Key mechanics:
- Get a stamp at the border (Tbilisi airport, Kutaisi airport, or land borders)
- The 365-day clock starts immediately
- No mid-stay registration required
- To reset: leave Georgia before day 365 and re-enter for a new 365-day period
Border-run mechanics
Most nomads who base in Tbilisi for multiple years follow this pattern:
- Year 1: Enter visa-free, stay 360+ days
- Day ~360: Bus to Yerevan (Armenia) or Trabzon (Turkey), spend 2–7 days
- Re-enter Georgia: new 365-day stamp
There is no official limit on how many times you can do this. Practically, very long cumulative stays (3+ uninterrupted years) sometimes lead border guards to ask about long-term intent, but denials are rare for clean passports.
For long-term residence, Georgia also offers a paid Residence Permit (work, investment, family, study), but for most nomads the free 365-day stamp is sufficient.
Tax residency: the 183-day catch
Although immigration is generous, tax rules still apply:
- Spend ≥183 days in any rolling 12-month period in Georgia → Georgian tax resident
- Tax residents are taxed on worldwide income at flat 20% PIT
- Non-residents are taxed only on Georgian-source income
The 183-day rule is rolling, not calendar-year. If you arrive in October 2026 and stay continuously, you cross the threshold around April 2027 — not 1 January.
See the 183-day rule comparison guide for how Georgia's rolling test differs from Schengen or the US substantial-presence test.
The Individual Entrepreneur (IE) regime — 1% tax
For Georgian tax residents running freelance/online businesses, the Small Business Status (Individual Entrepreneur) is a game-changer:
| Tier | Annual turnover | Tax rate |
|---|---|---|
| Micro | < GEL 30,000 | 0% |
| Small (with IES) | ≤ GEL 500,000 | 1% |
| Above | > GEL 500,000 | 3% |
GEL 500,000 ≈ USD 185,000 at 2026 exchange rates. Eligible activities: most "personal services" — software development, consulting, writing, design. Excluded: medical, legal, gambling, finance.
Registration is done at the Revenue Service of Georgia (online or in person), takes 30 minutes, costs ~GEL 50, and you receive an Individual Entrepreneur Tax ID. From that day forward, business income is taxed at 1% — among the lowest legal effective rates worldwide.
Trade-offs:
- Must invoice via the Georgian e-invoicing system
- Must file monthly turnover reports
- Income paid into a Georgian bank account is cleanest; foreign accounts work but require careful documentation
- 1% is on turnover, not profit — high-margin businesses benefit most
Tbilisi as a base
| Metric | Tbilisi (Old Town / Vake) |
|---|---|
| 1-BR apartment | $500–$900/mo (Vake/Saburtalo) |
| Cost of living | ~$1,200–$1,800/mo for one person |
| Internet | 200–500 Mbps fiber (Magti, Silknet) |
| Coworking | Terminal, Lokal, Impact Hub, Stamba |
| Coffee culture | Strong third-wave scene since ~2018 |
| English usage | Good in central districts, gen Z+ |
| Time zone | GMT+4 (works with EU and Asia) |
| Best months | April–June, September–October |
| Avoid | July–August (heat), Dec–Feb (cold) |
See the Tbilisi city profile for current Fit Score and metrics.
Banking, SIM, and admin
- SIM: Magti or Geocell, prepaid 10 GB ≈ GEL 25/month, eSIM available at airport
- Bank: Bank of Georgia or TBC Bank — multi-currency (GEL/USD/EUR), passport only
- Address: Airbnb confirmation usually accepted for the bank account application
- Apostille / notary: most documents can be apostilled in Tbilisi within a day at the National Agency of Public Registry
When Georgia makes sense
Georgia is a strong base when you want:
- Maximum stay flexibility with zero paperwork
- Predictable low cost of living (sub-$1,500 per person for most lifestyles)
- Optional ultra-low tax via the 1% IE regime if you genuinely relocate
- EU/Asia overlap time zones
- A safe, English-friendly, well-fibered city without Schengen day-counting stress
Georgia is not a great fit if you need:
- A formal DNV (use Portugal D8 or Spain DNV)
- Visa-recognized status for a non-Georgian client invoice (an IE invoice is sometimes refused by large EU clients)
- Year-round mild weather (continental climate)
Internal links
- Tbilisi city profile
- 183-day rule comparison across countries
- Nomad visas with low income requirements
Health insurance for your Georgia year
Georgia is visa-free, but most national health systems back home stop covering you after 30–90 days abroad. A nomad insurance plan with global coverage and Georgia-included clinics is essential — and not optional if you ever apply for a future DNV that requires proof of insurance.
Get SafetyWing Nomad Insurance →
Last updated: 2026-05-17. Verify the Georgian MFA visa policy page and Revenue Service IE rules before relying on any specific numbers — both are updated periodically.