What to know before you go
The 365-day visa-free stay is the real magic — but the rules are tightening
CriticalCitizens of ~95 countries (US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia and more) can stay a full 365 days visa-free, then 'border-run' to reset. It's the most generous regime on earth and the reason nomads love Georgia. But enforcement is hardening: an illegal-presence database launched late 2025, overstay fines run GEL 1,000+, and a new Special Labour Activity Permit (from March 1, 2026) is reshaping how freelancers should formalise. Treat the year as a gift, not a loophole — regularise via Individual Entrepreneur status if you're staying.
The 1% tax is real — but only via Individual Entrepreneur + Small Business Status, and not for everyone
CriticalGeorgia's famous 1% tax is not automatic. You register as an Individual Entrepreneur (IE) at the Public Service Hall, then apply for Small Business Status, which taxes turnover at 1% up to GEL 500,000/year. Crucially: consulting, legal, medical and other licensed/professional services are EXCLUDED and taxed at the standard 20%. And the 'tax-free foreign income' framing is misleading — if you physically work in Georgia, that income is Georgian-source. Get a local accountant before assuming you qualify.
Tbilisi is astonishingly cheap — and the food-and-wine culture is world-class
ImportantA khinkali dinner with wine runs GEL 30-50 (US$11-18) for two; a bottle of excellent natural wine is GEL 20-40 in a shop. Monthly living costs outside rent sit around US$500-800. The trade-off the city's quirks: cash is still king in many places, winters are genuinely cold, and air quality in the valley can be poor in winter.
Banking got harder after 2022 — bring a paper trail
ImportantYou can still open an account on a visa-free stay, but post-2022 compliance tightened sharply. Bring your passport, proof of source of funds (pay slips, contracts, tax returns), and ideally a Georgian phone number for OTP. TBC and Bank of Georgia are the big two; registering as an IE strengthens your 'why Georgia' economic-substance story and smooths approval.
From January 1, 2026, travel/medical insurance is mandatory to enter
ImportantGeorgia now requires all foreign visitors to hold travel medical insurance with minimum GEL 30,000 (~US$11,000) coverage on entry (Reg. No. 602). Carry proof. SafetyWing, local insurers (GPI, ARDI, Aldagi) and most nomad policies meet the bar. Foreigners are NOT covered by Georgia's public healthcare, so private insurance is essential anyway.
Winters are cold and the old town is beautiful but freezing — heating is a real decision
Good to knowTbilisi sits in a valley and winter drops near or below 0°C, with snow some years. Gorgeous old-town flats are often poorly insulated with gas space-heaters that are expensive and uneven to run. When renting, the heating system matters as much as the view. Summers, by contrast, are hot and dry (35°C+); air-con is worth confirming too.