In Georgia, foreign nationals employed in the field of Information Technology (IT) will be required to obtain a special type of residence permit. This permit will be issued to labor immigrants and their family members who are employed in the IT sector and are registered with the Ministry of Health; to foreign nationals registered in Georgia as individual entrepreneurs with small business status engaged in IT activities and their family members; and to authorized representatives or leadership of international companies operating in the IT field and their families.

This new type of temporary residence permit is being introduced as part of amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons. The draft law was prepared by MPs from the “Georgian Dream” party and has already been initiated in Parliament.

According to the draft law, a labor immigrant registered with the Ministry of Health and a foreign national registered in Georgia as an individual entrepreneur with small business status operating in the IT field must submit a document confirming at least two years of experience in labor or economic activities in the IT sector. They must also provide proof that their annual income from these activities is not less than the equivalent of 25,000 USD in Georgian lari.

This type of temporary residence permit will initially be issued for a period of 3 years. It can be renewed in 3-year increments, up to a maximum of 12 years.

The bill also states that the residence permit for an IT worker will be terminated if the permit holder is not physically present in Georgia for 183 days or more within any continuous 12-month calendar period. Time spent in Georgia includes days physically present in the country and periods when the individual was abroad for medical treatment.

The procedure for monitoring the presence of residence permit holders in Georgia will be defined by the Government of Georgia.

Parliament plans to review the proposed amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons under an accelerated procedure.