Intro (above the fold)
Georgia is having a moment. Low taxes, low cost of living, visa-free entry for most Western passport holders, and a capital city that manages to feel both ancient and genuinely cosmopolitan. More expats, remote workers, and entrepreneurs are choosing Tbilisi every year — and most of them figure it out the hard way.
We’re not most people. We made the mistakes in Nicaragua, so you don’t have to. Now we’re doing the same for Georgia — documenting every step of the process in real time, before we even arrive in January 2027.
No guesswork. No outdated forum threads. Just reliable, current information from people who take this seriously.
Why Georgia? The Short Answer.
- Territorial tax system. If your income is earned outside Georgia, you may owe zero Georgia tax. The 1% Small Business Status (Individual Entrepreneur regime) is one of the most attractive setups in the world for remote workers and online business owners.
- Low cost of living. A single expat can live comfortably in Tbilisi for $1,000–$1,500/month. Rent in desirable neighborhoods runs $400–$600. Groceries $150–$250. World-class food and wine for almost nothing.
- Visa-free access. Citizens of more than 95 countries can enter Georgia without a visa and stay for up to 365 days. No application. No waiting. Just arrive.
- A real expat community. Tbilisi has become home base for thousands of expats — Americans, Canadians, Europeans, Israelis, and more. The infrastructure — co-working spaces, international schools, English-speaking professionals — exists because the demand is real.
- It’s still early. The playbook isn’t written yet. That’s exactly where the opportunity is.
What’s Changed in 2026 — And Why It Matters
Georgia’s regulatory environment is shifting fast. If you’ve read anything about moving here written before 2025, assume it’s at least partially outdated.
Here’s what’s new:
New work permit requirements (effective March 2026). Foreign nationals working or running a business in Georgia now need to obtain a right to labor/entrepreneurial activity permit. If you arrived before March 2026, your transition deadline is January 1, 2027 — the same month we’re arriving. We’re tracking this in real time and will keep this page updated as the rules evolve.
Property investment threshold increased. The minimum real estate investment required to qualify for a Georgian residence permit rose from $100,000 to $150,000 USD as of March 2026. If property-based residency is part of your plan, the numbers have changed.
No finalized digital nomad visa. Georgia has not passed a dedicated digital nomad visa into law. The market is flooded with conflicting information about this. The short answer: most expats still use visa-free entry or the existing Remotely from Georgia framework. We’ll tell you what actually works.
Your Georgia Roadmap — What We Cover
You don’t need to piece this together from a dozen different sources. We’ve built out the full picture:
Residency in Georgia
The D1 visa, the new 2026 work permit, permanent residence pathways, and what Canadians and Americans need to sort out before they arrive.
Taxes in Georgia
The 1% Small Business Status, Georgia’s territorial tax system, and how to handle your exit planning from Canada or the US before you leave.
Cost of Living in Georgia
Real numbers for Tbilisi in 2026 — rent, groceries, dining, transport, healthcare, and what $1,500/month actually gets you.
Banking in Georgia
Opening a Georgian bank account as a foreigner, which banks work best for expats, and how to manage international transfers without getting burned on fees.
Neighborhoods in Tbilisi
Vera, Vake, Saburtalo, the Old Town — what each area actually feels like, who lives there, and what you’ll pay.
Property in Georgia →
Buying vs. renting, the new $150,000 residency threshold, and what you need to know before signing anything.
Find a Trusted Professional in Georgia
The single biggest mistake expats make is trying to navigate a new country without local, qualified help. We don’t guess. We connect you with vetted Georgian lawyers, accountants, and real estate agents who work with English-speaking expats every day.
Browse the Georgia Professional Directory →
We’re Doing This Too
This isn’t a site run by people who visited Tbilisi once. We’re in the middle of this — researching, preparing, planning, and documenting the entire process of relocating to Georgia in January 2027.
That means every piece of content on this hub is built from the same research we’re doing for ourselves. When the rules change, we update it. When we find something that works, we share it. When something doesn’t go to plan, we tell you that too.
We did this for Nicaragua. Now we’re doing it for Georgia.
Already in Georgia? Join the Network.
If you’re a professional serving the Georgian expat community — a lawyer, accountant, real estate agent, or financial advisor — we want to hear from you.
We’re building the most trusted English-language directory of Georgia-based expat professionals. Early members get priority placement and direct access to expats actively planning their move.
Ready to start planning your move to Georgia?
Whether you’re still in the research phase or ready to take your first concrete steps, we’re here to help you cut through the confusion.