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In mid-April 2026, Georgia's parliament passed a dedicated visa category for remote workers — officially the C5 visa, informally "the digital nomad visa." It arrived alongside a related clarification of the work permit rules, and the two are designed to work together. Here is what the C5 visa actually offers, what it costs, and who genuinely benefits from it.
Why This Visa Exists — and How It Connects to the Work Permit Reform
Georgia's March 2026 labour migration reform introduced a mandatory work permit for foreign nationals working in the country. This immediately raised a question for remote workers: does someone sitting in a Tbilisi café, laptop open, working for a client in Berlin, count as "working in Georgia" for permit purposes?
The C5 visa is Georgia's answer. Alongside it, parliament clarified that the labour migration rules are not intended to apply to people who work remotely for foreign companies and do not enter the Georgian labour market. The C5 visa gives that category of person a formal, purpose-built legal basis for their stay — rather than relying on general tourist status while working, which was always a slightly awkward fit.
Who the C5 Visa Is For
Citizens of 90+ countries already receive 365-day visa-free entry to Georgia without needing any visa at all. For those nationalities, the C5 visa's main added value is the explicit legal clarity around work authorization and the option of a multiple-entry document valid across several years — not extra time in-country, since visa-free entry already covers close to a year.
What You Get: Stay Length and Visa Validity
This is a detail worth being precise about, since it is easy to conflate two different things: how long you can stay on any single visit, and how long the visa document itself remains usable.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Maximum stay per visit | Up to 12 months |
| Visa document validity | Can be issued as multiple-entry, valid for up to 5 years |
| Work permit needed? | No — provided you work exclusively for non-residents |
| Applies for family members? | Yes — spouse and minor children can be included |
The precise mechanics of how re-entry and renewal work within that 5-year window were still being clarified in official guidance at the time of the most recent reporting available. Confirm the exact process for your situation before making firm plans around it.
The Safe Countries List
Eligibility for the C5 visa is limited to citizens of countries on an approved "safe countries" list. As of the most recent reporting, this list had not been publicly finalised. If your nationality is not among the roughly 90+ that already receive visa-free entry to Georgia, this list will determine whether the C5 route is available to you at all — worth checking directly before planning around it.
Cost
Reported figures place the fee in a $20 to $500 range, with the exact amount depending on processing conditions and individual circumstances. This is a wider range than a simple flat fee, so budget for the higher end until you have a confirmed figure for your specific application route.
One detail worth knowing upfront: authorities retain broad discretion over C5 approvals, and refusal decisions are final and cannot be appealed. This is a stricter posture than many other visa categories and reflects Georgia's broader tightening of immigration control alongside the 2026 reforms. There is no formal recourse if an application is refused — plan your documentation carefully on the first attempt.
C5 Visa vs the Old "Remotely from Georgia" Program
If you have read older content about Georgia and digital nomads, you have likely seen references to the "Remotely from Georgia" program — a scheme with a $2,000/month income requirement and no visa fee. That program predates the 2026 reforms and is a separate, older mechanism. The C5 visa is a distinct, newer instrument introduced specifically as part of the April 2026 legislative package, with its own (different) fee structure and requirements. Treat any content describing the old program's income threshold as not automatically applicable to C5 unless confirmed otherwise.
How This Fits With Registering a Georgian IE
The C5 visa governs your right to be in Georgia and work for foreign clients without a separate work permit. It does not replace, and is not required for, registering a Georgian Individual Entrepreneur and accessing the 1% Small Business Status tax regime — those are separate systems that many C5 holders use in combination once they decide to formalise a Georgian tax presence.
Questions We Get Asked a Lot
Click any question to expand.
Do I need the C5 visa if my country already gets visa-free entry to Georgia?
Not necessarily. Visa-free entry already covers up to 365 days for 90+ nationalities. The C5 visa adds explicit work-authorization clarity and the option of a multi-year, multiple-entry document — valuable if you want longer-term legal certainty, but not essential if you are only staying under a year and can rely on visa-free entry.
Does the C5 visa let me work for Georgian clients?
No. The C5 visa is specifically for people who work exclusively for non-resident employers or clients. If you plan to serve Georgian clients or work for a Georgian company, you fall into a different category and different rules apply.
What happens if my C5 application is refused?
Refusal decisions under the C5 category are final and cannot be appealed. This makes careful preparation of your application important — there is no formal second chance through an appeals process.
Is the C5 visa the same as the old Remotely from Georgia program?
No — they are separate. Remotely from Georgia is an older program with a $2,000/month income requirement and no visa fee. The C5 visa is a distinct, newly introduced category from April 2026 with its own fee and rules.
Can I combine the C5 visa with registering a Georgian Individual Entrepreneur?
Yes. The C5 visa addresses your right to stay and work for foreign clients without a separate work permit. Registering an Individual Entrepreneur and accessing the 1% tax regime is a separate, complementary step that many C5 holders take once they decide to formalise their tax presence in Georgia.