Why Georgia attracts in 2026
Georgia built its reputation on three pillars: exceptional openness (up to 365 days visa-free for many nationalities), a light, readable tax system, and a banking sector long known to be accessible to foreigners. Add a low cost of living and a fairly digital administration, and you get a base prized by freelancers and nomads.
Two tax philosophies coexist, and that's the subtlety: either you keep your foreign-source income (exempt at the personal level), ideally via a US LLC; or you localize your activity in Georgia under the 1% "Individual Entrepreneur" status. Two routes, two logics.
Visa-free stay & residence permits
Unique advantage: many nationals (including the French) can stay up to 365 days visa-free. You can settle for a year, test, and structure your file without a permit. To anchor for the long term, several residence permits exist:
Work / business permit
Tied to a Georgian activity or company. Often combined with the Individual Entrepreneur status for the self-employed.
Investment permit (~$300k)
For a qualifying investment in Georgia. A route for profiles anchoring capital.
Property permit (~$100k)
Ownership of real estate of sufficient value. Amounts and conditions to confirm (they evolve).
Thresholds (investment, property), visa-free durations and banking rules have evolved in recent years. Don't rely on old figures: confirm the rules in force at the time of your application.
Georgian tax, made clear
Territoriality (at the personal level)
Georgia taxes resident individuals only on Georgian-source income (standard rate ~20%). Foreign-source income is in principle exempt. Income from a remotely-operated US LLC, being foreign-source, is therefore in principle not taxed in Georgia — the same spirit as the Panama/Paraguay combo.
The 1% "Individual Entrepreneur" status
For those who instead want to localize their activity, Georgia offers one of the most advantageous regimes in the world: the Individual Entrepreneur status with the "Small Business" regime, which taxes turnover at ~1% up to an annual cap (above it, a higher rate applies). Ideal for a freelancer invoicing under their Georgian name.
These aren't the same strategy: LLC + territoriality keeps income "outside Georgia" (exempt); the 1% IE status localizes activity in Georgia and taxes it very lightly. The right choice depends on your clients, your amounts and your real tax residency. That's exactly the trade-off we frame with you.
Becoming a Georgian tax resident
Two main routes: spend at least 183 days in Georgia over 12 months, or obtain the "High Net Worth Individual" status, which grants tax residency without the 183 days (subject to wealth/income conditions). As everywhere, the residence permit doesn't make tax residency: you must build tax residency deliberately.
The point not to oversell: citizenship
Unlike Paraguay (3 years) or Mexico (5 years), Georgian naturalization is slow (on the order of 10 years) and dual citizenship is restricted (granted case by case by decision). Georgia is an excellent choice for tax, banking and access — not as an express route to a second passport. Be clear about your goal.
The combo: Georgia + US LLC
For an online entrepreneur, the most common setup: a US LLC (no US federal tax on non-US-source income) whose income, received by a Georgian tax resident, is foreign-source and therefore in principle exempt in Georgia. A clean US operating layer + very low personal tax. The 1% IE status remains an alternative when you prefer to invoice locally.
| Criterion | Georgia | Paraguay / Panama |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign income (tax resident) | Exempt (territorial) | 0% (territorial) |
| Local freelancer regime | 1% IE (unique) | — |
| Ease of settling in | 365 days visa-free | Good |
| Fast citizenship | No (~10 years) | Yes (3-5 years) |
Residency + tax + banking, coordinated
We point you to the right route (via our specialized local partners) and decide between LLC vs 1% status, with your tax residency and banking. One English-speaking contact.
Who Georgia makes sense for — and who not
✅ Relevant if
- You're a freelancer / online entrepreneur wanting light tax (territoriality or 1% IE)
- You value accessible banking and the flexibility of 365 days visa-free to test
- Your goal is tax/operational, not a fast passport
❌ Less suitable if
- You want fast citizenship — aim for Paraguay or Mexico
- You want a large French-speaking community and immediate US proximity (rather Mexico)
FAQ — Georgia residency
How long visa-free?
Up to 365 days for many nationalities (incl. France). Verify before traveling, the list can change.
Is Georgia territorial?
Yes for individuals: only Georgian-source income is taxed (~20%), foreign income is in principle exempt.
What's the 1% status?
The Individual Entrepreneur "Small Business" status taxes turnover at ~1% up to an annual cap. Very advantageous to localize freelance activity.
How to become a tax resident?
183 days/year, or the "High Net Worth Individual" status (no 183 days, conditions apply). The permit alone isn't enough.
And citizenship?
Slow (~10 years) and dual citizenship restricted. Georgia isn't a fast route to a second passport.
Go further
- All our residency-by-country guides
- Paraguay & Panama — territorial + faster citizenship
- US LLC from Georgia — the company side in detail
- Patrimoine International — to arbitrate tax and wealth (partner firm)