IT specialist in Batumi in 2026: visa-free stay, work permit, residence
Plenty of developers, designers, QA engineers and marketers live in Batumi and work remotely. In 2026 the rules for foreigners in Georgia changed noticeably. Here is a short summary from public sources, with links — and at the end, what I can help with myself: your hardware, internet and workspace.
Visa-free stay and entry
Citizens of many countries, including Russia, can stay in Georgia visa-free for up to 365 days. After that you need to leave or obtain a residence permit. Since 1 January 2026, tourists need health and accident insurance for their whole stay (coverage of at least 30,000 GEL).
A visa-free stay is not a right to work. Work and business in Georgia now have their own rules.
From 1 March 2026: the right to labour activity
Amendments to the labour migration law introduced a work permit. Most foreigners without permanent residence need it if they earn income from activity in Georgia:
- employment with a Georgian company — the permit is tied to the employer and position;
- self-employment and business, including individual entrepreneurs — tied to the field of activity;
- applications go online at labourmigration.moh.gov.ge; the self-employed add a business plan and a video interview;
- fee: 200 GEL (about 30 days) or 400 GEL (fast track, 10 working days);
- fine for working without a permit: 2,000 GEL, more for repeat violations.
Deadlines for people already working
- self-employed foreigners already active on 1 March 2026 had until 1 May 2026;
- employees already registered in the Ministry’s database — until 1 January 2027.
What it means for IT
For IT sector employees the first permit is issued for up to three years (usually 6–12 months for other jobs), and extensions can also run up to three years. After the permit you need a residence permit — including the IT employment residence permit — or a D1 visa if you are abroad.
The grey area is remote work for a foreign employer or foreign clients while physically in Georgia. Lawyers read the law differently; some say it targets the Georgian labour market first of all. Do not guess — get advice for your own situation.
Important
This is a summary of public sources as of September 2026, not legal advice. The rules are still being clarified — check the official Ministry website or a migration lawyer before making decisions.
How I can help
Paperwork is not my job — hardware is. I come to your home or coworking space and speak English and Russian:
- laptops and MacBooks: cleaning, SSDs, batteries, system reinstalls — on site, no sending away;
- internet and Wi-Fi in every room, a backup line for provider outages;
- a UPS for your router and computer — work goes on during power cuts;
- a second monitor, a dock, a headset and a camera for calls;
- backups, disk encryption, two-factor protection;
- Georgian, Russian and English keyboard layouts; help with local online services;
- choosing and checking used hardware before you buy.