Who this page is for
Independent IT contractors and remote professionals with one or several foreign or Georgian clients.
- contractor versus employee facts
- eligible economic activity
- preceding-year income trail
- self-employed right-to-work analysis
- IE and Small Business timing
The short answer
A freelancer’s route depends on the legal work model. Foreign-client contracting, Georgian IE registration, Small Business Status, right to work and IT residence each have separate tests and must be ordered correctly.
We first identify the correct applicant profile, then check the work, income, right-to-work and lawful-stay evidence that belongs to that profile. This avoids translating or filing documents that do not answer the actual test.
What to check for IT Residence Permit for Freelancers and Contractors
Independent IT contractors and remote professionals with one or several foreign or Georgian clients.
- contractor versus employee facts
- eligible economic activity
- preceding-year income trail
- self-employed right-to-work analysis
- IE and Small Business timing
The four permit profiles and their evidence are not interchangeable
The IT permit covers qualifying employees, eligible Georgian IEs with Small Business Status, certain International Company managers/representatives and qualifying family members.
- Employee and IE files normally test at least two years of evidenced IT work or economic activity.
- at least USD 25,000 equivalent in GEL of qualifying preceding-year income
- at least two relevant receipts separated by at least 30 days
- GEL 500 for 90 calendar days or GEL 750 for 60 calendar days; an extension may be filed during the final 90 days before expiry and must be submitted before the permit expires.
What to send us first
For the first review, send the facts and records you already have. We will tell you what needs certification, translation or additional evidence after the correct applicant profile is confirmed.
Send us first
- Passport and current lawful-stay details
- Short description of your work, employer or client model
- Existing contracts and two years of relevant IT history
- Last-year IT income and payment information
- Any Georgian IE, company, tax and family details
We prepare or coordinate
- Confirm the permit profile and qualifying occupation or activity
- Prepare the evidence map, income schedule and application documents
- Coordinate apostille/legalisation and certified Georgian translation
- Sequence the work-right and residence steps
Obtained or confirmed later
- Right-to-work code or decision where required
- Authority-issued extracts or confirmations
- Additional evidence requested during review
- Residence decision and residence-card documents
How the work usually proceeds
The exact order depends on the service and your documents. We confirm the steps and responsibilities before professional work begins.
- 01
classify the applicant under the correct permit profile
- 02
audit experience, income and payment evidence
- 03
resolve the 2026 right-to-work position
- 04
prepare translations, forms and supporting explanations
- 05
submit within lawful-stay timing and manage follow-up requests
How this may look in a real case
A developer invoicing an EU client registers an eligible activity, preserves contract/invoice/bank evidence and separately checks Georgian-source and VAT questions.
What can slow the process down
We check these points at the beginning and flag gaps before filing, so you can correct them while there is still time.
- The work history or income evidence does not clearly show qualifying IT work.
- The work-right step is started too late or under the wrong employee/self-employed route.
- Foreign documents reach Georgia without the required apostille, legalisation or usable translation.
- A change of employer, activity, lawful stay or travel plan is not checked before filing.
A clear recommendation and a managed Georgian process
We identify the correct residence profile, review the evidence, coordinate translations and manage the agreed filing and follow-up.
ITResidency.ge is operated by ASSIO LEX & ASSOCIATES LLC, the Georgian legal and business-services provider for the engagement.
- Eligibility and evidence review
- Work-right and residence sequencing
- Application and authority follow-up
- Card, family and renewal planning
Frequently asked questions
Does IT Residence Permit for Freelancers and Contractors apply to every IT professional?
No. The employee, Georgian IE, International Company management and family profiles use different legal tests. The occupation or economic activity, experience, income, right-to-work position and lawful stay must be matched to the correct profile.
What should I send for an initial review?
Send your passport, a short explanation of how you work, relevant contracts or employer details, two years of professional evidence, last-year income information, current Georgian registrations and any family details. We will identify what requires formal translation or certification later.
Is the Georgian right to work a separate step?
Usually yes. The right to work and the IT residence permit are different decisions. We check whether permission or an exemption applies and put the steps in the correct order.
Can family members obtain linked residence?
Qualifying family members have a linked IT residence route. Their documents can be prepared in parallel, but the official checklist requires the principal holder’s permit copy for submission.
Can ITResidency.ge manage the application?
Yes. We can confirm the profile, review evidence, coordinate translations and legalisation, prepare the application, manage follow-up and plan the residence-card and renewal steps.
