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HPT Group
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Asia · Residence

Georgia Residency

Minimum requirement: Low / property from $100k. Typical timeline: 1 to 2+ months. Citizenship and residence programmes are subject to government due diligence and approval. We do not guarantee approval.

Overview

Georgia offers one of the most accessible residency routes in the region, with a territorial tax system that generally does not tax foreign-sourced income for individuals. We help clients structure residency through property ownership or qualifying activity, balancing the low entry cost with the practical steps needed for a durable, renewable status. As at 2026, it remains a popular base for entrepreneurs and remote professionals seeking a flexible European-adjacent foothold.

Georgia Residency offers a straightforward and affordable route to living in a country that sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, combining a famously open approach to foreigners with a tax system that has long been attractive to entrepreneurs and remote earners. It suits individuals who want a low-friction base, easy travel, and a cost of living far below Western Europe, without heavy bureaucracy.

Georgia has built a reputation for being unusually welcoming. Many nationalities can enter visa-free for extended periods, business set-up is quick, and the administrative culture is light by regional standards. For founders, freelancers and passive-income earners seeking flexibility, that ease is the central attraction.

We approach Georgia pragmatically: it is excellent value and genuinely simple, but the simplicity should not be mistaken for an absence of planning, particularly around tax residence and substance.

Who it suits

Georgia suits mobile, self-sufficient people who value low cost and low friction. Strong candidates include:

  • Entrepreneurs and small-business owners wanting a quick, cheap base.
  • Remote workers and freelancers earning from abroad.
  • Passive-income earners seeking affordable, comfortable living.

Residence can be obtained through several routes, including investment in real estate above a stated threshold, establishing a business, or employment. It does not suit those needing immediate EU access or a fast Western passport, though long-term residence can lead toward permanent status.

Cost and what is really involved

Georgia is one of the more affordable residence options. A property-based route has historically required a real estate investment above a set value, commonly cited around USD 100,000, which we confirm against current rules before advising. Business and employment routes avoid a lump sum but require genuine activity.

Beyond the qualifying step, costs are modest: legal fees, translations, and a generally low cost of living. The value proposition is real, but we still build a proper file rather than relying on the system's informality.

Tax and lifestyle

Georgia operates a largely territorial tax system, and individual income tax rates are low, with foreign-source personal income often outside the local net. The country also offers favourable small-business and individual-entrepreneur regimes that can be efficient for the self-employed, subject to conditions.

As always, we make no guarantees. Whether you become tax resident, and how your income is treated, depends on presence, your home-country rules and the live law. The lifestyle is comfortable and inexpensive, with good food, growing connectivity and striking natural surroundings.

The process and timeline

The process is comparatively quick and document-light. In outline we help you:

  • Select the route suited to your situation.
  • Make the qualifying investment or establish the business.
  • Assemble and translate supporting documents.
  • File the residence application and complete biometrics.

Processing has historically been measured in weeks to a few months for many routes. Tax residence is a separate question, generally tied to a days-present test, and we treat it independently from the immigration permit.

Pitfalls and how we avoid them

The common pitfalls are assuming visa-free entry is the same as residence or tax residence, relying on outdated investment thresholds, and overlooking the substance needed to support any tax position. Banking can also require care for newcomers.

We avoid these by clarifying the distinct concepts early, confirming current thresholds and rules, and helping you establish genuine presence and banking before you rely on any benefit. We are candid where the informality could create later problems.

How HPT helps

We coordinate local counsel, structure the route around your assets and goals, and manage documentation and banking introductions so the process stays simple in practice as well as on paper. One accountable team handles the engagement.

We also give you a clear view of fit. For mobile entrepreneurs and remote earners who want affordable, low-friction residence with real upside, Georgia is hard to beat. Where you need EU access or a faster passport, we say so and help you weigh the alternatives.

Key facts

Minimum requirement
Low / property from $100k
HPT professional fee
From £1,500
Typical timeline
1 to 2+ months
Pathway
Renewable; territorial tax
Region
Asia

Minimum requirements exclude government, due diligence and professional fees, and change from time to time. We confirm the current position before you commit.

Marina Bay, Singapore, from the air

The programme

What Georgia Residency provides

  • Territorial tax framework that typically does not tax most foreign-sourced personal income
  • Comparatively low cost of entry versus most European residency programmes
  • Renewable residence permits, with property ownership being a common qualifying route
  • Straightforward banking and company formation environment for entrepreneurs
  • No requirement to be physically present for long uninterrupted periods to maintain status, in most cases
  • Strategic location bridging Europe and Asia, with broad visa-free travel for many nationalities

Investment routes

Routes into residence

Minimum requirements shown, as set by the government. Our fees are separate and agreed in writing.

Georgia Residency investment options
RouteFromNotes
Property-based residenceFrom approximately USD 100,000 in real estateOwnership of qualifying property at or above the relevant threshold is a common basis for a renewable residence permit; valuations are assessed by the authorities.
Work or entrepreneurial activityLow set-up cost; no fixed minimum investmentResidence can be based on local business activity or employment rather than a capital threshold, subject to documentation.

Process

From engagement to residence permit

Typical timeline 1 to 2+ months. The decision at each government stage rests with the authorities, not with us.

  1. 01

    Assessment and structuring

    We review your profile and objectives and recommend the most suitable qualifying route, whether property, business, or employment based.

  2. 02

    Documentation

    We help assemble and legalise the supporting documents, including criminal record checks and proof of the qualifying basis.

  3. 03

    Application submission

    We prepare and submit the residence permit application to the relevant Georgian authority on your behalf.

  4. 04

    Issuance and collection

    Once approved, the residence card is issued, typically within one to two months of a complete filing.

  5. 05

    Renewal and tax setup

    We assist with renewals and, where relevant, establishing your tax residency to benefit from the territorial system.

Eligibility

Who may apply

We confirm the current requirements for the main applicant and each dependant before an application is prepared.

  • Valid passport with sufficient remaining validity
  • Clean criminal record from your country of residence
  • Proof of the qualifying basis, such as property ownership, business activity, or employment
  • Evidence of sufficient funds to support yourself while resident
  • Health insurance covering your stay where required

Questions

Georgia Residency: practical questions

Does Georgia tax my foreign income?
Georgia generally applies a territorial system, meaning foreign-sourced personal income is typically not taxed. Your specific position depends on your circumstances and tax residency status, which we assess case by case.
How much property do I need to buy?
Property ownership of approximately USD 100,000 or more is a common qualifying threshold for a residence permit, though the assessed value and documentation matter. We confirm the current requirement before you commit.
How long does the process take?
Most applications are completed within roughly one to two months once documentation is in order.
Can residency lead to citizenship?
Permits are renewable and long-term residence can, over time, support a citizenship application, though naturalisation involves additional requirements and is not guaranteed.
Do I need to live in Georgia full-time?
Physical presence requirements are generally modest, though maintaining tax residency for the territorial benefit may require meeting day-count or other tests. We advise on this individually.
Is approval guaranteed?
No. Every application is subject to government due diligence and approval, and we do not guarantee approval. We tell you before filing if we see anything in your file likely to cause difficulty.

Compare

Other Asia residence programmes

We do not give legal or tax advice in jurisdictions where we are not qualified to do so; where needed, we coordinate local counsel and tax advisers.

Citizenship and residence programmes are subject to government due diligence and approval. We do not guarantee approval.

Fees agreed in writing before work begins. Where a bank or provider pays us for an introduction, we tell you before the introduction is made.

See also what we will not do and prohibited and restricted matters.

Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, at night

Next step

Is Georgia Residency the right route for you?

Tell us about your family, your current citizenship and where you want to live. A senior adviser will review it and reply in writing.