I recently decided to add a Georgian residency to my portfolio and thought I'd share my experience here, especially as it might be useful to others exploring international Plan Bs or libertarian-friendly jurisdictions.
Earlier this year, I traveled to Tbilisi to register as an Individual Entrepreneur (IE) and apply for Georgia's 1% Turnover Tax Scheme. My intention isn't to actively trade through this setup but rather to comply with the required tax filings and payments in order to qualify for a smooth residency process.
The Process:
What Went Wrong:
On the evening of the 10th day””right at 6 PM””I received not a residency approval, but a notice of a decision extension. Apparently, the Justice House had requested a turnover confirmation from the Revenue Service, which didn't arrive in time. They've now extended the timeline by up to two more months.
I contacted the Revenue Service directly, and they confirmed that this occasionally happens and is not a cause for concern. So now, I've left Georgia and will wait abroad for the outcome. Once (and if) residency is granted, I'll return to finalize the process. Since you have 3”“6 months post-approval to apply for the ID card, there's no rush.
Takeaways & Recommendations:
Will update this thread once the residency situation is resolved.
Earlier this year, I traveled to Tbilisi to register as an Individual Entrepreneur (IE) and apply for Georgia's 1% Turnover Tax Scheme. My intention isn't to actively trade through this setup but rather to comply with the required tax filings and payments in order to qualify for a smooth residency process.
The Process:
- IE Registration was remarkably simple. All it took was a trip to the House of Justice. Outside the building, plenty of English-speaking freelancers offer translation and document assistance for a small fee. One of the girls who helped me through the process now also handles my tax filings and took care of enrolling me into the 1% tax regime.
- We declared the required turnover (approx. $20,000 USD), and I paid the associated tax (1%) the following month, once the scheme became active.
- Residency Application: I returned to Georgia about two months later to apply for residency and opted for the 10-day expedited processing.
What Went Wrong:
On the evening of the 10th day””right at 6 PM””I received not a residency approval, but a notice of a decision extension. Apparently, the Justice House had requested a turnover confirmation from the Revenue Service, which didn't arrive in time. They've now extended the timeline by up to two more months.
I contacted the Revenue Service directly, and they confirmed that this occasionally happens and is not a cause for concern. So now, I've left Georgia and will wait abroad for the outcome. Once (and if) residency is granted, I'll return to finalize the process. Since you have 3”“6 months post-approval to apply for the ID card, there's no rush.
Takeaways & Recommendations:
- The process is straightforward in theory, but don't rely too heavily on the “fast-track” option. Bureaucratic delays can still occur.
- There's no real need to stay in Tbilisi for weeks””multiple short trips are likely the smarter strategy.
- Once approved, you have plenty of time to complete the process, so don't stress over timelines.
Will update this thread once the residency situation is resolved.
