It’s definitely advisable to open a business in Georgia as a foreigner given that foreign investors are welcomed on the local market. The incorporation process is a straightforward one, with quite simple registration steps (but which still need the professional assistance of lawyers or company formation specialists).
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Can foreigners open a company in Georgia? | Yes, it is allowed to open a business in Georgia as a foreigner. |
|
Is it difficult to open a company as a foreigner? |
No, Georgia has one of the most straightforward registration procedures in its region, which applies following the same steps for both local and foreign investors. |
|
Do foreigners need special approval for business purposes? |
No |
| Is it costly to start a business? | It is highly recommended to open a business in Georgia as a foreigner because the company registration fees are very low and there aren’t any capital requirements. |
| Bureaucracy level in Georgia |
13th place at a European level, 20th at a global level, according to a World Bank study, including 180 economies. |
| What are the benefits of starting a business in Georgia? |
– fast registration process, – reduced costs, – friendly approach towards foreign investors, – low tax base |
| Types of operating costs of a business |
rent, corporate taxes, employment costs, etc. |
| How many businesses are registered on an annual basis? |
74,000 in 2024, according to the National Statistics Office of Georgia |
| What was the region with the largest business registration share? |
Tblisi (for example, 93% of all startups in Georgia are registered in the capital city) |
| Corporate insolvency law | 2007 Insolvency Law |
| Law regulating foreign investments |
Law of Georgia on Promotion and Guarantees of Investment Activity |
| Does Georgia apply a visa system for business purposes? |
Yes, for short-term arrivals investors can apply for a business e-visa. For long-term relocation for business purposes, investors must obtain the D1 visa. However, it is not mandatory to arrive to Georgia to incorporate/run a business. |
| Residency requirements for foreign shareholders |
An investor can open a business in Georgia as a foreigner without having to comply with any residency obligations. |
| Minimum salary |
The law stipulates a minimum salary of GEL 20/ month. The sum hasn’t been modified since 1999 and it is not in line with the current economy – however, it is considered that a living wage, which ensures a good quality of life, is aroung GEL 1,800. |
| What types of businesses are popular in Georgia? | tourism, catering and accommodation, construction, transportation, energy, manufacturing, etc. |
Compared to other countries in its region, Georgia provides an attractive tax regime, with a low tax base and various tax exemptions. The country has a liberal policy towards investments – for instance, foreign investors do not have to associate with local businessmen in order to form a company, therefore they can own 100% of the company’s shares.
We also mention that it is possible to start a business in Georgia as a foreigner who is non-resident; our consultants can provide in-depth information on other competitive advantages.
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Is it difficult to set up a business in Georgia as a foreigner?
When having the necessary legal representation, the registration process can be rather easy. The incorporation is simple because the bureaucratic system prescribes clear procedures, but investors need to prepare a large set of registration documents, forms, certificates, etc.
The simplicity of the bureaucratic system in Georgia is backed up by the World Bank’s Doing Business Report, which, in 2020, ranked Georgia as the 2nd country at a global level concerning the steps and procedures for the setup of a legal entity (having a score of 99.6 from a total of 100). In the video below, you can find out how you can invest in Georgia as a foreign businessman:
Why select Georgia for investment purposes?
In a newer study conducted by the same institution mentioned above, Business Ready 2024, Georgia stands out as a stable, competitive economy, suitable for foreign investments. The study makes an assessment on the regulatory framework and its efficiency towards the business environment. In this study, 50 economies are analyzed taking into consideration 3 main pillars:
- regulatory framework;
- public services;
- operational efficiency.
According to this study, it is recommended to open a business in Georgia as a foreigner due to the following:
- Georgia stands out as the 3rd economy when referring to the quality of the regulatory framework and the 2nd economy for its operational efficiency;
- its high rank for the 3rd pillar (operational efficiency) was driven by 6 business topics (business entry, business location, financial services, dispute resolution, business insolvency and international trade);
- it ranks as the 2nd high-performing economy (with 84.75 points) after Singapore (87.33 points);
- the country currently has a population of 3,712,502 persons and the GDP per capita is $6,674.96 and it is considered an upper middle income economy.
Below, we invite you to read this infographic presenting the advantages of opening a Georgian business as a foreigner:
How many businesses operate in Georgia?
Although Georgia has a small consumer market, comprised of less than 4 million individuals, it must be noted that the country has many registered/active companies. For instance, according to the National Statistics Office of Georgia, there are a total of 1,073,831 registered companies as of 1st of July 2025.
If you want to start a business in Georgia as a foreigner, you must know that only a part of these legal entities are active companies (271,242) therefore the number of competitors is greatly reduced compared to the total number of registered companies. By activity, the largest number of active businesses (78,330) operate in the wholesale and retail sector.
By ownership, 220,854 businesses are held by domestic investors, while 43,825 legal entities belong to foreign businessmen. It is also possible to set up a business in Georgia as a foreigner associated with a local investor – however, the percentage of businesses with mixed ownership is reduced (2,459 active companies).
We invite you to contact our specialists for further information on how to open a business in Georgia as a foreigner and other important details deriving from it (the main tax advantages, attractive industries, employment obligations, etc.).