Tbilisi has long been a popular base for remote workers because citizens of many countries can enter without a visa and stay for a full year. Two things have changed the picture and need a careful read before you plan a long stay: the UK government reports that Georgia has required a work permit for foreign nationals who work, including remotely, since 1 March 2026, and protests in the capital have continued for many months. This guide covers entry, tax, costs, health, safety and community, with every figure dated and sourced and the open questions marked.
It is general information, not legal, tax, medical or safety advice. Georgia’s rules are changing, so confirm details with official Georgian sources and a qualified professional before you go.
Tbilisi at a glance
| What to know | |
|---|---|
| Monthly cost for one person (our sum of Numbeo figures, October 2026) | About 2,890 Georgian lari with a one-bedroom outside the centre, or about 3,470 lari with one in the centre |
| Visa-free stay | Up to one year for citizens of many countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, the EU countries and the UK |
| Work | The UK government says foreign nationals who want to work, including remotely, need a work permit under a rule that took effect on 1 March 2026 |
| Health insurance | The UK government says visitors need health and accident cover of at least 30,000 lari for the whole stay |
| Political situation | Protests focused on the Parliament building have continued for many months and can escalate without warning |
Entry and the work-permit question
Visa-free entry. The Georgian National Tourism Administration says citizens of the countries on its list can enter and stay for a full year without a visa. The list includes the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, Israel and New Zealand, the 26 EU member states and the United Kingdom, and it refers readers to the Georgian consular website, geoconsul.gov.ge, for more detail. The page is undated, so check the current list for your passport before you travel.
Conditions. UK government advice says your passport should be valid for the whole stay, and that visitors need health and accident insurance of at least 30,000 Georgian lari for the full stay, which airlines or immigration may ask you to prove. It also warns that some medicines, including non-prescription codeine products, are illegal in Georgia.
Working. UK government advice says foreign nationals who want to work, including remote work or running a business, need a work permit, and that this rule took effect on 1 March 2026. It says the permit lasts one year and covers one specific job with one employer, and that after approval a visa or worker’s residence permit is also required. We could not confirm this from a Georgian government source, and we do not know how the rule applies to people paid by an employer or clients outside Georgia.
Before you plan a long stay, check the work-permit rule, and whether any remote-work programme is open, with the Georgian Public Service Development Agency (sda.gov.ge) or geoconsul.gov.ge. We could not confirm either from a Georgian source.
Until that is clear, do not plan a long stay on the assumption that remote work is allowed on visa-free entry. For the wider picture, see our visas guide and best countries guide, and compare other options such as Lisbon.
Tax
UK government advice says that if you stay more than 183 days and do any paid work, you become liable for Georgian income tax and must notify the Revenue Service of Georgia. Many online guides describe a special small business status for individual entrepreneurs. The Tax Code of Georgia, in the consolidated version shown on the legislative portal for 25 June to 30 September 2026, sets out the rules in Articles 83 to 95.
| Small business status | What the Tax Code says |
|---|---|
| Tax rate | 1 percent of taxable income (Article 90) |
| Annual cap | Gross income of 500,000 lari in a calendar year, or 700,000 lari for wine and agro tourism operators |
| Above the cap | 3 percent from the start of the month in which the cap is exceeded until the end of that calendar year |
| Losing the status | Revoked if the cap is exceeded in each of two consecutive calendar years, among other grounds (Article 89) |
| Excluded activities | The Government can prohibit certain activities from qualifying (Article 88). We did not read the list |
This table describes the status as the law is written. It does not mean you qualify, because the excluded-activity list and the work-permit rule above both affect who can use it. Take advice from a Georgian tax professional, and read our digital nomad taxes guide for the general picture. US citizens keep US filing duties.
What it costs
Numbeo is a crowdsourced database, so treat its numbers as a guide, not a quote. The Tbilisi page was last updated on 6 October 2026 and drew on 155 contributors and 1,654 entries over the past year. Figures are in Georgian lari (GEL), and exchange rates move, so convert at the current rate.
| Item | Numbeo estimate |
|---|---|
| One-bedroom apartment, city centre | 1,754 GEL a month |
| One-bedroom apartment, outside the centre | 1,170 GEL a month |
| One person’s monthly costs, excluding rent | 1,720 GEL |
| Broadband internet, 60 Mbps or faster | 50 GEL a month |
| Basic utilities, 85 square metre apartment | 228 GEL a month |
| Monthly public transport pass | 40 GEL |
| Gym membership | 166 GEL a month |
| Meal at an inexpensive restaurant | 29 GEL |
Adding rent to monthly costs gives about 2,890 lari outside the centre and about 3,470 lari in the centre. That sum is our arithmetic, and it does not include insurance, travel or coworking. Guides that quote a single, lower monthly figure often define “monthly cost” differently, so check what any number includes. See how to travel full-time on a budget.
Where to live
Published guides most often mention Vera, Vake, Saburtalo and the Old Town area, including Sololaki. The descriptions below are a summary of those guides and our own judgment. Visit in person and book a short stay first. Many central streets are steep, and UK advice notes ongoing construction work near central Tbilisi.
| Area | Commonly described as | Consider |
|---|---|---|
| Vera | Central and residential, with cafés and restaurants | Hilly, and busy near the main roads |
| Vake | Upmarket and green, with parks | Higher rents |
| Saburtalo | Residential and practical, with metro access | Fewer historic streets and cafés |
| Old Town and Sololaki | Atmospheric, close to sights and nightlife | Noise, older buildings, tourist crowds |
Winter, heating and air quality
Winter is the season to plan for. UK government advice for Georgia as a whole notes that heavy rain, flooding and snow at high altitude can affect roads and bridges. Before you commit to a winter stay, ask your landlord how the apartment is heated, what the heating costs, and whether the building has insulation and reliable hot water.
We have not included Tbilisi temperature or air-quality figures because we could not source them to a named service. Check the national weather service and a named air-quality monitor for current data.
Health and healthcare
UK government advice says medical facilities in Tbilisi are available but can be expensive, that facilities outside Tbilisi are limited and that the UK has no reciprocal healthcare agreement with Georgia, so you or your insurer must pay for treatment as it is provided. It recommends travel insurance that covers local treatment and unexpected medical evacuation, notes that treatment for rabies is available in Tbilisi and major towns, and mentions venomous vipers, particularly in early summer. Check vaccine advice at least eight weeks before you travel.
Georgia’s insurance requirement for visitors makes cover a legal matter as well as a health one. Our health insurance guide lists what to check.
Check the insurance requirement with an official Georgian source before you travel, since we could not confirm it from one.
Safety and the political situation
- Protests. UK advice, updated in September 2026, says protests in Tbilisi are focused on the Parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue and had run for 650 consecutive days as of 9 September. They can spread to other areas, especially on Saturday evenings and on anniversaries of political events, and tensions can escalate without warning. It advises checking local media and avoiding large gatherings, and warns that taking part in demonstrations may lead to extra questioning on exit or refused re-entry.
- Crime. UK advice describes crime levels as low, with pickpocketing in crowded places and some reports of drink spiking. Be wary of strangers offering to take you to a restaurant or nightclub, and buy your own drinks.
- Taxis and roads. UK advice says not to flag taxis in the street, to pre-book through an app and to check seatbelts work. It notes erratic driving and poorly maintained cars nationwide.
- Harassment. The advice says harassment and assault based on race or LGBT+ status occur. Call 112 and ask for the police if you are assaulted or threatened.
Check your own government’s current travel advice before you go. Our guide to digital nomad scams covers rental fraud to avoid.
Community and daily life
Tbilisi has a growing international community of remote workers, with cafés and coworking spaces, mainly in central districts. We do not list venues because prices and opening hours change, so visit a few before you pay for a membership. For mobile data, see eSIM vs local SIM. To meet people, choose activities with a repeating schedule, and read our guides to loneliness and making friends while traveling solo. The time difference with North America is large, so check the overlap in our time zone guide.
Who Tbilisi suits, and who it does not
- A good fit: people who want a lower-cost European-edge city and who have checked the work-permit rule for their own situation, can arrange insurance and are comfortable following local news.
- A poorer fit: anyone who needs certainty about the legal right to work remotely, people who want to avoid political tension and anyone who struggles in cold, dark winters.
Frequently asked questions
How long can I stay in Georgia without a visa?
Citizens of the countries on the official list can stay for a full year, according to the Georgian National Tourism Administration and UK government advice. Check the list for your passport on geoconsul.gov.ge.
Can I work remotely from Georgia?
UK government advice says foreign nationals who want to work, including remotely, need a work permit under a rule that took effect on 1 March 2026. We could not confirm how it applies to people paid from abroad, so check with Georgian authorities before you plan a long stay.
Do I have to pay tax in Georgia?
UK government advice says that if you stay more than 183 days and do any paid work, you become liable for Georgian income tax and must notify the Revenue Service. A small business status taxed at 1 percent exists in the Tax Code, but whether you can use it depends on your activity and your right to work. Take professional advice.
How much does it cost to live in Tbilisi?
Using Numbeo’s crowdsourced figures from October 2026, one person’s monthly costs plus a one-bedroom rent come to about 2,890 lari outside the centre and about 3,470 lari in the centre. That excludes insurance, travel and coworking.
Is Tbilisi safe right now?
UK government advice describes crime levels as low but warns of continuing protests in the capital that can escalate without warning. Avoid demonstrations, follow local media and check current official advice before you travel.
Sources
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, “Georgia travel advice”: entry requirements, safety and security, health. Accessed October 2026.
- Georgian National Tourism Administration, “Countries whose citizens do not require a visa”. georgia.travel. Undated page. Accessed October 2026.
- Tax Code of Georgia, Articles 83 to 95 (small business status), consolidated version shown for 25 June to 30 September 2026. matsne.gov.ge. Accessed October 2026.
- Numbeo, “Cost of Living in Tbilisi”. numbeo.com. Crowdsourced data, updated 6 October 2026. Accessed October 2026.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Entry, work-permit and tax rules, costs and security conditions in Georgia change. Cost figures are crowdsourced estimates and exchange rates move. This article is general information, not legal, tax, medical or safety advice; confirm details with official sources and local guidance.
