How to start a business in Georgia as a foreigner (2026)
Starting a business in Georgia as a foreigner: easy.
Georgia is highly open to foreign business formation: foreigners may own 100% of a Georgian LLC with no minimum share capital, no mandatory local partner, and no residency requirement. Registration is handled by NAPR at Public Service Halls nationwide and can be completed within one business day. A 2021 legislative reform modernised the corporate law framework to align with EU Association Agreement obligations.
Legal framework
Law of Georgia on Entrepreneurs (enacted 2 August 2021, in force 1 January 2022); Law of Georgia on Promotion and Guarantees of Investment Activity; registration authority: National Agency of Public Registry (NAPR) under the Ministry of Justice of Georgia
Starting a business in Georgia as a foreigner
The usual vehicle for a foreigner starting out in Georgia is a Limited Liability Company (LLC), registered with the National Agency of Public Registry (House of Justice).
- Company type
- a Limited Liability Company (LLC)
- Registered with
- the National Agency of Public Registry (House of Justice)
- Minimum capital
- no minimum capital
- Timeline
- as little as 1 business day
- Government cost
- around GEL 100–300 (~US$40–110)
- Foreign ownership
- 100% foreign ownership allowed; no local partner or director required
Rules and fees change; confirm with the official registry before incorporating.
Key points: starting a business in Georgia
100% foreign ownership
Foreign nationals and foreign-registered entities may own 100% of a Georgian LLC (შპს) or JSC. No Georgian co-founder or resident director is legally required. The Law on Promotion and Guarantees of Investment Activity guarantees foreign investors treatment no less favourable than that accorded to Georgian nationals.
No minimum capital
Georgian law imposes no statutory minimum share capital for an LLC. Founders may set capital contributions at any commercially chosen amount, removing a common barrier to entry for small and medium enterprises.
Registration steps & timeline
Registration is filed with NAPR at a Public Service Hall (Tbilisi, Batumi, and other cities) or via authorised representative. Required documents: valid passport, company charter, director appointment decision, and application form. Standard processing is one business day; an expedited same-day service is available for a higher fee.
Registration fees
NAPR charges GEL 100 (≈ USD 35) for standard LLC registration and GEL 200 (≈ USD 70) for expedited same-day processing. Additional fees apply for certified extracts and English-language copies.
2021 Entrepreneurs Act reform
The new Law of Georgia on Entrepreneurs (in force January 2022) fully replaced the prior law, modernising entity structures and governance rules to meet EU Association Agreement standards. Entities registered before 2022 must bring their corporate documents into compliance by 1 April 2026.
Sector restrictions & March 2026 work-permit note
Strategic sectors (defence, nuclear energy, air traffic control) are state-reserved; no other foreign-ownership caps apply. From March 2026, a Special Labour Activity Permit is required for most foreigners working in Georgia, but company founders and directors, and remote workers serving foreign clients, are explicitly carved out of that requirement.
Starting a business in Georgia: FAQ
Can a foreigner start a business in Georgia?
Yes. 100% foreign ownership allowed; no local partner or director required. The usual structure is a Limited Liability Company (LLC), registered with the National Agency of Public Registry (House of Justice).
How much does it cost to register a company in Georgia?
Around GEL 100–300 (~US$40–110).
How long does it take to register a company in Georgia?
As little as 1 business day.
What is the minimum capital to start a company in Georgia?
No minimum capital.
Timeline of decisions
- Decision · officialWorld Bank B-READY 2025: Georgia Ranks 4th Among 101 Countries
The World Bank's expanded Business Ready 2025 report (101 economies) placed Georgia 4th globally and 2nd in the operational-efficiency dimension. NAPR's streamlined digital registration and standard-charter option are cited as key contributors to Georgia's sustained top ranking.
National Agency of Public Registry (NAPR)
- Law · officialLaw No 435 Extends Mandatory Re-registration Deadline to April 2026
Parliament amended the Law on Entrepreneurs to push the compliance deadline for pre-2022-registered entities from April 1, 2025 to April 1, 2026. Non-compliant companies face suspension of their registry entry, blocking issuance of official extracts needed for most transactions.
Legislative Herald of Georgia (Matsne)
- DecisionFlagship Tbilisi Public Service Hall Opens; Georgia Wins UN Public Service Award
The landmark Tbilisi Public Service Hall opened, housing ~400 Ministry of Justice staff delivering ~300 services under one roof, including same-day business registration, property registration, and notary services. The broader PSH network won the UN Public Service Award in 2012, establishing Georgia's one-stop model as a global benchmark for business-start ease.
Library of Congress Global Legal Monitor
- Decision · officialFirst Public Service Hall Opened in Batumi, One-Stop Business Registration Launched
The Ministry of Justice launched Georgia's first Public Service Hall on Independence Day in Batumi, consolidating business registration, civil documents, and property services in a single walk-in centre. This one-stop-shop model eliminated the multi-agency registration process and removed a structural source of administrative friction and petty corruption.
Open Government Partnership
- Law · officialMajor Deregulatory Amendments to 1994 Law on Entrepreneurs
Parliament made sweeping simplifications to the Entrepreneurs Law, cancelling mandatory regulations and granting partners broad freedom to self-regulate through bespoke charters. While cutting red tape further, the changes inadvertently created corporate governance gaps, particularly in shareholder-dispute resolution, that later required the comprehensive 2022 reform to correct.
Legislative Herald of Georgia (Matsne)
- Decision · officialNAPR Established; Post-Rose Revolution Reforms Slash Business Registration Barriers
Following the November 2003 Rose Revolution, the Saakashvili government created the National Agency of Public Registry (NAPR) under the Ministry of Justice and radically simplified business registration, cutting procedures, fees (to 10-40 GEL), and time to a few days. Georgia's World Bank Doing Business rank rose from 112th (2006) to 16th (2012), the fastest improvement in the index's history.
National Agency of Public Registry (NAPR)
Sources
- matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/5230186
- matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/33304?publication=15
- napr.gov.ge/en/service/registers/business-registry
- napr.gov.ge/en/page/fees-and-terms
- napr.gov.ge/en
- ibccs.tax/blog/amendments-to-georgias-law-on-entrepreneurs-revised-compliance-d
- fragomen.com/insights/new-work-permit-rules-georgia-immigration.html
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