The Small Print in Georgia’s New C5 Stay Rule

Georgia’s C5 visa now gives remote workers a legal lane to stay for up to 12 consecutive months, with the visa itself valid for up to five years and multiple entries. It passed parliament on April 16 and it formalizes something Georgia had been handling more loosely before, honestly, for nomads who work only for employers outside the country.

The catch is simple and weirdly important: you can’t slide into Georgia’s local labor market under this status, so the visa is for foreign-company remote work only. Spouses and minor children can be included and applications can still be refused on immigration-policy grounds without appeal, which is, frankly, a sharp edge.

Who gets hit and who gets a break

Digital nomads and freelancers are the main winners here, because the C5 replaces the old gray zone where many people relied on visa-free stays or tourist extensions. It also matters for expats who’ve been working remotely from Georgia informally, since the government has already moved to require proper work authorization for foreign workers.

Tourists who aren’t working won’t notice much, which, surprisingly, is the point. The visa is built to keep high-earning remote workers in the country without letting them compete for local jobs, so Georgia gets the spending and locals don’t get the labor-market squeeze.

What to prepare before applying

The application path is expected to run through the e-Visa portal, with final rules still pending, so don’t assume the process is fully live until the government spells out the steps. Fees are expected to land somewhere between $20 and $500 and likely depend on whether you choose standard or faster processing.

Have your paperwork ready. Expect to show proof of remote employment, a valid passport, health insurance, accommodation and financial means and if you’re planning a longer stay, check the clock carefully because Georgia’s broader work-authorization rules tighten further by January 1, 2027. For ongoing changes like this, keep an eye on our visa updates feed, then read our full Georgia guide for the complete picture.