# Georgia: taxes, residence and cost of living

Source: https://domicile.wiki/places/georgia/ (domicile.wiki, researched 2026-10-16). Data licence CC BY-SA 4.0. Research, not tax or legal advice.

## At a glance

For an EU-citizen family of five living off a EUR 30M portfolio (the guide's default reader).

- Score for a wealthy family: 72 / 100
- Can EU citizens live here?: from €133,988 · Temporary residence on real estate (USD 150,000 from 1 March 2026)
- Can US citizens live here?: from €133,988 · Temporary residence on real estate (USD 150,000 from 1 March 2026)
- Other passports: from €133,988 · Temporary residence on real estate (USD 150,000 from 1 March 2026)
- Tax on a €30M portfolio: €3,000 a year
- Wealth tax: none
- Children inherit: tax-free
- After 60 years: €240,431,000 of €30,000,000 (with no tax at all: €286,928,000)
- Living costs, family of five: €130,504 a year
- EU member: no
- Currency: GEL
- Capital: Tbilisi

## Tax on investments, inheritance and wealth

Georgia is close to territorial for individuals. Income of a resident that does not have a Georgian source is exempt (Tax Code Art. 82(1)(u)), so foreign dividends and gains on foreign securities are untaxed. Georgian dividends bear a final 5% withholding. Gains on assets held more than two years (not used in business) are exempt; otherwise the rate is 20% (5% for a home or car). Property received as a gift or inheritance by first- and second-line heirs (children included) is exempt. No wealth tax. Residence comes from 183 days in a 12-month period, or by application as a 'high net worth individual'.

- **Ordinary tax residence**: Ordinary residence; foreign-source income of resident individuals exempt (Art. 82(1)(u)); Georgian-source income at 20% (5% for dividends/interest).

## Income tax

Flat 20% personal income tax on Georgian-source income; residents are exempt on income without a Georgian source. Employees' pension contribution 2% (plus 2% from the employer; self-employed are exempt from mandatory joining); no other social security. Individual entrepreneurs with turnover up to GEL 500,000 can register for small-business status and pay 1% of turnover.

## How to get residence

Georgia is not in the EU. Citizens of the EU, the US and many other countries can enter without a visa and stay up to one year, so many people never need a permit. Longer-term options are a one-year renewable permit for owning property (now USD 150,000 from 1 March 2026), an investor permit from USD 300,000 giving 5 years, and a remote-worker status. Work permits tie to business turnover.

- **Visa-free stay up to one year** (Other; EU citizens, US citizens, other passports; open): Citizens of the EU, US and about 94 other countries can enter on a passport and stay up to a year without a visa. It is not a residence permit and carries no path to permanent residence.
- **Temporary residence on real estate (USD 150,000 from 1 March 2026)** (Investor residence; EU citizens, US citizens, other passports; open): Owning Georgian real estate worth at least USD 150,000 gives a one-year renewable temporary residence permit. The limit rose from USD 100,000 on 1 March 2026.
- **Investor residence permit (USD 300,000, 5 years)** (Investor residence; EU citizens, US citizens, other passports; open): Investing USD 300,000 in Georgian real estate or a Georgian business gives a five-year permit for the investor, spouse and children, with permanent residence later if conditions are met.
- **Remotely from Georgia status** (Digital nomad; EU citizens, US citizens, other passports; open): A programme for remote workers with foreign employers or clients, reported to give up to one year of stay. Sources disagree on the income test.
- **Work residence permit (summary)** (Work; EU citizens, US citizens, other passports; open): Employed foreigners get a work residence permit; a business generally needs turnover of GEL 50,000 per foreign employee.

Citizenship: Reported 10 years of continuous legal residence with language, history and law tests; the President can grant citizenship for special merit without residence. Secondary sources; statute article not read.

## Inheritance law and trusts

Close relatives are guaranteed a share of the estate that a will cannot remove, believed to be half of their intestate share. Georgia has no trust law and is not party to the Hague Trusts Convention. Foundations exist as non-commercial entities.

## Daily life (0-100, higher is better)

- Safety and personal security: 59
- Political and institutional stability: 52
- Corruption and government integrity: 49
- Legal system and property rights: 49
- Healthcare quality and access: 60
- Education quality: 28
- Human development and quality of life: 69
- Infrastructure and connectivity: 63
- Cost of living and housing: 100
- Business opportunities and economy: 64
- Cultural fit and lifestyle: 36

## Research notes

### Georgia — family-office tax dossier

Last reviewed: 2026-10-16
Tax year: 2026
Reviewer: research agent (Claude), unreviewed by a tax adviser

#### Summary

Georgia is close to territorial for individuals. Income of a resident that does not have a Georgian source is exempt (Tax Code Art. 82(1)(u)), so foreign dividends and gains on foreign securities are untaxed. Georgian dividends bear a final 5% withholding. Gains on assets held more than two years (not used in business) are exempt; otherwise the rate is 20% (5% for a home or car). Property received as a gift or inheritance by first- and second-line heirs (children included) is exempt. No wealth tax. Residence comes from 183 days in a 12-month period, or by application as a 'high net worth individual'.

#### Residence and eligibility

Resident for the tax year if physically present 183+ days in any continuous 12-month period ending in that year (Art. 34(2)). Art. 34(6): residency may also be granted to a high net worth individual (as defined in the Law on Securities Market) under rules of the Minister of Finance; Art. 34(6^2) allows other foreigners to be granted residency by the Minister's rules.

- **High net worth individual tax residency (Art. 34(6))** (EU, US, OTHER): Status granted on application to a high net worth individual (Art. 34(6) Tax Code; Minister of Finance Order No. 60 of 1 March 2023). Secondary sources (Revera, Eurofast/Mondaq, Expathub; the order itself was not opened) report property above GEL 3 million or income above GEL 200,000 a year for the last three calendar years, plus a link to Georgia (for example Georgian-source income of at least GEL 25,000 or real estate worth USD 500,000), renewed annually. It is a residence status, not a lower tax rate: a family that actually lives in Georgia is resident through the 183-day test and gets the same exemption of foreign-source income.
- **Visa-free stay / residence permit** (EU, US, OTHER): EU and US citizens can stay visa-free for long periods (commonly reported as one year; not verified); residence permits on investment in real estate are available (amount not verified).

Standard regime eligibility: 183+ days in Georgia in any continuous 12-month period ending in the tax year (Art. 34(2)), or residency granted as a high net worth individual (Art. 34(6)).

#### Capital gains

Gains from selling assets owned more than two years are exempt unless the asset was used in economic activity (Art. 82(1)(f.c)); merely holding shares for dividends is not economic activity. A home with its land held over two years is exempt (Art. 82(1)(f.a)). Otherwise gains are taxed at 20%, or 5% for a residential apartment/house or vehicle (Art. 81(3)). Gains without a Georgian source (e.g. foreign listed shares, foreign real estate) are exempt for residents (Art. 82(1)(u)).

JSON values: headline rate 20% (`0.2`); listed securities domestic 0% (`0.0`), foreign 0% (`0.0`); private business sale 0% (`0.0`); local real estate 0% (`0.0`); foreign real estate 0% (`0.0`).

- **How the JSON numbers were derived:** Held longer than 2 years: Georgian shares and private company shares 0% (Art. 82(1)(f.c)); Georgian residential property 0% (f.a); foreign securities and foreign real estate 0% (non-Georgian source, Art. 82(1)(u)). Within 2 years: 20% (5% residential). Headline = 20% general PIT rate.
- **Holding periods:** 2 years (Art. 82(1)(f)); holding periods of a parent/testator are added for a first-line heir (Art. 82(4)(a1)).
- **Professional-trader risk:** Assets used in economic activity do not get the 2-year exemption; frequent trading could be treated as economic activity (no guidance checked).
- **Foreign assets:** Non-Georgian-source income of resident individuals exempt (Art. 82(1)(u)).
- **Tax year / confidence / verification:** 2026 / high / verified (checked 2026-10-15)
- **Sources:** [Tax Code of Georgia (Law No. 3591, consolidated version 30/09/2026)](https://matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/1043717); [Georgia – Individual – Income determination](https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/georgia/individual/income-determination); [Georgia – Individual – Taxes on personal income](https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/georgia/individual/taxes-on-personal-income)

#### Dividends

Dividends paid by a Georgian company to an individual are taxed at source at 5% (Art. 130(1)), final. Foreign dividends are non-Georgian-source income and exempt for resident individuals (Art. 82(1)(u)).

JSON values: headline 5% (`0.05`); domestic 5% (`0.05`); foreign gross 0% (`0.0`); foreign tax relief: exemption.

- **How the JSON numbers were derived:** Domestic 5% final WHT; foreign 0% because exempt as non-Georgian-source income.
- **Outbound withholding:** 5% on dividends to non-residents (treaty 0–15%). Companies pay 15% profit tax on distributed profit.
- **Treaty network:** 58 treaties (PwC).
- **Tax year / confidence / verification:** 2026 / high / verified (checked 2026-10-15)
- **Sources:** [Tax Code of Georgia (Law No. 3591, consolidated version 30/09/2026)](https://matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/1043717); [Georgia – Corporate – Withholding taxes](https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/georgia/corporate/withholding-taxes); [Georgia – Individual – Taxes on personal income](https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/georgia/individual/taxes-on-personal-income)

#### Inheritance and gifts to children

No separate inheritance or gift tax. The value of property received as a gift or inheritance by first-line heirs (spouse, children, grandchildren, parents) and second-line heirs (siblings, nieces/nephews) is exempt from income tax (Art. 82(1)(g)). Third and fourth-line heirs are exempt up to GEL 150,000 a year; other gifts above GEL 1,000 are taxable at 20%.

JSON values: basis `beneficiary`, bracket mode `marginal`, children `fully_exempt`, exemption GEL 0, marginal brackets above the exemption: none; other transfer costs 0% (`0`); gifts same as inheritance: True; tax-free after years: None.

- **Gifts:** Gifts follow the same exemption (first/second-line heirs fully exempt).
- **Business relief:** No business relief relevant (children exempt or not researched). Covers listed portfolios: no.
- **Domicile / residence rules:** Income-tax based; applies to residents and to Georgian-source property for non-residents.
- **Exemptions and thresholds:** First/second-line heirs: fully exempt; third/fourth-line: GEL 150,000 a year; others: GEL 1,000 a year.
- **Tax year / confidence / verification:** 2026 / high / verified (checked 2026-10-15)
- **Sources:** [Tax Code of Georgia (Law No. 3591, consolidated version 30/09/2026)](https://matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/1043717); [Georgia – Individual – Other taxes](https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/georgia/individual/other-taxes)
- Surviving spouse (`spouse_treatment` `fully_exempt`): Spouse is a first-line heir under the Tax Code (Art. 82), so the inheritance is exempt without limit or conditions.

#### Wealth tax

No net wealth tax. Property tax applies to individuals whose annual family income exceeds GEL 40,000 (on real estate, yachts, aircraft, cars) plus land tax.

JSON type: `none`.

- **Property tax (not a wealth tax):** Property tax for families with annual income above GEL 40,000 (rates not stated by PwC; up to about 1% of market value, unverified); separate land tax.
- **Tax year / confidence / verification:** 2026 / high / partially_verified (checked 2026-10-15)
- **Sources:** [Georgia – Individual – Other taxes](https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/georgia/individual/other-taxes)

#### Special regimes

None modelled; see the summary and open questions for regimes considered and rejected.

#### Company taxation (kept separate from personal tax)

Headline CIT rate in JSON: 15% (`0.15`).

Profit tax 15% (Art. 98(1)), levied on distributed profit (Estonian-style; Art. 97) rather than retained earnings; 20% for banks and lenders. 5% WHT on dividends.

#### Cost of living notes

City: Tbilisi (Vake, Mtatsminda, Tskneti, Lisi Lake, Okrokana, Shindisi, Kaklebi).

- **Prime rent (monthly):** USD 3,300 (2026). Median asking rent (USD 3,300, about GEL 8,580 at the portal's conversion) of 26 private houses for rent with 4–5 bedrooms and at least 200 m² in the prime/expat districts listed (range USD 1,000–9,000), from the first six pages (144 listings) of Myhome.ge's Tbilisi houses-for-rent search on 2026-10-15. Listings are mostly quoted in USD. Asking prices on a listing portal. Source: [Private houses for rent in Tbilisi](https://www.myhome.ge/en/s/House-for-rent-Tbilisi/?deal_types=2&real_estate_types=2&cities=1)

- **School (annual, per child):** GEL 31,000 (2026). The Guivy Zaldastanishvili American Academy in Tbilisi (GZAAT), a selective private American-style high school (grades 8–12), 2026–2027 tuition for Grades 9–12 (Grade 8: GEL 19,500), plus a GEL 600 security deposit. From the school's own fee page; the International Schools Database lists the same 19,500–31,000 GEL range for 2026/2027. Source: [GZAAT — Tuition Fee](https://gzaat.org/admission/tuition-and-financial-assistance)

QSI International School of Tbilisi, BIST and the European School still do not publish tuition, so the main expat schools may cost more than GZAAT.

#### Open questions

- Abkhazia and South Ossetia are outside government control.
- International school fee not published online by QSI Tbilisi, BIST (fee schedule supplied to applicants only) or the European School; only rent is sourced, so the cost metric is unscored. A fee schedule obtained from an admissions office would close this.
- (standard / capital_gains) How the source rules classify a gain on foreign shares held through a Georgian broker or custodian was not checked (source is generally the issuer's/asset's location).

US citizens: US citizens remain US-taxed; Georgia's near-zero tax on foreign income leaves nothing to credit. US–Georgia treaty status (1973 US–USSR treaty) not verified.

- Property tax on individuals above GEL 40,000 family income: secondary sources (Expathub, IBCCS, Revera) give 0.8%-1% of market value above GEL 100,000 of family income and 0.05%-0.2% between GEL 40,000 and 100,000; the Tax Code chapter on property tax was not opened and the thresholds differ between sources. On a EUR 5m home this could be EUR 40,000-50,000 a year; not modelled.

#### Sources

- [Tax Code of Georgia (Law No. 3591, consolidated version 30/09/2026)](https://matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/1043717) — Legislative Herald of Georgia (Matsne) (legislation)
- [Georgia – Individual – Income determination](https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/georgia/individual/income-determination) — PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries (professional)
- [Georgia – Individual – Taxes on personal income](https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/georgia/individual/taxes-on-personal-income) — PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries (professional)
- [Georgia – Corporate – Withholding taxes](https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/georgia/corporate/withholding-taxes) — PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries (professional)
- [Georgia – Individual – Other taxes](https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/georgia/individual/other-taxes) — PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries (professional)
- [Georgia – Individual – Residence](https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/georgia/individual/residence) — PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries (professional)
- [Clarifications from the Georgian Tax Service on the procedure for obtaining a tax resident certificate based on wealth](https://revera.legal/en/info-centr/news-and-analytical-materials/1841-razyasneniya-o-poryadke-polucheniya-sertifikata-nalogovogo-rezidenta-po-sostoyatelnosti/) — Revera Legal (professional)
- [Private houses for rent in Tbilisi](https://www.myhome.ge/en/s/House-for-rent-Tbilisi/?deal_types=2&real_estate_types=2&cities=1) — Myhome.ge (TNET) (other)
- GZAAT — Tuition Fee, 2026-2027 (The Guivy Zaldastanishvili American Academy in Tbilisi, other): https://gzaat.org/admission/tuition-and-financial-assistance
- International Schools Database — Tbilisi (International Schools Database, other): https://www.international-schools-database.com/in/tbilisi

#### Change log

- 2026-10-15: initial research.
- 2026-10-15: phase 2 data-quality pass: added Tbilisi prime house rent (USD 3,300/month median of 26 prime-district 4-5 bedroom listings on Myhome.ge). International school fees are not published online (QSI, BIST), so the cost metric stays unscored.
- 2026-10-15: cost-of-living pass: re-tried school fees (QSI Tbilisi, BIST incl. its policy PDFs, European School, New School); none published online. Rent unchanged; metric still unscored.
- 2026-10-15 (household cost pass): added the GZAAT Grades 9–12 tuition (GEL 31,000, 2026–27, school's own page) as the school fee; with rent already sourced the metric can now be scored.
- 2026-10-15: family rent re-checked against the upper-middle-class standard: kept.
- 2026-10-16: added surviving-spouse treatment.
- 2026-10-16: 60-year recipe pass. Re-read Tax Code Art. 82(1)(u), (g), (f.a)-(f.c) and Art. 130(1) on Matsne: foreign-source income exempt, first/second-line heirs exempt, 2-year gains exemption, 5% dividend withholding all confirmed, no rate changed. Residency route for high net worth individuals updated from secondary sources (Order No. 60 of 2023); recorded the unverified property tax on homes. No special regime or holding structure added (the HNWI status changes residence, not tax).


## Residence and succession sources

- [Georgia to Increase Real Estate Investment Threshold for Residence Permits Effective March 1, 2026](https://eiglaw.com/georgia-to-increase-real-estate-investment-threshold-for-residence-permits-effective-march-1-2026/) — EIG Law
- [Organic Law of Georgia on Georgian Citizenship](https://matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/2342552) — Legislative Herald of Georgia (Matsne)
- [Tax Code of Georgia (consolidated 30/09/2026)](https://matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/1043717) — Legislative Herald of Georgia (Matsne)
- [Georgia Restores One-Year Visa-Free Rules](https://oldwp.civil.ge/?p=124665) — Civil.ge
- [Georgia's immigration rules 2026](https://expathub.ge/georgias-immigration-rules-2026/) — ExpatHub.ge
- [Georgia: We Love You! We Hate You! Do We Need You?](https://www.occrp.org/en/goldforvisas/we-love-you-we-hate-you-do-we-need-you) — OCCRP
- [Remotely from Georgia (summary)](https://lottalingo.com/research/visas/georgia-remotely-from-georgia) — Lottalingo
- [HCCH status table: Convention of 1 July 1985 on the Law Applicable to Trusts and on their Recognition](https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=59) — Hague Conference on Private International Law
- [Civil Code of Georgia](https://matsne.gov.ge/) — Legislative Herald of Georgia