Your first 90 days in Georgia: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · July 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
Visa-free ≠ off-grid: 183 days in any 12 months triggers Georgian tax residency, and the 1% Individual Entrepreneur rate only applies from registration — banks also freeze accounts pending source-of-funds review.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
None for visa-free entry (365 days for Americans); residence permits are filed at a Public Service Hall (PSDA)
No arrival deadline; permit applications go in at least 40 calendar days before legal stay expires
Permits need a documented basis (work, entrepreneur income, study, property); refusals rose after 2023; the residence ID card issued on approval is what records the address.
Get your TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number), via the Revenue Service (rs.ge)
Unlocks the 1% Individual Entrepreneur small-business regime, invoicing, and tax filing.
Issued same-day at a Revenue Service center or Public Service Hall with a passport; Individual Entrepreneur registration assigns one in the same step.
Open a bank account
Passport alone can open a TBC or Bank of Georgia account same-day, but compliance questionnaires (source of funds, local ties) tightened since 2022 and refusals happen; US persons sign FATCA consent forms.
Enrol in healthcare
No public enrollment for foreigners — the state universal program covers citizens; local private plans (roughly $20-60/month) or international policies are the standard cover.
Sort your driver's license
A valid foreign license is commonly usable and exchanges test-free at the MIA Service Agency (the original is surrendered); since May 2025 sitting the local exams instead requires a residence permit or 185 days of stay.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
Moving to Georgia?
Add your email for new Georgia guides and a heads-up when the arrival rules or figures change. We never file anything ourselves.
Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Georgia: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Georgia?
None for visa-free entry (365 days for Americans); residence permits are filed at a Public Service Hall (PSDA) — No arrival deadline; permit applications go in at least 40 calendar days before legal stay expires. Permits need a documented basis (work, entrepreneur income, study, property); refusals rose after 2023; the residence ID card issued on approval is what records the address. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the TIN and do I need one?
TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number), via the Revenue Service (rs.ge) is Georgia's personal tax/ID number. Unlocks the 1% Individual Entrepreneur small-business regime, invoicing, and tax filing. Issued same-day at a Revenue Service center or Public Service Hall with a passport; Individual Entrepreneur registration assigns one in the same step.
Can I drive in Georgia on a US license?
A valid foreign license is commonly usable and exchanges test-free at the MIA Service Agency (the original is surrendered); since May 2025 sitting the local exams instead requires a residence permit or 185 days of stay. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Georgia?
No public enrollment for foreigners — the state universal program covers citizens; local private plans (roughly $20-60/month) or international policies are the standard cover. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Georgia's system treats foreign residents.