Moving to Georgia: residence, healthcare and living costs

Residence and permission to work

Check entry permission for each passport, then select a residence category matching the intended activity. Visa-free entry, a residence permit and tax residence are separate questions.

Georgia's current 2026 labour-migration law contains defined exclusions, including specified services for a non-resident connected with that person's activities outside Georgia. Do not assume either that all remote work is exempt or that every overseas worker needs the same permission. Obtain a role-specific assessment.

City costs, private healthcare and housing

Tbilisi and Batumi can offer different rental markets, seasonal costs and access to services. Price a year-round tenancy and include heating, transport, travel and any school requirements rather than relying on a short-term holiday rate.

Confirm health and accident cover for entry and appropriate long-term medical access. British guidance does not treat national healthcare registration as available to British residents. Keep routine care, specialist treatment and emergency access in view when choosing a neighborhood.

Confirm healthcare access before relying on it

Tourists entering Georgia have a health-and-accident insurance requirement from January 2026, subject to specified exemptions. The official notice requires cover for the full tourist stay and documents in Georgian or English. For a long-term household, separately establish medical access, suitable insurance and continuity of treatment. British guidance warns that British residents cannot register for the national system; do not promise public access based on a residence card alone.

Residence and citizenship are separate decisions

A residence category and a later citizenship application are separate legal stages. Ask the authorities how qualifying residence, absences and other requirements apply to the actual household. A property purchase or a temporary permit is not an assurance of a future passport. Plan the move around present permissions rather than an assumed naturalization outcome.

Before leaving or returning to the UK

For British households, review the Statutory Residence Test, retained UK company activity and the UK-Georgia pension and government-service articles. Ask providers about access from Georgia before moving. A local residence permission or foreign-source treatment does not automatically settle the British position.

US connections continue to matter

For US citizens, the continuing worldwide-income obligations and older US-USSR treaty framework need a separate analysis. Include US retirement accounts, foreign funds and new Georgian banking in the review. Local exemption is not the same as US exemption, and overseas account reporting can apply independently of tax.