Government Bans Foreign Nationals Without Permanent Residency from Working as Couriers, Taxi Drivers, and Tour Guides
The Government of Georgia has prohibited foreign nationals without permanent residency from working as couriers, taxi drivers, and tour guides. The regulation, signed by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, approves new rules for granting labor activity rights to labor immigrants and self-employed foreigners.
According to the decree, any foreign national without a permanent residence permit who wishes to work as a courier, driver, or in other service-related positions must obtain a “Labor Activity Right.”
The authority responsible for issuing this permit is the State Employment Promotion Agency. However, the government has introduced a quota mechanism, setting the quota at zero for several popular service sectors.
Under Annex №3 of the new regulation, courier services, passenger transportation (taxi/transport services), and tour guide services have been assigned a zero quota, effectively closing these sectors to foreign nationals.
According to Article 6 of the law, the Agency is obligated to refuse issuance of a labor activity right if the profession is included in the quota list and the limit has been reached. Since the quotas for couriers and drivers are set at zero, obtaining legal authorization in these sectors becomes legally impossible.
Article 5, paragraph “Z” of the law allows highly qualified professionals earning more than 15,000 GEL per month to work without barriers. However, couriers, taxi drivers, and tour guides do not fall into this category, meaning there is no legal pathway left for them to be employed in Georgia.
For those already working in Georgia, a transitional period has been established. Enforcement mechanisms for self-employed individuals, including couriers and drivers, will apply starting May 1, 2026. Registered immigrants who are already listed in the official database have until January 1, 2027, to regularize their status.
In sectors where quotas are permitted, such as mountain guides with a quota of 200 individuals, the service is subject to fees. The standard review period of 30 days costs 200 GEL, while an expedited review within 10 working days costs 400 GEL.
Additionally, the Agency exempts certain categories from the requirement to publish vacancies in advance, including international companies and innovative startups, international experts in the field of education, and positions with salaries exceeding 15,000 GEL (gross) that require higher education.
The new regulation significantly restricts employment opportunities for foreign nationals without permanent residency in Georgia’s service sector, particularly in courier, transportation, and tourism-related professions.
