Georgia bans non-resident foreigners from working as couriers, taxi drivers, tour guides starting March 1

Under a new decree signed by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, foreign nationals without permanent residence permits will be prohibited from working as couriers, taxi drivers, and tour guides in Georgia, effective March 1, 2026.

The regulation introduces a “zero quota” for these specific sectors within the framework of the Law on Labor Migration. This move effectively bars non-permanent residents from legal employment in these popular service-oriented fields.

The restriction is outlined in Annex N3 of the Georgian Government Resolution on the rules for granting the right to work to foreign labor migrants and self-employed foreigners. The annex lists professions and labor or entrepreneurial activities subject to annual quotas.

According to the resolution, a foreign national without permanent residency in Georgia may only engage in paid employment with a local employer - or conduct entrepreneurial or labor activities in Georgia - after obtaining the right to work. Remote employment with a local employer is also subject to this rule.