Georgia Nomad Visa

Does Georgia still have a digital nomad visa?

No. "Remotely from Georgia" was a scheme launched in 2020, while Georgia's borders were largely closed during COVID-19, to let remote workers from certain countries come and stay. It is no longer offered.

The programme's application site, stopcov.ge, is offline, and no current government page describes it. The government's isolation and quarantine rules, which governed entry during the pandemic, were repealed in July 2023. Georgian press reports from 2021 said the scheme covered citizens of about 95 countries with visa-free access to Georgia. Nigeria is not among the countries whose citizens can enter Georgia without a visa, so the scheme was not a route for Nigerians anyway.

Can Nigerians go to Georgia now?

Yes, but you need a visa. Georgia's official e-visa portal, run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, lists Nigerian passports as visa-required. For Nigerians it currently shows two options:

• Tourism up to one year: the portal offers Nigerians a long tourism e-visa with a fee of USD 300. A decision takes up to five working days, or up to ten if more checks are needed.
• Ordinary short-stay e-visa: USD 20 plus a 2% service fee, single entry, valid for 120 days for a stay of up to 30 days. For Nigerians the portal asks for a supporting document, meaning a valid visa or residence permit from one of the listed countries, such as a Schengen state or another OECD member.

The portal also adds a separate identity check (DuVerify), at USD 15 per applicant, that you must complete within 24 hours of applying. E-visa fees are not refunded if the visa is refused.

Can you work remotely in Georgia on a tourism visa?

The portal describes these visas as being for tourism and short visits. It does not say whether working remotely for a foreign employer is allowed while you hold one. Before you rely on a tourist visa for a long stay with remote work, ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Georgian embassy that covers Nigeria.

For a longer, settled stay, Georgia issues residence permits through the Public Service Development Agency. We could not read the current requirements on its official site, so check them there directly.

What do you need at the Georgian border?

The e-visa portal says you must be able to show your passport, proof of the purpose of the trip, proof of accommodation, travel and health insurance covering your whole stay in Georgia, and proof of enough money. It gives bank statements for the last three months, an employer's letter stating your position and income, or a sponsor's letter as examples.

Your passport must be valid for at least three months after your Georgian visa ends, have two blank pages and have been issued within the last ten years.

Do you pay tax in Georgia?

Under Article 34 of Georgia's Tax Code, you become a tax resident for the year if you are actually in Georgia for 183 days or more in any continuous 12-month period ending in that tax year. Remote workers staying for most of a year should expect Georgian tax rules to apply. This is general information, not tax advice.

What to know before you go

• Working hours: Georgia is on UTC+4 all year, three hours ahead of Lagos.
• Apply only on the official portal: the Ministry says it has no link with private companies that submit e-visa applications for a fee.
• Other options: if you want a dedicated remote work permit, compare Estonia, Croatia or Spain, and check what each page says about Nigerian applicants.

Whichever country you choose, you will normally need foreign income first. If you are still looking, browse remote jobs open to Nigerians.