Complete Georgia Truck Driver Guide for Foreign Drivers

Georgia sits on the Europe–Asia transit corridor; its logistics sector is growing fast, and for years it was famous for allowing citizens of 90+ countries to enter visa-free for a full year and start working. That era has ended. Georgia now runs a formal labour-migration system: visa-free entry remains for residence, but working requires a state permit. This guide reflects the current rules honestly, so you start on the right footing.

The New Rule: A Permit Before Any Work

Every foreign national without permanent residence now needs an official right-to-work permit before performing any paid work, issued by the State Employment Promotion Agency under the labour ministry. Working without it brings fines for both the driver and the employer. Visa-free entry or a residence permit alone no longer grants the right to work — the permit is a separate, mandatory authorisation.

How the Permit Works

The process is employer-led through a single online labour-migration portal. The employer first posts the vacancy on the government portal for a short labour-market-test period, then files the permit application with your signed contract; a brief video interview with the driver is part of the file, and decisions come within about a month. Employers must meet turnover conditions per foreign hire, and your salary must clear a statutory floor tied to the subsistence minimum, so ask for the written offer early. The permit is tied to that employer — changing jobs means a new permit — and is initially issued for up to a year, renewable.

From Permit to Visa and Residence

The permit takes effect only once your stay is formalised: if you are abroad, apply for a D1 immigration visa at a Georgian embassy or online within the deadline after approval; if you are already in Georgia, apply for the work residence permit at the Public Service Hall within days of the permit decision. Miss the window, and the permit will lapse, so move quickly at this stage.

Your Driving Licence and Professional Competence

Georgia is not in the EU, so EU Code 95 does not apply as such: professional driving runs under Georgian rules, with licences and driver documents handled through the Interior Ministry’s Service Agency. Exchange of a foreign licence depends on recognition arrangements. It may involve tests for the heavy categories, and international routes from Georgia are subject to the AETR drivers’ hours regime with a tachograph card. Confirm your specific licence path before committing to how this relates to EU Code 95.

Pay, Tax and Daily Life

Wages are paid in lari; base pay is below EU levels, but transit-corridor work adds per-diem allowances, income tax is a low flat rate, and living costs are modest. Lawful employment brings pension contributions, and health insurance is usually arranged privately or through the employer—agree it in writing—more on health cover in Europe here.

Changing Employers, Family and Long-Term Stay

Because the permit is employer-specific, a job change means a fresh permit before you start. Family members apply for residence on their own grounds, and continued lawful residence can lead over time to longer permits and permanent residence. The system is new and still being refined, so verify each step with the authorities as you go.

How FastDriver.eu Helps

Create a free driver profile so employers can find you and browse live roles on the vacancies page. We help you check that a Georgian offer meets the new permit, salary and employer conditions before you commit. This is general information, not legal advice; final decisions rest with the Georgian authorities.

Official Government References

Always verify procedures, documents and timelines with the competent authorities, as the system is new and rules are still being refined: the State Employment Promotion Agency and the single labour-migration portal for the right-to-work permit (https://labourmigration.moh.gov.ge/); the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and geoconsul.gov.ge for the D1 immigration visa; the Public Service Hall for the work residence permit (https://psh.gov.ge/); and the Interior Ministry’s Service Agency for licence matters. All final decisions rest with the relevant authorities.