Business Licenses and Permits in Georgia: Full Guide

Most foreigners assume that opening a business in Georgia means lining up for licenses and permits. That assumption stalls people for weeks before they even start. The opposite is true: the large majority of activities need no license or permit at all, and the few that do follow one clear statute. We register companies for foreigners every week and rarely touch a single license. This guide to business licenses and permits in Georgia shows you exactly when you need one.

Quick Summary:

• Most business activities in Georgia need no license or permit. You register the company and start trading.

• A short list of sectors is regulated: banking, insurance, microfinance, gambling, energy, mining, broadcasting, medical and pharma, tobacco production, certain transport, and education.

• A license covers an ongoing regulated activity. A permit authorizes a one-off action or object, such as a construction project or a casino.

• Licenses and permits come from the specific regulator (National Bank, GNCC, Revenue Service, and others), not from a single "business license" desk.

• Statutory rule: if a licensing body does not decide within 30 days, the license is deemed granted.

• Government fees range widely, from GEL 200 for mineral extraction to GEL 200,000 for a banking license.

• Company registration is fast, cheap, and completely separate from licensing.

Do you actually need a license to do business in Georgia?

Almost certainly not. Georgia runs on a simple default rule: a licence or permit can only be required where this law specifically provides for it. The list of regulated activities is exhaustive, so if your business is not on it, you owe no license and no permit.

This is by design. The Law on Licences and Permits consolidated and sharply cut the number of regulated activities, stripping out the bureaucracy that used to surround ordinary trade. Consulting, IT, e-commerce, agencies, most retail and wholesale, hospitality, design, marketing, freelancing, and the vast majority of services all sit outside the licensing regime entirely.

So for most readers the practical answer is this: register your company, register for tax, and begin. Whether you set up an individual entrepreneur or a company, the licensing question usually ends right here. The rest of this guide covers the short list of exceptions and what to do if you land on it.

License vs permit: the legal difference

The terms get used interchangeably online, but the law treats them as two distinct instruments with different scope, cost, and renewal logic. Knowing which one applies to you tells you who to approach and what to expect.

What a license is

A license grants the ongoing right to carry out a regulated activity. It attaches to the person or company holding it. The law splits licenses into two sub-types. A licence to operate covers a regulated line of business such as banking, insurance, or broadcasting. A licence to use covers national resources, such as extracting minerals or using radio-frequency spectrum. Licences to use are typically won at auction and can be transferred to another party.

What a permit is

A permit grants the right to carry out a specific action or to do something in relation to a particular object, confirming that it meets defined conditions. A construction permit, a casino permit, and a permit to import a controlled substance are all examples. A permit can be issued for a definite or an indefinite term, depending on the type.

The distinction matters in practice, so here it is side by side.

Which activities are licensed or need a permit

Here is the part no competitor publishes cleanly: a single table mapping each regulated activity to the body that issues it. If your business is not represented below, you almost certainly need nothing. The categories are drawn from the Law on Licences and Permits.

The fully enumerated lists live in Articles 6 and 7 of the law for licenses, and Article 24 for permits. Where the exact regulator is set by a separate government decision rather than named in the statute, we have written "the relevant sector regulator" rather than guess.

One point worth flagging for foreigners: needing a license to run a regulated business has nothing to do with your immigration status. You do not need to be a citizen to own or direct a licensed company, and the license itself is separate from any residence permit you may hold.

The alcohol and tobacco confusion, cleared up

This one trips up almost everyone in hospitality, so let us be precise. Selling or producing alcohol does not require a license in Georgia. There is no liquor license, no bar license, and no separate permit to pour drinks. We run a cocktail bar ourselves, so we know this from the inside.

What alcohol actually triggers is excise obligations, not licensing. Foreign alcohol carries excise stamps, and Georgian alcohol carries the corresponding certificates. Those are tax and customs matters handled through the Revenue Service, not a license to operate.

Tobacco is the exception. Tobacco production is licensed and carries a real fee. But simply selling cigarettes in a shop or a bar is not a licensed activity. If you read online that Georgia licenses alcohol sales, that source is describing the US state of Georgia, not the country.

What the licenses and permits cost

These are statutory government fees, set by the Law on Licence and Permit Fees, not our charges. They are stated here as facts so you can budget. Fee schedules can be amended over time, so treat the source as the live reference.

The spread is large, from GEL 200 to extract minerals to GEL 200,000 to run a bank. Casino fees in particular swing hard by location: resort zones such as Batumi, Kobuleti, and Borjomi are far cheaper than the rest of the country, and a few mountain and spa towns (Gudauri, Bakuriani, Tskaltubo, and Sighnaghi) are exempt entirely to draw investment.

Where and how to apply, and how long it takes

You apply to the specific regulator that governs your activity, not to a single business-license counter. A banking license goes to the National Bank, a broadcasting license to the GNCC, a gambling permit to the Revenue Service, and so on. Many of these bodies run online portals, and the application sits separate from your company registration.

The typical document set is predictable: the application form, your company registration extract, proof that the fee has been paid, and the compliance documents specific to your sector. A finance license demands technical and financial documentation; a gambling permit requires certification from the Revenue Service; a pharmacy permit requires evidence that the premises and staff meet standards.

On timing, the law is reassuringly firm for licences to operate. The default statutory deadline is 30 days. If the body does not decide within that window, the license is deemed granted, a "tacit consent" rule that protects applicants from being left in limbo. The regulator can extend its review by up to three months, and by a further three months in major cases that affect the public interest. Permits vary by type, so check the rule for your specific category.

"No license needed" still doesn't mean "no rules"

Here is the trap. Escaping the licensing regime does not mean escaping every obligation. Plenty of unlicensed businesses still carry duties that catch newcomers off guard.

Food businesses must run a HACCP food-safety system and register their premises with the food agency, even though no "restaurant license" exists. Outdoor signage and street seating need municipal permits from City Hall. Playing copyrighted music in public requires a royalty agreement with the rights body. You must register for tax, and once you cross the turnover threshold you must register for VAT. Handling customer data triggers personal-data rules.

None of that is licensing, but all of it is compliance, and that is usually where the real work sits. Once your company exists, the ongoing pieces are accounting and tax filing done right. If you want this handled cleanly from day one, we register your company and set up the compliance side so nothing slips through. Reading up on taxes in Georgia and the right business structures before you commit will save you time, too.

Key Takeaways

• Check your activity against the licensed list before assuming you need anything. Most foreigners need nothing at all.

• If you operate in finance, gambling, energy, mining, broadcasting, medical or pharma, or tobacco production, identify your regulator early.

• Budget the statutory fee for your sector. They range from GEL 200 to well over GEL 200,000.

• Remember the 30-day rule. A silent regulator means your license is granted by default.

• Do not confuse licensing with compliance. Sort HACCP, municipal permits, and tax and VAT registration regardless of whether you hold a license.

• Register the company first. It is quick and entirely separate from any license.

• Unsure whether your activity is regulated? Get a quick check before you commit money or time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a business license to operate in Georgia?

In most cases, no. Georgia permits any economic activity unless the law specifically lists it as regulated, and the regulated list is short. The bulk of services, retail, IT, consulting, and hospitality need no license or permit, so you simply register your company and start trading.

What is the difference between a license and a permit in Georgia?

A license grants the ongoing right to carry out a regulated activity, such as banking or broadcasting, and it attaches to the company holding it. A permit authorizes a specific one-off action or object, such as a construction project or a casino. The law treats them as two separate instruments with different scope and renewal rules.

Which business activities require a license in Georgia?

The regulated sectors are banking, insurance, microfinance, securities, gambling, energy, mining and natural resources, broadcasting, medical and pharmaceutical activity, tobacco production, certain transport, and accredited education. Everything else is generally free of licensing. The full enumerated lists are set out in the Law on Licences and Permits.

Do I need a license to sell or produce alcohol in Georgia?

No. Producing or selling alcohol does not require a license in Georgia. The real obligations are excise-related: excise stamps on foreign alcohol and certificates on Georgian alcohol, both handled through the Revenue Service. Note that tobacco production, unlike alcohol, does require a license.

Who issues business licenses and permits in Georgia?

There is no single licensing desk. Each regulated activity is handled by its own body: the National Bank for banking and insurance, the GNCC for broadcasting, the Revenue Service for gambling and tobacco production, and the Agency for Regulation of Medical and Pharmaceutical Activities for pharma and medical permits. You apply directly to the relevant regulator.

How long does it take to get a license in Georgia?

For a licence to operate, the statutory deadline is 30 days. If the licensing body fails to decide within that time, the license is deemed granted automatically under the tacit-consent rule. The regulator can extend its review by up to three months, and by a further three months in significant public-interest cases.

How much does a business license cost in Georgia?

Government fees vary widely by sector. They start as low as GEL 200 for mineral extraction and GEL 400 for pharmaceutical production, and rise to GEL 50,000 for tobacco production and GEL 200,000 for a banking license. Casino permits run into the millions per year in some locations. All figures are set by the Law on Licence and Permit Fees.

Can a foreigner get a license to run a regulated business in Georgia?

Yes. Foreigners can own and direct regulated companies in Georgia, and citizenship is not a precondition for holding a license. The license attaches to the company and is assessed on sector-specific criteria, not on the nationality of the owner. It is also separate from any residence permit you may hold.

Is gambling licensed in Georgia and who regulates it?

Yes. Gambling is legal and regulated in Georgia through permits issued by the Revenue Service under the Ministry of Finance. Casinos, betting houses, slot clubs, and lotteries all require a permit, with annual fees that vary sharply by location. Resort zones such as Batumi carry lower fees, and some towns are exempt to attract investment.

Do I need a license for a restaurant or cafe in Georgia?

No license is required to open a restaurant or cafe in Georgia. There is no restaurant or alcohol license to obtain. What you do need is HACCP food-safety compliance, premises registration with the food agency, and municipal permits for any signage or outdoor seating, plus standard tax and VAT registration.

Does company registration include a license?

No. Company registration and licensing are two separate steps. Registering a company gives you a legal entity that can trade, but it does not grant any license, and the vast majority of companies never need one. If your activity is regulated, you apply for the license separately, after the company exists.