Legal Address for Individual Entrepreneurs (IE) in Georgia

One of the most attractive solutions is business relocation. In 2024, many citizens of many countries choose Georgia as their preferred destination.

This choice is understandable since Georgia ranks 7th globally in ease of doing business (as per the Doing Business ranking). The country offers low taxes and allows for easy business registration, even remotely, with minimal paperwork.

For business registration in Georgia, two-thirds of foreign entrepreneurs choose Individual Entrepreneur (IE) as their business structure. This is mainly due to the tax benefits provided under the “Micro Business” (no tax if turnover is under 100,000 GEL) and “Small Business“ (1% tax for turnover up to 500,000 GEL) programs.

To become an Individual Entrepreneur (IE), you must prepare and submit the following documents at the House of Justice:

• International passport (must include an entry stamp to Georgia)
• Local phone number (must be from a Georgian mobile operator)
• Email address (preferably with a .com domain, as using .ru might result in registration rejection)
• Proof of state fee payment (60 GEL or approx. $24 for standard processing – 1 day, or 110 GEL or approx. $44 for expedited processing – same-day registration)
• Legal address in Georgia

The process is straightforward, and remote registration is also possible. However, the legal address requirement often raises questions, particularly for those who do not own or rent property in Georgia. Let’s explore this issue in detail.

What is a Legal Address?

A legal address is the official address of a legal entity or individual entrepreneur (IE). It appears in all official documents and is used for official correspondence. Without a legal address, company registration is impossible.

For Individual Entrepreneurs (IEs), the law mandates that the legal address must be the entrepreneur’s place of residence (whether owned or rented).

This rule does not apply to other business structures such as LLCs, JSCs, etc.

Ways to Obtain a Legal Address in Georgia

1. Agreement with the Landlord
   • If you rent an apartment, you can negotiate with the property owner to register your business at the rental address.
   • The property owner must be physically present when submitting the documents.
   • This service typically costs 50–80 GEL.
2. Using Address Services Near the House of Justice
   • If an agreement with the landlord is not possible, you can find service providers near the House of Justice offering legal addresses for registration.These service providers operate openly and actively approach foreign citizens, offering their services.Based on the experience of other entrepreneurs, these assistants name a price upfront, but negotiation is possible.The service includes providing a legal address and signing official documents confirming compliance with Georgian business regulations.The cost ranges from 150 to 200 GEL.
   ⚠️ Important Considerations:
   • The long-term validity of such addresses is uncertain.
   • There is a risk that the address is used for mass business registrations, which may cause potential issues in the future.
3. Using Professional Business Registration Services
   • We can assist you by handling the entire business registration process, including providing a legal address without requiring your personal involvement.
   • Our specialists will also accompany you to the House of Justice and, if needed, provide a translator.

Registration Confirmation and Access to Business Documents

Once your IE registration application is reviewed, you will receive an SMS notification from the authorities at the phone number specified in your application.

• If your application is approved, the notification will include access details to your online personal account.
• Your business registration certificate (which includes your legal address) will be available for download in the system.

Final Considerations for Business Registration in Georgia

When registering a business in Georgia, special attention should be given to the legal address requirement for IEs or LLCs.

If you plan to rent housing, we recommend discussing in advance whether the landlord allows business registration at the rental address and whether they are willing to accompany you to the House of Justice when required.

If the landlord refuses, you can always seek assistance from experts who can help navigate the registration process professionally and efficiently.