Business Licences, Permits & Regulatory Approvals in Georgia

Opening a regulated business takes more than company registration. Our lawyers in Tbilisi help you establish which permissions your activity requires, prepare the legal documents and deal with the competent authorities.

We assist Georgian and international clients with new applications, changes to existing permissions and regulatory disputes. The first step is to understand what the business will actually do, where it will operate and who will own and manage it.

Discuss your business activity →

Does your business need a licence?

Georgia does not require every business to obtain a general operating or trade licence. Requirements depend on the activity. A licence, permit, registration, authorisation, recognition or notification can each have a different legal meaning and procedure.

Registration of an entrepreneur includes state and tax registration. Incorporation does not authorise a regulated activity, while VAT registration and special tax statuses require separate consideration. A company operating in a free industrial zone must also satisfy any sector-specific requirements that apply to its work.

We check the applicable legislation, the regulator and any conditions concerning ownership, capital, management, premises, staffing or technical systems before preparing the application. Where engineering, clinical, environmental or other specialist evidence is needed, we coordinate the legal work with the relevant professionals.

Licensing and regulatory matters we can assist with

Virtual assets and payment services

Legal assistance with Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) and non-bank payment-service-provider registration at the National Bank of Georgia. The work can include reviewing the business model, ownership and management documents, policies, customer agreements and responses to regulatory questions. VASP registration is distinct from payment-service-provider registration; one does not automatically authorise the other activity.

Banking, investment and insurance businesses

Assessment and application support for banking, microbanking, securities, brokerage, asset-management and insurance activities, according to the relevant regime. We identify the competent authority and examine eligibility, capital, governance and disclosure requirements. A financial-services project needs an assessment of the exact product and customers before its regulatory requirements can be settled.

Gambling and gaming services

Legal support with casino, slot-club, betting, electronic gaming and game-service-provider permits. The 2026 changes include separate permits for international online casino, slot and betting activities, and the 28 October 2026 amendment introduces an international gambling-tournament permit. We check the proposed player market, operating model, applicable permit category and any connection with an existing land-based permission.

Healthcare, pharmaceuticals and medical activities

Applications and regulatory advice concerning inpatient facilities, specifically licensed medical activities, pharmaceutical production, authorised pharmacies and controlled medicinal products. We also assess the permissions relevant to human tissues, cells and their cross-border movement. The facility's permission, the practitioner's professional entitlement and the approval for a particular activity must be considered separately.

Food, agriculture and veterinary matters

Food-business activity registration, National Food Agency recognition where required, and relevant veterinary, phytosanitary and import/export permissions. A restaurant, food factory and animal-product importer can face different requirements. We establish the activity, products and supply chain before identifying the documents and authority involved.

Construction, development and cultural heritage

Legal work on construction permissions, amendments and administrative disputes, including projects involving protected buildings or archaeological requirements. We review the property's legal position, the proposed works and the approval process with the project's architect or engineer. Ownership of a site does not, by itself, establish a right to carry out the proposed development.

Environmental and industrial approvals

Environmental decisions, applicable integrated environmental permits, waste-related permissions and controlled-material movements. We identify the relevant procedure and transitional provisions, work with the environmental specialists preparing technical evidence, and assist with submissions, consultation responses and challenges to decisions. The requirements for a planned installation may differ from those for an existing operation.

Transport, logistics and customs operations

Passenger and freight transport permissions, relevant aviation approvals, customs-warehouse and duty-free-outlet permits, and permissions for controlled imports, exports or transit. We check the operator, vehicle or facility, goods and proposed countries of operation. The permission required for one transport service may not cover another.

Energy and natural resources

Legal assessment and application support for relevant energy and water-supply licences, mineral extraction and other regulated resource-use activities. The work can involve reviewing eligibility, auction terms, licence conditions, land rights and the relationship with environmental or construction approvals. Technical feasibility and sector-specific evidence require the appropriate specialists.

Communications and broadcasting

Electronic-communications authorisation, broadcasting-related applications and permissions concerning frequencies or numbering resources, as applicable. We examine the proposed service and infrastructure, identify the correct procedure and assist with the legal documents and communications with the Communications Commission.

Education and professional activities

Legal assistance with educational-institution authorisation and related regulatory decisions. Professional admission, recognition of qualifications and an institution's right to operate are separate matters. We assess the particular profession or educational activity and the role of the relevant regulator or professional body.

Security and other regulated activities

Private-security licensing, outdoor-advertising permits and other activity-specific applications can also require legal support. For a business not listed above, send a precise description of the service or product. We will establish whether permission is required and whether the proposed legal work can be undertaken.

From the first assessment to the decision

1. Eligibility and requirements. We review the activity, ownership, management and proposed location, then identify the legal requirements and documents.
2. Preparation. We prepare the legal application materials, corporate decisions, declarations and powers of attorney, and coordinate required translations and document authentication.
3. Submission and correspondence. We submit where representation is permitted, follow the case and prepare responses to requests for further information.
4. Decision and conditions. We review the decision, the activities it covers, its conditions and any ongoing notification or reporting duties.
5. Further action. Where needed, we advise on correcting deficiencies, a fresh application or an administrative or court challenge within the applicable deadline.

Foreign documents may need an apostille or consular legalisation, subject to treaty exceptions, and Georgian translation. Notarial certification, translation and apostille/legalisation are different formalities. We confirm the requirements before you arrange documents abroad.

Existing licences, business changes and disputes

A change of shareholders, director, premises, equipment or business activity may require prior approval, an amendment or notification. Before buying a regulated company, we can examine its permissions, conditions, correspondence and the effect of the proposed transaction. A licence or permit cannot be assumed to transfer with a business or to cover a new site.

We also assist with inspections, regulator requests, alleged breaches, suspension and revocation proceedings. If you have received a refusal or enforcement notice, send the full document and the date of service promptly so the applicable response and appeal deadlines can be checked.

Fees, timing and specialist work

There is no single price or processing period for Georgian business permissions. Government application fees, auction payments, annual charges and capital requirements depend on the category. We quote our legal fees after reviewing the proposed work and identify foreseeable official and third-party costs separately.

Inspections, technical reports, staff qualifications and the applicant's responses can affect progress. We agree the work before starting and explain what must be supplied by the business or a specialist. The decision rests with the competent authority.

What to send for an initial assessment

• A clear description of the activity, products, customers and countries involved.
• The company extract, if registered, and details of the owners and proposed management.
• The operating address and information about premises, equipment and staff.
• Existing licences, registrations, applications and regulator correspondence.
• Your proposed opening date and any notice, inspection or appeal deadline.

Related matters can include company registration, tax advice, property and construction issues and residence and work-related immigration requirements. Trademark protection and contractual IP licences are separate from government permission to operate; our intellectual-property team can assist with those questions.

Contact our Tbilisi lawyers → +995 555 940 077 · info@lawyers.ge

Official sources

• Law of Georgia on Licences and Permits and the applicable sector legislation.
• 25 June 2026 amendment on international electronic gaming permits and 28 October 2026 amendment on international gambling tournaments.
• National Bank of Georgia: VASP registration and payment service providers.
• Food/Feed Safety, Veterinary and Plant Protection Code, including business-operator registration and recognition.
• Environmental Assessment Code and Law on Industrial Emissions.
• Education quality authority: authorisation procedures.