Do foreigners need a work permit in Georgia (Batumi), and who can check it?

Georgian patrol police were recently given authority to check foreigners' work permits — previously this was only handled by the migration service.

If a violation is detected, the fine of roughly 200 GEL falls on the employee, not the employer — which is why employers aren't always motivated to arrange legal status for staff.

A residence permit tied to a specific employer gets cancelled the moment you're fired — some employers use this as leverage over employees. Registering as an individual entrepreneur (IP) is considered a more reliable route to legal status.