Not everyone who wants to benefit from Georgia's territorial taxation can or wants to spend 183 days a year there. For wealthy individuals there is a second route: the HNWI programme. This article explains the requirements, the process and who the route suits – with the necessary honesty about the hurdles.
What the HNWI programme is
The HNWI programme Georgia is aimed at "High Net Worth Individuals" – wealthy private persons. It allows tax residency in Georgia on the basis of economic ties, without the otherwise usual presence of 183 days. It is governed by an order of the Georgian Ministry of Finance; the relevant version has applied since 15 April 2023.
The HNWI programme Georgia is thus an attractive tool for internationally mobile entrepreneurs, investors and wealthy individuals who seek a reliable tax residence without relocating their entire centre of life to Georgia.
The requirements since 2023
Since the 2023 reform, three building blocks must come together for the HNWI programme Georgia – instead of two as before. In simplified form:
| Building block | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 1. Wealth or income | over 3m GEL in proven worldwide assets OR over 200,000 GEL income in each of the last three years |
| 2. Assets in Georgia | since 2023 additionally: assets in Georgia of at least USD 500,000 |
| 3. Connection to Georgia | a Georgian residence permit OR at least 25,000 GEL of Georgian-source income in the relevant year |
Only the combination of all three building blocks establishes residency via the HNWI programme Georgia. The values are to be understood as orders of magnitude – GEL amounts fluctuate in equivalent value, and the order can be adjusted.
The thresholds and combinations mentioned follow the order of the Ministry of Finance and may change. The current legal situation always prevails. This article serves orientation and does not replace tax advice – CMC is not a tax adviser.
The benefit: territorial taxation without permanent presence
The actual benefit of the HNWI programme Georgia arises from Georgian territorial taxation: as a tax resident, foreign income of individuals is generally exempt from Georgian income tax. Added to this is access to Georgia's broad network of double-taxation treaties. The HNWI programme Georgia combines this status with flexibility – you do not have to be in the country for most of the year.
The process
In practice, the route via the HNWI programme Georgia runs in several steps: prepare evidence of wealth or income, create the Georgian anchor points (assets in Georgia as well as a residence permit or Georgian income) and then file the application with the Revenue Service. The authority reviews and, if successful, issues the Tax Residency Certificate – processing usually takes a few weeks.
Plan early: for a particular tax year, preparation should ideally begin in the previous year so that all evidence – especially the Georgian income and the local assets – is available in time. The HNWI programme Georgia rewards clean timing.
Who the route suits
The HNWI programme Georgia suits people with genuine wealth who are internationally mobile and seek a flexible yet substantially grounded tax residence – such as entrepreneurs after an exit, investors or location-independent professionals with the corresponding means. Anyone who does not reach the thresholds is better off with the 183-day rule. And anyone who does not want to create any real connection: the programme is not intended for them – it demands a real link to Georgia.
The USD 500,000 component in particular makes it clear: the HNWI programme Georgia is not an "off-the-shelf" route but a deliberate investment decision with a real bond to the country.
Honest classification
The HNWI programme Georgia is a transparent, state-intended instrument – expressly not a grey zone. Precisely for that reason clear requirements apply, and precisely for that reason the consequences in the country of origin must be considered: Georgian residency alone does not automatically end every tax obligation in your previous country of residence. We clarify these points with you in advance, honestly and without false promises.
After recognition: ongoing requirements
HNWI status is not a one-off stamp but a status with ongoing responsibility. Tax residency is assessed annually; the Tax Residency Certificate relates to a particular tax year. Anyone who wants to use the status over several years should continuously maintain and cleanly document the relevant anchor points – in particular the assets in Georgia as well as the Georgian income or residence permit. The HNWI programme Georgia rewards continuity, not one-off actions.
Equally important is the home country's perspective: Georgian residency does not automatically release you from reporting and filing obligations elsewhere. Accounts and depots are subject to the automatic exchange of information (CRS), and depending on your home country, continuing tax obligations may exist. The HNWI programme Georgia therefore unfolds its benefit only within a cleanly thought-through overall structure – not as an isolated step. This is exactly where our support comes in.
Conclusion
The HNWI programme Georgia enables tax residency without a 183-day stay – against substantial requirements: wealth or income, at least USD 500,000 in assets in Georgia and a real Georgian connection. For the right target group it is one of the most flexible residency models in the region. CMC is not a tax adviser but accompanies you through the process with its team and network and provides the right base with the SOLO account. More on the overall picture in the article tax residency in Georgia.
Requirements and process for HNWI status
The Georgian High Net Worth Individual programme allows you to establish tax residency without having to meet the otherwise usual 183-day rule. That makes it attractive for mobile entrepreneurs and investors who do not want to spend most of the year in one place.
You must demonstrate either total assets exceeding GEL 3 million or annual income above GEL 200,000. Since 15 April 2023 a second condition also applies: either assets in Georgia of at least USD 500,000 combined with a residence permit, or Georgian-source income of at least GEL 25,000 per year. The application is filed with the Georgian authorities, usually with proof of assets and income.
The status grants access to the territorial tax system, in which foreign income generally remains untaxed. Whether and how this is worthwhile for you depends on your overall situation – particularly your status in your home country and any DTT. CMC is not a tax adviser and provides no tax assessment; we accompany the account opening, while tax planning belongs in qualified hands.
Frequently asked questions about HNWI programme Georgia
What is the HNWI programme in Georgia?
A state programme that enables wealthy private individuals to obtain tax residency in Georgia without 183 days of presence – on the basis of wealth or income and a real economic connection to the country.
Which thresholds apply?
Simplified: over 3m GEL in worldwide assets or over 200,000 GEL annual income over three years, additionally since 2023 at least USD 500,000 in assets in Georgia, plus a Georgian residence permit or at least 25,000 GEL in Georgian-source income. The values may change.
Do I have to live in Georgia for the HNWI programme?
No, that is the core of the programme: it works without the 183-day presence. A real connection is required, however – in particular assets in Georgia and a residence permit or Georgian income.
Is this legal?
Yes. The HNWI programme is a transparent instrument governed by an order of the Ministry of Finance. What is decisive is that the requirements are genuinely met and the consequences in the country of origin are observed. CMC is not a tax adviser.