← All countries

Retiring in Georgia

Residency routes, healthcare and pension tax · GEL

Routes to residency

Healthcare

Foreign nationals, including those holding a Georgian residence permit, are not covered by Georgia's state Universal Healthcare Program (UHCP), which is reserved for citizens. Residence permit holders generally cannot access free public healthcare except in narrow 'socially vulnerable' low-income categories; in practice almost no expat qualifies for meaningful state benefits.

Not applicable — foreign residents are not eligible for the public healthcare program in the ordinary case, so there is no qualifying waiting period that grants access.

Private health insurance is a condition of residency in Georgia.

Private local health insurance plans (e.g. GPI, Imedi L, Ardi, TBC Insurance, Aldagi) start around 40–60 GEL/month (roughly $15–22) and typically cover emergency care, hospitalization, specialist visits and partial medication costs; residence permit applicants must show qualifying health insurance as part of their application, and long-term residents without a policy can face fines.

US Medicare: US Medicare does not cover medical care received in Georgia; Medicare benefits are generally limited to the United States and its territories, with only very narrow exceptions (e.g., certain emergency situations in Canada/Mexico), none of which apply to Georgia.

Pension income tax

Georgia does not tax foreign pension income of its residents.

Georgia operates a territorial tax system for individuals: resident individuals are not taxed on their foreign-source income, which as a general matter includes foreign pension income received from abroad.

There is no US income tax treaty with Georgia.

There is no comprehensive, currently negotiated US–Georgia income tax treaty in force. The only agreement sometimes cited is the 1976 US–USSR tax treaty, which the US has taken the position continues to apply to former Soviet states including Georgia, though Georgia itself does not recognize or apply it; a separate FATCA information-exchange agreement exists but does not allocate taxing rights over pensions or Social Security.

Sources: Insurance in Georgia: Health, Car, Property & What Expats Actually Need (2026) · Healthcare in Georgia: The Complete Expat Guide (2026) · Health Insurance for Expats in Georgia: Here's What You Need to Know · Travel Insurance for Georgia: Do You Need It and Where to Buy — Legalese Georgia · Georgia - Individual - Foreign tax relief and tax treaties (PwC Tax Summaries) · US Citizens: How to reduce/eliminate your US taxes when moving to Georgia (Country)

Checked Oct 2026

Customs & etiquette

• Greetings and hospitality — Georgians are famously hospitable and will often go out of their way to welcome visitors with food and drink upon arrival. A firm handshake with direct eye contact is typical, and men usually shake hands; a simple 'Gamarjoba' (hello) is appreciated as a gesture of goodwill.
• The Supra (traditional feast) and toasting — A supra is a ritualized feast led by a toastmaster (tamada) who directs a structured sequence of toasts covering friendship, family, ancestors, and peace. Guests should not drink until the tamada finishes a toast and signals it is time, and it is polite for a guest to offer at least one toast during the meal.
• Wine culture and toasting etiquette — Wine holds deep cultural and even spiritual significance in Georgia, often homemade and served generously at gatherings. Toasts are an important part of social bonding, and refusing to participate can seem impolite, though non-drinkers can still politely raise a glass with a non-alcoholic beverage.
• Church and monastery dress code — Georgian Orthodox churches and monasteries are deeply sacred and visitors are expected to dress modestly. Men should wear long trousers (no shorts), and women are generally expected to cover their shoulders, wear a long skirt, and sometimes a headscarf.
• Removing shoes in homes — When visiting a Georgian home, it is common courtesy to remove your shoes at the entrance, similar to customs in many other cultures that value keeping indoor spaces clean.
• Respect for elders — Georgian culture places strong emphasis on respecting elders, who are often given priority in conversation, seating, and decision-making within families and social settings.

Religion

Eastern Orthodox Christian 83.4% · Muslim 10.7% · Armenian Apostolic Christian 2.9% · other 1.2% · none 0.5% · unspecified/no answer 1.2%

Other countries in Europe & Central Asia

Austria · Belgium · Bulgaria · Croatia · Cyprus · Czech Republic · Denmark · Estonia · Finland · France · Germany · Greece · Hungary · Ireland · Italy · Netherlands · Norway · Poland · Portugal · Romania · Slovenia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · Türkiye · United Kingdom

Reference information compiled from the sources cited above and reviewed by hand. Immigration, healthcare and tax rules change and are applied at the authorities' discretion — confirm with the consulate, an immigration adviser or a tax adviser before making plans. Nothing here is tax or immigration advice.

Browse all countries · Create a free account