A bank account in Georgia

No law stops a foreigner without residency from opening a bank account in Georgia. Each bank decides after its own checks, and a refusal can come without a reason. Most people open theirs at TBC or Bank of Georgia, in one visit. This is how it works as of October 2026; banks change their rules often, so check before you go.

What the banks ask for

• Your passport, the original.
• A Georgian phone number, for the app and the card: getting a SIM.
• Proof of income: bank statements, contracts or a tax return, and sometimes where the money comes from.
• Sometimes an address. A lease signed at a notary works: renting an apartment.

Since 2024 some banks also ask for your tax details at home, under the international rules for sharing account information between countries.

The banks

• TBC Bank: start online at nonresident.tbcbank.ge, then finish in a branch or on a video call. A non-refundable ₾50 review fee for non-residents.
• Bank of Georgia: foreigners pay more for the monthly account packages. Citizens of some countries, Russia and Belarus among them, apply online with six months of statements and proof of work.
• Liberty Bank: charges non-residents a document check, reported at ₾150–₾250.
• Credo Bank: sometimes needs only a passport, but charges a monthly fee if the card goes unused for three months.

Both TBC and Bank of Georgia have apps in English. Expect one visit and a card the same day or within a few days; extra checks can add five to ten working days. Opening an account through someone else, with a power of attorney, rarely works.

Fees worth knowing

• Paying foreign websites in lari costs 1.5% (up to ₾10) at TBC and Bank of Georgia since 15 April 2026. Pay in dollars or euros from a currency account instead.
• Deposits are insured up to ₾50,000 per bank since April 2026.
• Cash from ATMs with a foreign card: Liberty, Cartu and Halyk are reported to charge nothing, Bank of Georgia about ₾3, and TBC a lot for dollar withdrawals. Always decline the offer to charge you in your home currency.

Getting paid from abroad

The usual route is a bank transfer in dollars or euros straight into a Georgian account. Wise lets residents of Georgia hold balances, but not get its card; PayPal works with withdrawal fees; Revolut and Stripe don't support people living in Georgia. The details, and the 1% tax status for freelancers: freelancing from Georgia.

With a business

An individual entrepreneur or a company needs its own business account, opened after registration. How to register, and the legal address it needs: opening a company in Georgia.

Questions people ask

Can a foreigner open a bank account in Georgia?

Yes, without residency, as long as the bank's checks are satisfied: bring your passport, a Georgian number and proof of income.

Which bank is best for foreigners?

TBC and Bank of Georgia open the most accounts for foreigners and have English apps; compare their fees for non-residents before you choose.

Do I need a residence permit?

No. A permit can make the checks easier, and it matters for longer stays: working remotely from Tbilisi.

Everything else about moving here for work: the digital nomad guide to Tbilisi.