How to Register an LLC in Georgia: A Complete Legal Guide

Georgia (the country) has become one of the most accessible jurisdictions in the region for founders, freelancers and international businesses. A Limited Liability Company (LLC) — in Georgian, შეზღუდული პასუხისმგებლობის საზოგადოება (შპს) — is by far the most common vehicle: it offers limited liability, flexible ownership, no minimum capital requirement in practice, and eligibility for several preferential tax regimes.

Why founders choose a Georgian LLC

• Limited liability: members are generally not personally liable for the company's obligations beyond their contribution.
• No statutory minimum share capital, which lowers the barrier to entry.
• Fast registration — straightforward cases are typically completed within a few business days.
• 100% foreign ownership is permitted; there is no requirement for a local shareholder.
• Access to preferential tax statuses (Virtual Zone, International Company, Small Business and others) for qualifying activities.

Documents you will typically need

The exact checklist depends on whether the founders are individuals or corporate entities, and whether they are resident or non-resident. For a standard LLC formed by individuals, expect the following:

• A copy of each founder's and director's passport or national ID.
• The company's proposed name (with one or two alternatives) and business activity.
• The legal (registered) address and the address owner's consent.
• The Charter (Articles of Association) and the founders' decision on incorporation.
• For non-residents acting remotely: a notarized Power of Attorney, plus apostille/legalization and a certified Georgian translation of identity documents where required.

The registration process, step by step

1. Confirm the company name. A preliminary name screening helps avoid conflicts with existing registered names and restricted terms.
2. Prepare the corporate documents — Charter, founders' decision, director's consent and registered-address consent.
3. Identify the shareholders and beneficial owners; direct ownership must reconcile to 100%.
4. Submit the application to the National Agency of Public Registry (NAPR), in person or through a representative acting under a Power of Attorney.
5. Receive the registration extract and the company's identification number, then complete tax registration with the Revenue Service.
6. Open a corporate bank account (the bank conducts its own onboarding and decision).

Timelines and costs

A standard, low-risk LLC registration is often completed within a few business days once the documents are in order. For non-residents, the realistic end-to-end timeline is longer — typically two to three weeks — because of document authentication (apostille/legalization), certified translation, and the courier of original documents. State registry fees are modest and are charged separately from any professional service fee; expedited registration is available at a higher state fee.

Registering remotely as a non-resident

You do not need to travel to Georgia to incorporate. A non-resident founder can grant a notarized Power of Attorney to a local representative who files the application and signs the incorporation documents. The Power of Attorney — and the founder's identity documents — must usually be apostilled (for Hague Apostille Convention countries) or consular-legalized, and accompanied by a certified Georgian translation.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Choosing a name that is too similar to an existing company or contains restricted/regulated terms.
• Leaving direct ownership short of (or over) 100%.
• Underestimating document authentication time for non-residents.
• Assuming a tax status (e.g. Virtual Zone) is automatic — these require a separate application and human approval.
• Treating bank account opening as guaranteed; the bank makes an independent decision.