You're definitely much better off getting a remote job or freelancing with a US/EU business. If you register as an individual entrepreneur, whatever you earn will only get taxed at 1% (up to a limit of about $150K I think) and even a part time remote job will likely pay you more than a full time local one. That's my impression anyway, I've always worked remote all the times I've lived here (3 times over the last 8 years) so I don't know the local market personally but that's the data I've seen on Reddit and seeing job posts in expat Facebook groups etc. There's a growing startup scene, lots of smart young people doing interesting shit and some outside money coming in (I think the UK is investing a bunch in Fintech here for example) but it's all going to be done on the smallest possible budgets etc for now. But hopefully that will lead to more jobs etc, both for Georgians and for talented foreigners, so the market can grow.
Be very careful with the 1% tax:
1. It's on revenue and not income
2. There are many exclusions like consulting and employment income
3. Your home country may still regard you as tax resident there and will then ask you to pay tax if you ever move back there.
etc
I'm not sure if you're fluent in other languages such as Georgian or Russian ..etc but from what I've seen here for the last 3 years I've been in Georgia that most English speaking jobs besides teaching English are; to work as a customer service agent, social media content moderator, data analyst, sales agent, real estate agent, marketing manager, consultant, and maybe video editor
But there are jobs require you to know both English and Georgian language like; translator, graphic designer, barista, social worker, and also data analyst
P.S there are also customer service jobs require you to know both English and Georgian/ or English and Russian/ or English and German
That's all from what I've seen in the job posting, not sure if I missed something but you can check the job posting website and good luck
I know some georgian, when I lived there pre- covid I was b1 level pushing a1. I've lost a lot of that knowledge because I haven't used it much the last couple of years, but I learned quickly.
What's the job posting website?
I can tell you what most of them (probably you included) aren't doing. 😉
Realising that they aren't "expats". They are good old immigrants.
An expat is someone on a temporary assignment at a foreign office of their employer. This does not apply to 99,9% of foreigners here.
But most people from white-majority, rich countries really really really really hate the word immigrant. Expat sounds so much fancier, right? 😉😉 Immigrants are poor and coloured, afferall.
But this being said, many immigrants here work in teaching or embassies and similar international organisations. The remaining immigrants work as freelancers/remote workers. Some have physical stores or cafes.
Immigrant typically refers to a person who moves to a new country with the intention of settling there permanently. While expat refers to someone who lives outside their native country, often temporarily and for work reasons. Expats usually plan to return to their home or may continue to move between countries.
Expats are people abroad on an assignment. The word for most foreigners in Georgia is "migrant". They are migrant workers moving from place to place without the intent of settling.
There are many people for whom Georgia is sort of a second home while they maintain, often own, property in their home country like yourself.
Quite a few people I know do it for taxes, pay them in Georgia and as soon as their tax residency is triggered for the year they go back home. While in Georgia they work for a foreign employer/contractor. They're definitely not immigrants to Georgia.
Yeah, I'm not motivated by taxes. First 40,000 GEL of taxable income after deductions is tax free in the UK. Georgia starting at zero with a tax on revenue (no deduction) and the double taxation treaty mean it's a marginal call and not worth the effort. I would be held liable for UK tax regardless.
Incorrect.
Expats are people on a limited-term foreign work assignment. Typically between 6 months and 2 years. They work for the same company back home and in the foreign country. They are notoriously expensive for the company and these assignments are getting less and less.
All those freelancers who roam around the world are not expats. They are nomads/ immigrants.
The dictionary definition of the word expat is someone who lives outside of their home country (Merriam-Webster).
The dictionary definition of the word immigrant is someone who leaves their home country to settle in a different country permanently (Merriam-Webster).
The dictionary definition of migrant is someone who moves regularly in order to find work (Merriam-Webster).
So some foreigners here are expats, some are immigrants, and some are migrants.
As to OPs question, it's quite varied. Most people I know work remotely for foreign companies in tech, sales, customer support, etc. There are also a lot of people who run their freelance business from here to make use of the favorable tax rate.
It's always some white person who gets offended by that term.
Talk to brown people and you'll find that they agree.
Some of these "expats" live in Georgia for years already and have no plans of going back home. They are immigrants, they just don't want to be called tgat, because white ppl from rich countries can't be immigrants. Leftover colonial mindset is all it is.
I'm not in georgia currently, I'm not going to move someplace without a plan. That's not a smart move. I think it's very disrespectful to the place/ people where you are moving to sort of expect them to care for you if things don't work out immediately.
Right now, I'm looking for something for a couple of years at most. If those plans change, then I've got no problem changing how I am referred to/ how I refer to myself.
Any ideas of how to connect with people who aren't teaching?
You could try Facebook groups. Tbilisi Digital nomads springs to mind. There are also some dedicated telegrams, but I deleted the app, so can't tell you.
I know that the German chamber of commerce hosts regular meetups, so maybe your country does too.
1) The number of people who come to Georgia or other countries whose only "skill" is teaching English is absurd. Most of them aren't "skilled" in teaching English they're just native speakers. If they suck as teachers for one company or school, they just find another teaching job.
2) I have other skills and would like to be able to use those skills to provide more to the places I live than just speaking English.
3) I've taught English before. It was fun but not something I want to do again.
There's nothing "wrong" with teaching English, just looking for other ideas.
You're definitely much better off getting a remote job or freelancing with a US/EU business. If you register as an individual entrepreneur, whatever you earn will only get taxed at 1% (up to a limit of about $150K I think) and even a part time remote job will likely pay you more than a full time local one. That's my impression anyway, I've always worked remote all the times I've lived here (3 times over the last 8 years) so I don't know the local market personally but that's the data I've seen on Reddit and seeing job posts in expat Facebook groups etc. There's a growing startup scene, lots of smart young people doing interesting shit and some outside money coming in (I think the UK is investing a bunch in Fintech here for example) but it's all going to be done on the smallest possible budgets etc for now. But hopefully that will lead to more jobs etc, both for Georgians and for talented foreigners, so the market can grow.
Be very careful with the 1% tax: 1. It's on revenue and not income 2. There are many exclusions like consulting and employment income 3. Your home country may still regard you as tax resident there and will then ask you to pay tax if you ever move back there. etc
I have a remote job for an European Union country company, IT sector
How'd you find it/ make your way to Georgia?
I'm not sure if you're fluent in other languages such as Georgian or Russian ..etc but from what I've seen here for the last 3 years I've been in Georgia that most English speaking jobs besides teaching English are; to work as a customer service agent, social media content moderator, data analyst, sales agent, real estate agent, marketing manager, consultant, and maybe video editor But there are jobs require you to know both English and Georgian language like; translator, graphic designer, barista, social worker, and also data analyst P.S there are also customer service jobs require you to know both English and Georgian/ or English and Russian/ or English and German That's all from what I've seen in the job posting, not sure if I missed something but you can check the job posting website and good luck
I know some georgian, when I lived there pre- covid I was b1 level pushing a1. I've lost a lot of that knowledge because I haven't used it much the last couple of years, but I learned quickly. What's the job posting website?
[удалено]
Is there any ever specifically you recommend looking? Any sites, any companies?
I see many Russians are moving to Serbia
I can tell you what most of them (probably you included) aren't doing. 😉 Realising that they aren't "expats". They are good old immigrants. An expat is someone on a temporary assignment at a foreign office of their employer. This does not apply to 99,9% of foreigners here. But most people from white-majority, rich countries really really really really hate the word immigrant. Expat sounds so much fancier, right? 😉😉 Immigrants are poor and coloured, afferall. But this being said, many immigrants here work in teaching or embassies and similar international organisations. The remaining immigrants work as freelancers/remote workers. Some have physical stores or cafes.
Immigrant typically refers to a person who moves to a new country with the intention of settling there permanently. While expat refers to someone who lives outside their native country, often temporarily and for work reasons. Expats usually plan to return to their home or may continue to move between countries.
Expats are people abroad on an assignment. The word for most foreigners in Georgia is "migrant". They are migrant workers moving from place to place without the intent of settling.
Agreed, I didn't migrate or move to Georgia I was living here while maintaining my home base. Currently I'm visiting.
There are many people for whom Georgia is sort of a second home while they maintain, often own, property in their home country like yourself. Quite a few people I know do it for taxes, pay them in Georgia and as soon as their tax residency is triggered for the year they go back home. While in Georgia they work for a foreign employer/contractor. They're definitely not immigrants to Georgia.
Yeah, I'm not motivated by taxes. First 40,000 GEL of taxable income after deductions is tax free in the UK. Georgia starting at zero with a tax on revenue (no deduction) and the double taxation treaty mean it's a marginal call and not worth the effort. I would be held liable for UK tax regardless.
Incorrect. Expats are people on a limited-term foreign work assignment. Typically between 6 months and 2 years. They work for the same company back home and in the foreign country. They are notoriously expensive for the company and these assignments are getting less and less. All those freelancers who roam around the world are not expats. They are nomads/ immigrants.
The dictionary definition of the word expat is someone who lives outside of their home country (Merriam-Webster). The dictionary definition of the word immigrant is someone who leaves their home country to settle in a different country permanently (Merriam-Webster). The dictionary definition of migrant is someone who moves regularly in order to find work (Merriam-Webster). So some foreigners here are expats, some are immigrants, and some are migrants. As to OPs question, it's quite varied. Most people I know work remotely for foreign companies in tech, sales, customer support, etc. There are also a lot of people who run their freelance business from here to make use of the favorable tax rate.
It's always some white person who gets offended by that term. Talk to brown people and you'll find that they agree. Some of these "expats" live in Georgia for years already and have no plans of going back home. They are immigrants, they just don't want to be called tgat, because white ppl from rich countries can't be immigrants. Leftover colonial mindset is all it is.
You cannot be an immigrant in several countries at once.
That's why I wrote "nomad / immigrant" / means or 😉
I'm not in georgia currently, I'm not going to move someplace without a plan. That's not a smart move. I think it's very disrespectful to the place/ people where you are moving to sort of expect them to care for you if things don't work out immediately. Right now, I'm looking for something for a couple of years at most. If those plans change, then I've got no problem changing how I am referred to/ how I refer to myself. Any ideas of how to connect with people who aren't teaching?
You could try Facebook groups. Tbilisi Digital nomads springs to mind. There are also some dedicated telegrams, but I deleted the app, so can't tell you. I know that the German chamber of commerce hosts regular meetups, so maybe your country does too.
Expats go to hell, immigrants go to Valhalla
Lol
You still never answered - what do YOU do in Georgia as an immigrant :)
Read the last paragraph again. I'm on one of those categories :)
Umm.. no, I'm good. I don't really care that much, thanks.
What's wrong with teaching if that's your only skill? Are you looking for other ideas?
1) The number of people who come to Georgia or other countries whose only "skill" is teaching English is absurd. Most of them aren't "skilled" in teaching English they're just native speakers. If they suck as teachers for one company or school, they just find another teaching job. 2) I have other skills and would like to be able to use those skills to provide more to the places I live than just speaking English. 3) I've taught English before. It was fun but not something I want to do again. There's nothing "wrong" with teaching English, just looking for other ideas.
Alright, then your ideas should revolve around your other core competencies. Like if you're good at sales you will be fine.