Hi bros !
https://campaignagainstimpunity.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/bn2.jpg?w=994
Do you see this picture ? That’s how I thought about Georgia before Didier talk about it (live #45). Really, a misery piece of land !
It’s the reasoning of lot french persons, especially when watching movies or turn BFM on (immigration from east, suffering, war, corruption, blabla, etc…)
Here is what I seen first time I was going to my window
Since I came here, at Tbilisi. I fell in love with this country. So, let me introduce to you why Georgia is a great country and everyone should visit this piece of land. To live / make business here or just for vacation / discovery.
VACATION & DISCOVERY
People
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Georgian are very friendly and hospitable persons, and major people I’ve met speak english So, georgian mentality is simple, if you respect country and people, you’ll find a place here. If you behave like the stereotype of french tourist, you’ll be rejected. “Respecte Tamar, et tamar te respectera.” (Tamar is a great georgian queen from medieval era)
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About girls, they are beautiful and lovable. And they have a kind of smart and empathy I never seen in France, except maybe one time. It’s pleasant to stay with them, compared with the waste of time inflicted by majority of french girls
Nature
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Georgia is a little country with lot of mountains at one side (for example, Tbilisi is surrounded mountains and hills) and beach at other side (Batumi and Poti for the most famous cities)
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The country is also greenful. Even at Tbilisi and Batumi where are botanic gardens
Architecture & Monuments
- Tbilisi is a subtle mix between past and modernity and we can retrace all the story of the city through the architecture, especially at some district like “Old Tbilisi”, “Sololaki” for traditional architecture and “Vake” for modern architecture.
European Union
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Georgia is not in EU, but relations between both entities are too well to travel from EU to Tbilisi and vice versa almost like schengen space
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It’s a good place to escape the EU dictature
LIVING IN GEORGIA
Cost of life
- Cost of life is very cheap, if you come with a SMIC here, you’ll be the gas king. And if you earn 700€/months, you could living well. For me, the vital minimum is 500€/month, it’s the strict minimum
Sojourn formalities
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Diplomatic relations between Georgia and France are very cordial. Enough to permit the entry in the georgian country only with your ID (not drive agreement, just ID), ID works as passport at airport and georgian borders. Really, entering in Georgia is as easy as to buy a beer pack at your supermarket !
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French citizens can stay 1 year in Georgia without VISA. And from memory, the reverse is true for Georgian citizens too (to recheck)
BUSINESS & TAXES
Create business
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It needs 1 day to start a business in Georgia, you fill a form at Public Service Hall and your business is open 1 day later,
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It can be opened the same day for few GEL (local currency)
Taxes and types of business
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15% income tax on remuneration, that’s all. There isn’t brut / net remuneration
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15% tax on the business benefits which are distributed. no distribution, no tax. it means you can have 0% tax on your benefits if you reinvest all on your business
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You can start business in free zone, there is no tax and TVA in this case (18% TVA otherwise)
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You can give the “virtual zone” status for IT business (online business notably), no tax & TVA for foreigner customers (If the customer isn’t georgian)
Banking system and fiscal paradise
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I am not expert of banking, but I seen on my researches about Georgia (before expatriation) that we can easily transfer money from EU banks to Georgian banks. This information was confirmed by JM (live #06), thanks to him.
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Georgia is not apart of OECD, and especially of the Automatic Bank Data Exchange agreement. It means that georgians respect your money as they respect you. It also means that this country is a great place to create business and / or escape the french fiscal tyranny
OTHERS
Minuses
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It’s hard to come in Georgia by air because of Covid, you have to take direct flights. If you want to come here, contact me and we will find a solution for you
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Public transport are closed but taxi works and they are rather cheap. Personnally I prefer walking so I don’t know exactly the price of taxi, but I remember that it cost maybe 5€ for a drive from airport to Tbilisi ~20km (to recheck)
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Restaurants & bars are closed
But The restrictions are starting to be lifted. Transport, schools and fairs reopening is planned for february 15th and will be followed by restaurants and bars
To finish, here is some bonus pictures of Tbilisi, I snapped all of them by myself
20Lari bill
Summit of my building with hill in background
A mountain in the city
View to Tbilissi from my balcony
The mountain at dusk
A river, the interest is especially on the landcape which is more beautiful at spring with flowering
A first point of view to the capital from the mountain (we can see the trinity cathedral illuminated on the right)
A second point of view to the city from the mountain
And a little bonus here because I like this picture :
You have any question about Georgia ? Contact me in the topic or directly by DM !
You want to come at Tbilisi ? You already have a friend to welcome you here
That’s all for now, greetings from Georgia !
P.S. Thanks to @Didier-G2 for making me discover this country !