FIZ Georgia: Why are free industrial zones important for business?

Georgia’s Free Industrial Zones (FIZs) are unique territories with “extra‐territoriality” status, where income tax, VAT, import duties and dividend tax are equal to 0 % for permitted operations. Four key zones are currently operational: in Tbilisi, Kutaisi (including Hualing), Poti and Ananuri. Due to its flexible regulatory environment, Georgia has become a “white offshore” analog of such countries as the BVI and Belize.

Main tax advantages

Tax	Tax rate outside of FIZ	Tax rate in FIZ Georgia
Corporate income tax	15 % (in the distribution)	0 %
VAT	18 %	0 % (between residents of the zone)
Import duty	0 / 5 / 12 %	0 %
Tax on dividends	5 %	0 %
Property tax	до 1 %	0 %

⚠️ When selling goods from the territory of FIZ to “mainland” Georgia, a one-off tax of 4 % of the proceeds is required.

Who will Georgia FIX be suitable for?

Manufacturing companies and light industry (assembly of electronics, furniture, car components).
E‐commerce / re‐export (warehousing and resale in CIS and EU).
Data centers and SaaS (preferential import of servers, zero profit tax rate).
Financial technologies and crypto-equipment (mining farms in areas with low electricity costs).

Step-by-step guide to registering a company in FIZ Georgia

Zone selection. Research infrastructure and tariffs of administrations (rent, utilities).
Reservation of the name (through the National Public Registry Agency, online).
Conclusion of agreement with FIZ administration – lease of land/warehouse for 5 to 49 years.
Notarized preparation of founding documents (articles of association, shareholders' resolution).
Registration in the FIZ register (usually 3-5 working days).
Opening a bank account (with Bank of Georgia, TBC or Payoneer FIZ).
Obtaining necessary licenses (if required): alcohol, pharmaceuticals, electronics.

Processing time – from 5 working days if you have ready documents.

Required documents

Passports/IDs of founders and directors;
Apostilized certificate of incorporation (if the founder is a foreign company);
Charter (in English/Russian and Georgian languages);
Lease/lease agreement for the plot of land in FIZ Georgia;
Bank confirmation of the authorized capital deposit (usually 1 GEL as a symbolic amount).

Comparing FIZ Georgia and traditional offshore: which is more profitable?

Criterion	FIZ Georgia	BVI / Belize \|
Income tax	0 % (in the zone)	0 %
Reputational risks (EU/US)	Low (on the EU “white list”)	Medium/high
Requirements for substance availability	Office/warehouse in FIZ, 1 director	Often “paper” companies
Double taxation treaties	57 DTT	0 DTT
Cost of service	from 2 000 USD/year	2 500—4 000 USD/year

The benefits of Georgia FIZ are particularly clear for businesses that care about a clean compliance record when dealing with European banks and marketplaces.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of renting a warehouse in FIZ Tbilisi?: From 3 USD/m² with a long‐term agreement.
Is it possible to hire foreigners?: Yes, no quotas are required; work visas are issued in 10 days.
Do I need an accountant?: Yes. Quarterly reporting is required, but there are no taxes – it is only important to keep records of invoices of the zone.

Conclusion

FIZ Georgia provides export‐oriented business with zero taxation and fast registration procedure. By properly organizing the structure, companies can start saving on taxation in the first year, while remaining within the legal framework of the EU and OECD.

Want to open a company in FIZ Georgia?

Fill out the form below – our lawyers will calculate your potential savings and reserve the name on the register free of charge within 24 hours.