Nikolai Timofejev
15 years in FinTech and payments. Maps your business model to the right licence scope and leads the file all the way to the NBG decision, including banking and payment rails.
Get a forex license in Georgia.
The pragmatic bridge between Europe and Asia: a brokerage company licence from the National Bank of Georgia under the Securities Market Law - dealing and intermediation in securities with related foreign-exchange transactions, a supervisor that moves in months not years, 0% tax on retained profits and 15% only when you distribute.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated
Georgia in brief
The fast lane between two continents.
Georgia regulates brokerage through the National Bank of Georgia: the Securities Market Law licenses brokerage companies to trade in shares, bonds, certificates, promissory notes and other securities, to advise investors on price and investment, and to conduct related foreign-exchange transactions - with derivatives activity supervised under the NBG's capital-market framework. The central bank runs licensing under the Law on Licences and Permits with the pragmatism Georgia is known for: files move in months, requirements are published, and the supervisor is accessible in ways larger regulators are not. Capital and prudential requirements are set by NBG regulation and confirmed against your model before filing - that calibration call is where every Georgian project starts.
Why Georgia earns a place on broker shortlists: the Estonian-style tax system charges nothing while profits stay in the business and 15% only on distribution (plus 5% on dividends), the banking sector is regional-grade and used to non-resident founders, company formation runs in days, and Tbilisi's costs make real substance cheap. The hard boundary: this is not an EU passport - a Georgian licence serves CIS, Middle Eastern and Asian corridors and B2B structures, not European retail. Groups typically pair it with an EU MiFID licence; we structure both ends and run the Georgian file from our Tbilisi office.
NBG brokerage company licence under the Securities Market Law: securities dealing and intermediation with related FX transactions, capital per NBG regulation (calibrated pre-filing), published checklist, direct supervisor access - 3-6 months realistic.
0% tax till distribution, 15% after, 5% dividends. Not an EU passport - the regional play, often paired with a MiFID licence. We run it from Tbilisi.
The two routes
The brokerage licence - or the group satellite.
One NBG licence, two roles: the standalone brokerage serving regional flow, or the satellite entity inside an international group. Trading desk, back office and corridor hub. We fix the role first, then build once.
The standalone regional broker - or the group satellite.
01 - BROKERAGE COMPANY LICENCE
The standalone broker
The full NBG licence: dealing and intermediation in securities with related FX transactions, investor advisory and custody-adjacent services. A regional brokerage on Georgian economics.
The full NBG licence: dealing and intermediation in securities with related FX transactions, investor advisory and custody-adjacent services. A regional brokerage on Georgian economics.
- ✓Securities dealing and intermediation
- ✓Related foreign-exchange transactions
- ✓Investment advisory to clients
- ✓Capital per NBG regulation - confirmed pre-filing
- ✓NBG supervision, published rulebook
- ✓CIS · Middle East · Asia corridors
02 - THE GROUP SATELLITE
Paired with an EU licenceThe corridor hub
A licensed Georgian entity inside an international structure: regional desk, operations centre and banking hub on 0%-retained tax. Paired with an EU MiFID licence for European flow, cleanly separated.
Regional desk and back office on 0%-retained tax, Georgian banking, clean separation. Paired with an EU licence for European flow.
- ✓Regional desk for CIS and Asian flow
- ✓Operations and back office at Tbilisi cost
- ✓Georgian banking relationships
- ✓0% tax while profits stay in
- ✓Clean separation from the EU entity
- ✓We structure both ends
Costs and timelines are confirmed for your case before any work begins. Including the NBG capital calibration for your model. All numbers are itemised in your quote.
Why Georgia
Pragmatism, priced in months and lari.
Georgia competes on speed, cost and tax, and is clear about what it is not.
✓
A supervisor that moves
The NBG processes files in months, publishes its requirements and answers its phone. The licensing experience larger regulators promise and rarely deliver.Months, not years.
✓
0% until distribution
The Estonian-style system: retained profits untaxed, 15% on distribution plus 5% on dividends. The build phase compounds gross.15% on distribution.
✓
Days-fast incorporation
Company formation in days, notarisation light, e-government mature. The administrative floor under a licensed business is thin.Thin admin floor.
✓
Regional-grade banking
Georgian banks are used to non-resident founders and regional flow. Accounts that take weeks elsewhere open on schedule here.Regional-grade, open.
✓
Tbilisi cost base
Salaries, premises and professional services at a fraction of EU prices. Real substance, affordably staffed.Substance, affordable.
✓
The Europe-Asia bridge
Between CIS, Turkish, Gulf and Asian corridors. The natural seat for flow that EU licences serve poorly.Corridors EU serves poorly.
How it compares
How Georgia differs from other routes.
Side by side: Georgia is the fast, low-tax regional play, not an EU passport, and priced accordingly.
Georgia vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  Georgia | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Regime | Securities Market Law - NBG | MiFID desks or offshore |
| EU passport | No - regional corridors | Yes on EU licences |
| Timeline | 3-6 months | 6-15 months EU |
| Tax | 0% retained · 15% distributed | 10-30% headline |
Regime
GeorgiaSecurities Market Law - NBG
Other jurisdictionsMiFID desks or offshore
EU passport
GeorgiaNo - regional corridors
Other jurisdictionsYes on EU licences
Timeline
Georgia3-6 months
Other jurisdictions6-15 months EU
Tax
Georgia0% retained · 15% distributed
Other jurisdictions10-30% headline
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | NBG brokerage company | 0% · 15% distributed | NBG capital, fast track |
 Bulgaria | Investment intermediary | 10% flat · 5% WHT | IFD €75k-€750k, euro area |
 Estonia | Investment firm - FI | 0% · 22% distributed | IFD €75k-€750k, statutory clock |
 UAE · DIFC | DFSA Cat 3A/2 | 9% · 0% qualifying | US$500k-2M, common law |
GeorgiaLicense typeNBG brokerage company
Taxation0% · 15% distributed
RequirementsNBG capital, fast track
BulgariaLicense typeInvestment intermediary
Taxation10% flat · 5% WHT
RequirementsIFD €75k-€750k, euro area
EstoniaLicense typeInvestment firm - FI
Taxation0% · 22% distributed
RequirementsIFD €75k-€750k, statutory clock
UAE · DIFCLicense typeDFSA Cat 3A/2
Taxation9% · 0% qualifying
RequirementsUS$500k-2M, common law
Before you apply
Requirements for the NBG licence.Requirements for the licence.
The NBG's checklist is published and finite. The craft is calibrating capital and controls to your model before filing. Below is what a passing application contains.
01
Georgian company. Incorporated locally with genuine management in Georgia.
02
Capital per NBG regulation. Calibrated to your model and confirmed with the supervisor before filing.
03
Fit-and-proper founders and managers. Clean records, disclosed to UBO level with source of funds.
04
Qualified administrators. Directors with securities-market competence the NBG can interview.
05
Business plan. Activities, corridors and financial projections the supervisor can interrogate.
06
Internal regulations. Trading, client-asset and conflict rules per the Securities Market Law.
07
Client asset arrangements. Segregation of customer funds and securities designed before launch.
08
Risk and compliance functions. Named owners for risk management and internal control.
09
AML/CFT framework. KYC, monitoring and reporting aligned to Georgian AML law and FATF standards.
10
Operational substance. A real Tbilisi office, staff and systems the NBG can visit.
01
Georgian company, run locally.
02
Capital per NBG calibration.
03
Clean founders to UBO.
04
Qualified administrators.
05
Interrogable business plan.
06
Internal regulations set.
07
Client assets segregated.
08
Risk and compliance owners.
09
AML to FATF standards.
10
Real Tbilisi substance.
Reflects the Securities Market Law and NBG regulations as of 2026. Capital calibration is confirmed with the NBG before filing.Securities Market Law + NBG regulations, as of 2026.
How it works
From first call to the NBG register.
01
Model and calibration
Role, corridors and the NBG capital calibration for your model. Fixed in writing before any drafting.Capital fixed with the NBG.
02
Company and people
Georgian incorporation in days, capital placed, managers prepared for the NBG's review.Days-fast, prepared.
03
The application file
Business plan, internal regulations and the full dossier. Complete at filing, walked in personally.Complete, walked in.
04
NBG review
Questions answered directly with the supervisor - 3-6 months realistic end to end.3-6 months realistic.
05
Licence and launch
Register entry, banking live, corridors open. A licensed regional broker on Georgian economics.Banking on, corridors open.
Quick facts
RegulatorNBG
FrameworkSecurities Market Law
LicenceBrokerage company
ScopeSecurities + related FX
CapitalPer NBG regulation
IncorporationDays
Realistic timeline3-6 months
Tax0% · 15% distributed
Georgia rewards preparation with speed. A calibrated, complete file moves through the NBG in months. Calibration is our first call.
On the ground in Georgia
Run from our Tbilisi office.
Prifinance - Georgia
Tbilisi · Georgia
Tbilisi, Georgia
01
Georgian company formation
Days-fast incorporation, capital structuring and the corporate layer the NBG expects. Built for the licence from day one.Built for the licence.
02
The NBG file
Business plan, internal regulations, capital calibration and the licensing dossier. Drafted end to end and walked through the supervisor personally.Walked in personally.
03
Banking and operations
Georgian bank accounts, payment rails and the operational setup. Sequenced with the licence so launch follows approval immediately.Live at approval.
04
Group structuring
The Georgian entity positioned correctly inside an international structure. Paired with EU licences where European flow needs them.EU pairing done right.
We also have offices in
Tallinn
Estonia
Roseni 13
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Istanbul
Turkey
Perpa Ticaret Merkezi, A Blok
Good to know
Taxation of forex brokers in Georgia.
The Estonian model on Caucasus economics: nothing while you build, 15% when you take.
0% on retained profits
Corporate tax applies only on distribution. Reinvested trading profits, buffers and platform build-out compound untaxed.Build compounds gross.
15% on distribution
Profits are taxed at 15% when distributed. You control the timing, and the build phase pays nothing.You control timing.
Dividend withholding 5%
A flat 5% on dividends to individuals and non-residents. Among the lightest second layers anywhere.Light second layer.
VAT 18% - finance exempt
Financial services are VAT-exempt; the 18% standard rate touches only ordinary overheads.18% only on supplies.
No currency controls
Free movement of capital and profits. Repatriation is a transfer, not an application.Repatriation is a transfer.
Treaty network 55+
Treaties across Europe, the CIS and Asia. The corridors a Georgian broker actually serves.The right corridors.
Tax summary
Retained profits0%
Distributed profits15%
Dividend withholding5%
VAT on financial servicesExempt · 18% standard
Tax treaties55+
*Figures as of 2026 per the Revenue Service of Georgia. Group and founder-level outcomes are modelled per structure.
Turnkey professional support
Experienced lawyers and international consultants.
We provide end-to-end support, from company registration and the application file to regulatory interaction and compliance oversight - with an individualized approach to each client.
Oleksii Kindratenko
Builds the application itself: Georgian company, AML/KYC policy pack, capital structure and tax registrations. His document sets are the reason reviews finish in months, not years.
Eugeniu Bevziuc
First point of contact for international founders. Runs the whole setup remotely, across time zones and languages - from the first call to a live, licensed broker.
Follow Prifinance
Active across our channels.
Georgia · NBG
Launch your forex project in Georgia with expert support.
Full-service assistance - from incorporation to the brokerage licence, banking and ongoing compliance - run through our Tbilisi office.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is Georgia the right fit for your project?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The Georgia forex licence: frequent questions.
What licence does a forex broker need in Georgia?+
A brokerage company licence from the National Bank of Georgia under the Securities Market Law - covering dealing and intermediation in securities, investor advisory and related foreign-exchange transactions, with derivatives activity under the NBG's capital-market supervision.
What capital is required?+
Capital and prudential requirements are set by NBG regulation and depend on the activities in scope - we calibrate the figure for your model with the supervisor before filing, so the number in your plan is the number the NBG expects.
How fast is licensing really?+
Realistically 3-6 months end to end - incorporation runs in days, the NBG's checklist is published and finite, and the supervisor engages directly. Among credible regulators, few move faster.
Does a Georgian licence passport into the EU?+
No - Georgia is not an EEA member. The licence serves CIS, Middle Eastern and Asian corridors and B2B structures. Groups needing European retail pair it with an EU MiFID licence; we structure both ends cleanly.
How are Georgian brokers taxed?+
The Estonian-style system: 0% on retained profits, 15% on distribution, 5% dividend withholding, VAT-exempt financial services and no currency controls - with treaties across the corridors that matter.
What substance does the NBG expect?+
A genuine Georgian operation: local office, qualified administrators the supervisor can interview, named risk and compliance owners and client-asset segregation. Tbilisi's costs make all of it affordable.
How is client money protected?+
Customer funds and securities must be segregated from the firm's own assets under the Securities Market Law and NBG rules - the arrangements are designed and documented before launch.
Is banking workable for a licensed broker?+
Yes - Georgian banks are regional-grade, familiar with non-resident founders and licensed financial businesses. We sequence account opening with the licence so launch follows approval immediately.
Who typically chooses Georgia?+
Regional brokers serving CIS and Asian flow, groups placing a trading desk and back office on 0%-retained economics, and founders who value a supervisor that answers - usually alongside an EU licence rather than instead of one.
Why Prifinance for Georgia?+
A Tbilisi office, direct working relationships with the NBG process, capital calibration before filing and both ends of the EU-pairing structured under one roof.
What licence?+
NBG brokerage company licence.
Capital?+
Per NBG regulation - calibrated.
How fast?+
3-6 months realistic.
EU passport?+
No - pair with MiFID.
Taxes?+
0% retained; 15% + 5%.
Substance?+
Real, Tbilisi-priced.
Client money?+
Segregated by law.
Banking?+
Regional-grade, workable.
Who fits?+
Regional flow, group desks.
Why you?+
Tbilisi office, both ends.
Client notes
Google4.7★★★★★
Founders who wanted it done right.
Google4.7★★★★★
“As a software development crew at FewMoreTaps OÜ, we've had the pleasure of working with Prifinance on some key financial moves.First of all, navigating the world of corporate banking and finance can be a maze, but Prifinance made it feel like a walk in the park. They helped us set up a corporate bank account without the hassle of jumping on a plane or drowning in paperwork. Everything was done remotely, smoothly…”
Google
“I had their assistance in company registration and I would recommend them. They were answering all my clarification during the process and offering all their supportThank you Daniel and Irinia”
Google
“We found PRIFINANCE COMPANYvia the Internet and asked for help in organizing the opening of their company in Estonia. PRIFINANCE COMPANY specialists helped us a lot with this. Their professional, competent approach and knowledge of their business left us with only the best impressions.”
Google
“I'm thrilled with my experience with PriFinance! They helped me obtain a crypto license in Estonia without any hassle. The team was super understanding and always available to answer my questions and assist. It was great to see how they put effort into preparing the documents to ensure everything went smoothly. I'm delighted with the outcome and highly recommend PriFinance to anyone looking to get a license…”
Google
“Opening an account with Prifinance in a Swiss bank was such an easy and quick process that I was shocked. It all started with the first call, where I received detailed guidance on the required documents and the entire procedure.One of the key highlights was their attention to detail. As someone who usually gets tangled up in paperwork, I was pleasantly surprised when they sent me all the documents and…”
Google
“I recently had the pleasure of working with Boris.. and I must say, it was a fantastic experience. Boris went above and beyond to assist me with my residency needs. His professionalism, knowledge, and dedication truly stood out. I highly recommend working with Boris and the team!”
Google
Start today
One message away from your Georgian forex licence.
Get a free legal opinion on your project - our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.Free legal opinion: which Georgian route fits your project and what it will cost.
✓Written legal opinion within 2-5 business days - free of charge✓A clear recommendation on the right licence scope, not a sales pitch✓Transparent fixed fees, confirmed up front✓EN · RU · ES speaking team
Prifinance is an independent law and advisory firm. We are not a regulator and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the National Bank of Georgia (NBG) or any other public authority. Authorisations are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.