The short version
- Only Norway offers a direct path to permanent residence on this permit.
- Tax treatment differs: Georgia — territorial taxation; Norway — standard resident taxation. Tax outcomes depend heavily on personal circumstances.
| Criteria | Georgia Remote | Norway Self-employed permit (+ Svalbard route) |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income / month | No fixed threshold | €2,453 |
| Income basis | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) | Freelance income |
| Initial duration | 1 year | 1 year |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum total stay | No fixed limit | No fixed limit |
| Path to permanent residence | Indirect (switch required) | Yes (better) |
| Path to citizenship | No | Via permanent residence |
| Family inclusion | Yes | Yes |
| Working for local clients | Limited | Allowed |
| Tax treatment | Territorial taxation (Individual Entrepreneur (Small Business Status, 1% turnover tax)) | Standard resident taxation |
| Health insurance | Required in practice | Required in practice |
| Insurance duration required | Full visa period | Full visa period |
| Application fee | — | ≈ €570 |
| Where to apply | Online, In country | Embassy / consulate, In country, Online |
| Processing time | — | 8–24 weeks |
Green values mark the objectively better number in that row.
Full guide
Georgia Remote →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Full guide
Norway Self-employed permit (+ Svalbard route) →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Don't forget insurance
Both programs have their own health-insurance rules — we match plans against each one's published requirement, with the evidence shown.
Sources
- Official gazette List of visa-free countries (Government Ordinance No 255, consolidated) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Revenue Service of Georgia — Small Business (Special Tax Statuses) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Want to apply: Work immigration — UDI (Norwegian Directorate of Immigration) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Fees — UDI (work residence permit for applicants over 18: NOK 6,300, incl. renewals) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Svalbard — visa and residence requirements — UDI (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Visas and immigration — Governor of Svalbard (Sysselmesteren) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Requirement to financially support yourself for permanent residence (NOK 341,373) — UDI (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Tax residence in Norway when moving to or from Norway (183/270-day rule) — Norwegian Tax Administration (Skatteetaten) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Norway — Individual — Residence — PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm How to Obtain a Visa as a Self-Employed in Norway (NOK 325,400/yr, May 2025; own-business-only) — Reinholdt Advokatfirma AS (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Residence permits for self-employed persons in Norway — Sterk Law Firm (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Update of the Norwegian National Insurance basic amount (G) — NOK 130,160 → 136,549 from 1 May 2026 — DLA Piper (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- International organisation Moving or travelling to Svalbard — Info Norden (Nordic Council of Ministers) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government The Norwegian welfare system — healthcare and welfare — City of Oslo (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Law firm Norway — Individual — Taxes on personal income (22% general + trinnskatt brackets) — PwC (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15