According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Georgian side is working with a number of countries on the agreement regarding circular migration and residence permit for qualified specialists.

The Ministry said in a statement released on December 19 that the negotiations are underway with Germany, Israel, Portugal, Greece, and Bulgaria.

“The National Assembly of France has ratified the Agreement signed on between the governments of France and Georgia on “Residence and Circular Migration of Skilled Professionals”. The agreement has already been signed by the French President.

This Agreement provides a temporary residence permit for Georgian citizens, including young specialists, as well as the students, graduated from French higher education institutions (including branches), who want to get professional experience in France. (The agreement envisages employment of Georgian citizens in France and vice versa, employment of French citizens in Georgia).

The agreement regulates the issues, including residence permits, job quotas (according to the agreement, there is 150 quota for young specialists, both French and Georgian citizens and a total of 500 quota – for the rest categories).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with the Ministry of Health, is actively cooperating with the European partners and other countries to promote temporary labor migration.

With the support of IOM, a labor migration pilot project is underway with Poland, where up to 30 Georgian citizens are already employed. Simultaneously, negotiations are ongoing with the Polish side in order to sign a bilateral agreement.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said during her visit to Georgia in August of 2018, that Germany would create job quotas for Georgia to ensure legal, legally justified ways of the employment. Georgia continues to negotiate with Germany in this direction.

In this regard, the Georgian side also works with Israel, Portugal, Greece and Bulgaria,” reads the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.