Short answer: Shopify Payments doesn’t work for businesses registered in Georgia, so a Georgian Shopify store needs a third-party payment provider. For most stores the simplest route is Flitt, the payment platform of TBC Group, which has a ready-made Shopify plugin and accepts cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay in GEL, USD and EUR. The catch: on top of the provider’s fee, Shopify charges its own extra fee for using a third-party provider.
Why Shopify Payments isn’t an option
Shopify’s built-in payment system works only in a few dozen countries — the US, Canada, the UK, most of the EU, Japan, Australia, Singapore and a few others. Georgia isn’t on the list. A store owned by a Georgian company or individual entrepreneur can still run on Shopify perfectly well; it just connects payments through an external provider.
Option 1: Flitt (TBC Group) — the easiest path
Flitt is a fintech company within TBC Group that serves merchants registered in Georgia, Armenia, Uzbekistan and Moldova. What matters for a Shopify store:
- A ready-made plugin for Shopify (and also for WooCommerce, Wix and Tilda), so no custom development is needed.
- Payment methods: Visa and Mastercard cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, bank account payments, and TBC installments and split payments.
- Currencies: GEL, USD and EUR — handy if you sell abroad.
- Requirement: an active TBC Bank account. If your business banks elsewhere, you’ll need to open one.
Flitt’s commission depends on your volume — ask them for current rates before you launch.
Option 2: a bank gateway (Bank of Georgia and others)
Georgian banks offer their own online payment gateways. At the time of writing we found no ready-made Shopify plugin for Bank of Georgia, so connecting it means a custom integration by a developer and paperwork with the bank. It makes sense if you already have a strong relationship with that bank or need its installment programmes.
Option 3: Stripe and PayPal
- Stripe doesn’t open accounts for companies registered in Georgia. The usual workaround is a company abroad (for example in the US or EU) — which is a separate legal and tax question, not a website one.
- PayPal in Georgia historically worked mainly for sending money; whether a Georgian account can receive store payments and withdraw them to a local bank depends on the current terms — check with PayPal for your account type.
For a business registered in Georgia, a local provider like Flitt is usually the most practical choice.
The fee most people miss
When a Shopify store uses a third-party provider instead of Shopify Payments, Shopify adds its own transaction fee on every order — historically from 0.6% to 2% depending on your plan. That comes on top of the provider’s commission and the monthly Shopify subscription. Check the current numbers on Shopify’s pricing page and include them in your unit economics.
That’s why we ask one question first: who are your buyers? If you sell abroad, Shopify earns its cost — multiple currencies, international shipping settings and a fast launch come out of the box. If you sell only in Georgia, a store on Tilda or custom code with the same Flitt payments often costs less to run, with no platform fee. Compare the options on our online stores page.
Checklist before launch
- A registered business (company or individual entrepreneur) in Georgia.
- A TBC Bank account if you’re going with Flitt.
- The provider’s approval of your store — they check the site, product descriptions and policy pages.
- Refund, delivery and privacy pages published on the site.
- A real test payment and a test refund before going live.
FAQ
Can a Georgian Shopify store accept payments in USD and EUR?
Yes, through Flitt: it accepts GEL, USD and EUR. Set the store currencies to match.
Can customers pay in installments?
Through Flitt — yes, with TBC installments and split payments. Other banks’ installment programmes need a separate integration.
Can I use Shopify Payments if I have a company abroad?
If the company and its bank account are in a country where Shopify Payments works, generally yes. Whether that suits your business is a question for your lawyer and accountant.
We build Shopify stores from 5,700 GEL and connect payments as part of the job. Not sure Shopify is right for you? Describe your store in a few words — we’ll recommend the option that solves the task for the least money.