Georgia Entry and Travel Requirements
Georgia's entry requirements define the rules that all visitors to Georgia must follow to enter the country without problems. These requirements include the necessary documents that must be prepared before the planned trip, including valid passports and visas.
Georgia's visa policy determines visa requirements for visitors of certain nationalities. Depending on their nationality, visitors can apply for a visa online, at the nearest embassy, or enter Georgia without a visa.
Citizens of more than 90 different countries can visit Georgia without a visa for stays ranging from 3 months to 1 year depending on the nationality of the traveler. Citizens of visa-free countries can enter Georgia with a valid passport, while some of them can travel with only valid identification.
The Georgian government has made visa application easier for citizens of more than 100 countries who can apply for an electronic visa online. With the eVisa, they can visit Georgia multiple times and stay for up to 90 days within a 6-month validity period or 30 days within a 3-month validity period. For any long-term stay in Georgia, a visa is required directly from the Georgian embassy. Additionally, citizens of approximately 50 countries must apply for an embassy visa regardless of the reason for their trip and the expected length of stay. Currently, there is no visa ban for foreign nationals planning to visit Georgia.
Due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the governments of other countries, the Georgian government has introduced a number of additional conditions for entering Georgia. Entry requirements are subject to constant change amid the ever-changing coronavirus situation worldwide.
Important updates:
As of June 15, 2022, all Covid restrictions have been lifted. All travelers arriving in Georgia by any route, i.e. by land, air or sea, do not need to present proof of Covid-19 vaccination or a negative test report.
Who can enter Georgia?
Georgia welcomes all international visitors, regardless of vaccination status. Depending on your nationality, you may need to obtain different documents to enter Georgia without problems.
Document checklist for entering Georgia
- Valid travel documents (passport or ID card - depending on nationality)
- Valid Georgia visa
- travel insurance
Testing, Vaccination, and Quarantine Requirements
Request an inspection
Providing a negative Covid-19 test report is no longer required. Previously, unvaccinated travelers had to present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before their scheduled flight to Georgia.
Vaccination required
Georgian authorities no longer check the vaccination status of visitors to Georgia. Previously, people with valid Covid-19 vaccination certificates could use them to bypass testing and quarantine requirements.
Quarantine required
Georgia lifted quarantine requirements in February 2022. Prior to this date, nationals who have visited any red list country within 14 days before arriving in Georgia will be subject to 14 days of quarantine/quarantine at an approved quarantine facility. The end of the quarantine period is carried out by PCR testing.
Traveling from Georgia
There are no specific restrictions for traveling from Georgia. However, all tourists are encouraged to comply with public health safety measures. They should also check the restrictions that apply in their country of origin or the destination they plan to travel to from Georgia.
Traveling to Georgia
Traveling to Georgia now feels much like it did before the Covid-19 pandemic. Travelers no longer need to meet additional entry requirements, including testing, vaccination and quarantine. Completion of the pre-departure form is also no longer mandatory.
However, foreign visitors to Georgia should remember to prepare certain travel documents that are still required for international travel. Each visitor must have a passport or ID card (depending on nationality) and a valid visa to Georgia. Additionally, the Georgian government requires all foreign nationals coming to Georgia to have travel insurance.
Please note:
Covid-19 restrictions were lifted in Georgia in mid-June 2022. All travelers should monitor recent changes in entry regulations before traveling abroad. Rules may change at short notice.
Entry Rules for Children
The lifting of Covid-related entry requirements for all foreign visitors also applies to children.
Children under 18 years old traveling to Georgia alone or with their parents must have a copy of their passport and birth certificate. Their parents or legal guardians must also apply for a visa on their behalf (if necessary).
Transit through Georgia
There are no travel restrictions for transit passengers. However, when planning a transit through Georgia, keep in mind that some airlines may have established their own internal regulations. Check them out before your flight for a comfortable trip.
Visa requirements
no visa required
Citizens of about 90 countries around the world can visit Georgia without a visa for varying periods of time depending on their nationality. To cross the Georgian border, they only need to present a valid passport.
Citizens of all EU countries, Ukraine and Saudi Arabia are allowed to enter Georgia without a visa only with a valid national identity card. However, foreign residents of Saudi Arabia must have an original Iqama as well as a certified English translation of the Saudi Arabian residence identification card. These documents must be provided when checking in with the airline to board a flight to Georgia. Most nationalities that can enter Georgia without a visa enjoy a visa-free stay of up to one year. However, Uruguayan and Chilean citizens are allowed to stay in Georgia without a visa for up to 3 months.
Visa-free stay in Georgia for up to 30 days is also allowed in the case of members of the Georgian community who are citizens of visa-required countries, holders of diplomatic/official passports/ Egyptian civil servants, from Indonesia, China, Guyana, Iran and Peru, as well as those with refugee status in Georgia.
Additionally, holders of valid visas or residence permits from GCC/EFTA/EU countries, Canada, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, United States, Korea and their overseas territories EU countries, except Pitcairn, Anguilla, Saint Helena, Montserrat, Tristan da Cunha and Ascension do not require a visa to stay in Georgia for a maximum of 3 months within a 6-month period.
Regular visa
According to Georgia's visa policy, citizens of about 50 different countries around the world must apply for a visa from an embassy or consulate in Georgia, regardless of the expected length of their stay in the country. Depending on the purpose of travel, the Georgia embassy visa can be issued as a business visa, tourist visa, work visa, etc. The length of time a tourist can stay in Georgia depends on the specific reason for the trip as well as the nationality of the traveler.
To apply for a Georgia embassy visa, each applicant must make an appointment at the nearest Georgian embassy and prepare the necessary supporting documents. These documents may also vary depending on the type of visa requested. Applying for a regular visa must be started well before the planned trip to Georgia. Processing time can even take several weeks to receive visa approval.
The full list of countries requiring an embassy visa in Georgia includes:
- Aland Islands
- Algeria
- American Samoa
- Anguilla
- Antarctica
- Aruba
- Bermuda
- Bonaire
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Christmas Island
- Cocos Islands
- Cook Islands
- Curacao
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- French Guiana
- French Polynesia
- Gibraltar
- Greenland
- Guadeloupe
- Guam
- Guernsey
- Isle of Man
- Jersey
- Macedonia
- Martinique
- Mayotte
- Montserrat
- New Caledonia
- Niue
- Norfolk Island
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Pitcairn Islands
- Puerto Rico
- Reunion
- Saint Barthelemy
- Saint Helena
- Saint Martin
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Sint Maarten
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- Svalbard and Jan Mayen
- Tokelau
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- United States Virgin Islands
- Wallis and Futuna
Electronic Visa
In February 2015, the Georgian government introduced an electronic visa system to facilitate the visa application process for many international visitors. The Georgia eVisa is an electronic visa permit that allows tourists from eligible countries to enter Georgia for tourism or business purposes.
Visitors from about 100 different countries can now apply for an electronic visa to Georgia without leaving home. They simply complete a short and intuitive online application, pay the processing fee, and receive their approved visa in their email inbox.
There are two e-visa options for Georgia to choose from, depending on your nationality:
- Multiple entry visa valid for 3 months:
- allow more visits to Georgia; Each stay can last up to 30 days;
- Multiple entry visa valid for 6 months:
- allow more visits to Georgia; Each stay can last up to 3 months.
Entry to Abkhazia and South Ossetia
The regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia are disputed territories in the Caucasus. These territories are recognized by Georgia and a significant part of the international community as territories occupied by Russia. For these political reasons, there are certain travel restrictions on accessing these areas from the territory of Georgia.
Currently, entry into Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Georgia is prohibited because there are no official border controls. These areas can only be entered through border checkpoints located in the cities of Gori or Zugdidi.
Georgia Passenger Locator Form
Until recently, tourists from most countries arriving in Georgia had to fill out a registration form before departure. The form requires some basic personal and contact information as well as information about the traveler's nationality, country of residence, departure port, and accommodation address in Georgia.
Since the Georgian government has lifted all Covid-19 related restrictions, entry into Georgia is no longer necessary.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is a legal requirement to enter Georgia. Although Georgia is a relatively safe destination, there are still potential risks when traveling internationally. Travel insurance can help protect you from financial loss if something goes wrong during your trip. For example, if you have to cancel a trip due to illness or your trip is delayed, you can request a refund for non-refundable expenses. Additionally, the right insurance can cover medical emergencies including Covid-19 treatment costs, lost luggage, and other unforeseen incidents. If you are planning a trip to the mountains, purchasing insurance is also necessary. And in Georgia, it's especially important to have an insurance policy that covers the costs of mountain rescue operations. Indeed, there are no specialized mountain rescue services in Georgia and Georgian services have little ability to use helicopters in rescue operations.
