Visa policy of Georgia

Visitors to Georgia must obtain a visa from Georgian diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or one of the countries whose citizens can obtain an e-Visa. Visitors must hold a passport (or identity card if an EU, Swiss, Turkish or Ukrainian citizen) valid for the period of intended stay, while Georgian citizens can enter with a valid or expired passport or identity card.[1]

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Visa policy map

Visa policy

Georgia adopted a new law of on Legal Status of Alien and Stateless Persons that went into effect on 1 September 2014. It was amended on 9 June 2015 when the maximum allowed stay was extended to one year.[2][3] The list of countries whose citizens have the right of visa-free entry to Georgia is no longer provided in the new law, it is determined in the separate ordinance of the Government of Georgia.[4] The visa-free list was re-approved on 9 June 2015. Countries that were removed in September 2014, which are Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Guatemala, Iraq, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago, were not reinstated on the list.[5]

Nationals of the following 94 countries and territories may visit Georgia without a visa for a year (unless otherwise noted):[6][7][8][9]
  1. may enter with an ID card.[10]
  2. foreign residents of Saudi Arabia are required to provide Original Iqama along with Certified English Translations of their Saudi Resident ID Cards at airline check-in counters for boarding, otherwise boarding will be refused.
  3. may enter with an ID card if arriving directly from Ukraine.
  4. Applies also to holders of passports issued by Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar and Turks and Caicos Islands.

Visa exemption also applies to:[14]

  • Georgian diaspora members who are citizens of countries that otherwise require a visa – for stays not exceeding 30 days
  • United Nations laissez-passer holders for one year
  • Persons with refugee status in Georgia
  • Holders of diplomatic or official/service passports of China, Egypt, Guyana, Indonesia, Iran and Peru.
  • Holders of valid visas or residence permits of EU/EFTA/GCC countries, overseas territories of EU countries (except Anguilla, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha), Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, United Kingdom, or the United States - for stays of max 90 days in a 180-day period.[15][16] However, there have been many cases where those holding valid residency of GCC countries have been denied access without assigning any reason, especially if they are citizens of India, Pakistan and Palestine.[17][18]

An agreement with Paraguay on mutual visa-free visits for holders of diplomatic and service passports was signed in September 2016 and is yet to be ratified.[19] Agreement with and Fiji on mutual visa-free visits for holders of ordinary passports were signed in March 2018 and March 2019 and are yet to be ratified [20]

Holders of  Kosovo,  Palestine and  Taiwan passports are refused entry and transit (visas can still be obtained on a case-by-case basis for Taiwanese passport holders, including for participation in international conferences and sports events held in Georgia.)[21]

Visa

Holders of passports of the following 66 countries and territories need a visa. Alternatively, for certain countries, it is possible to enter Georgia with the visa for one of the visa-free countries. Prior to the pandemic, it was possible get multiple-entry e-Visas online for a fee prior to arrival.[22] This program is currently suspended.

The e-Visa program has resumed.

90 days per 180-day period

30 days per 120-day period

Entry to Abkhazia and South Ossetia

Entering Abkhazia and South Ossetia (considered by Georgia and a major part of the international community to be Russian occupied territories) through border crossing points other than located in Georgia's Zugdidi Municipality and Gori Municipality is an act punishable under Georgian law. However, entering South Ossetia from Georgian government controlled territory is currently impossible.

Visitor statistics

Most visitors arriving to Georgia were from the following countries of nationality (dynamic table including 2014):[23]

Country 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
 Turkey 335580 1156513 1312129 1247082 1254089 1391721 1442695
 Azerbaijan 295132 1526619 1807068 1695084 1523075 1393257 1283214
 Armenia 260965 1365048 1725163 1718243 1496246 1468888 1325635
 Russia 208677 1471558 1705142 1392842 1037564 926144 811621
 EU-27 65117 447518 355755 260920 214002 197427 186879
 Ukraine 42414 207667 204952 193127 172631 141734 143521
 Israel 25731 205051 173366 125320 92213 59487 42385
 Iran 17053 141997 339462 322898 147915 25273 47929
 Kazakhstan 13779 103611 68452 56801 48809 36777 28394
 Belarus 13340 66174 68360 32939 42149 25724 16577
 Poland 10691 88300 71668 48913 41609 39309 44415
 Germany 9338 89051 74131 43090 33469 30481 27073
 India 8364 54606 73458 59738 36410 12114 4679
 USA 7384 46558 41863 33569 27304 24978 22545
 UK 5625 37478 29406 22392 15470 16142 15732
 Saudi Arabia 4960 75155 65560 56247 21257 9850 5485
 China 4363 48071 31855 18179 10847 6849 5919
Total 1747110 9357964 8326252 7556339 6360503 5901094 5515559

See also
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Georgia.
  • Visa policy of South Ossetia
  • Visa policy of Abkhazia
  • Visa requirements for Georgian citizens

References
  1. https://www.timaticweb.com/cgi-bin/tim_website_client.cgi?FullText=1&COUNTRY=GE&SECTION=PA&SUBSECTION=VA&user=OLYMPIC&subuser=OLYMPICB2C
  2. "Civil.Ge - Georgia Restores One-Year Visa-Free Rules". www.civil.ge. Archived from the original on 8 August 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  3. "Georgia: New Visa Regulations". www.gov.uk.
  4. "Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons – 100 Questions Regarding the New Law (March, 2014)" (PDF). mfa.gov.ge. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  5. "Check if you can enter Georgia and stay for a year visa-free". agenda.ge.
  6. "იმ ქვეყნების ჩამონათვალის დამტკიცების შესახებ, რომელთა მოქალაქეებსაც შეუძლიათ საქართველოში უვიზოდ შემოსვლა". matsne.gov.ge.
  7. Citizens and stateless persons permanently residing in the countries listed below may enter Georgia without a visa for short-term visit
  8. "Visa and health information". Timatic. International Air Transport Association through Gulf Air. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  9. On Approval of the List of Countries, Whose Visa and/or Residence Permit Holders May Enter Georgia without a Visa for an Appropriate Period and under Appropriate Conditions
  10. "GeoConsul.Gov.Ge - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia". www.geoconsul.gov.ge.
  11. "Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia". GeoConsul.Gov.Ge. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  12. "საქართველოს საგარეო საქმეთა სამინისტრო - Home". Mfa.gov.ge. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  13. https://www.timaticweb.com/cgi-bin/tim_website_client.cgi?FullText=1&COUNTRY=ge&SECTION=pa&SUBSECTION=pt&user=KLMB2C&subuser=KLMB2C
  14. "GeoConsul.Gov.Ge - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia". www.geoconsul.gov.ge.
  15. "იმ ქვეყნების ჩამონათვალის დამტკიცების შესახებ, რომელთა ვიზების ან/და ბინადრობის ნებართვების მქონე უცხოელებს შეუძლიათ საქართველოში უვიზოდ შემოსვლა შესაბამისი ვადითა და პირობებით". matsne.gov.ge.
  16. "List of Countries, Whose Visa and/or Residence Permit Holders May Enter Georgia without a Visa for an Appropriate Period and under Appropriate Conditions". geoconsul.gov.ge.
  17. Reporter, Faisal Masudi, Staff (24 December 2015). "Holiday makers turned back from Georgia -- $3,250 worth of holiday expenses wasted". gulfnews.com.
  18. http://www.eatpraytour.com/gcc-residents-read-before-travel-georgia/
  19. "Georgia-Paraguay launch visa-free travel for diplomats, businessmen". agenda.ge.
  20. "Georgia and Fiji Sign a Visa-Free Travel Agreement".
  21. Visa, Bureau of Consular Affairs of Taiwan.
  22. "Georgia e-VISA Portal". www.evisa.gov.ge.
  23. Inbound Tourism
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