Visa policy of Georgia

Georgia entry (right) and exit (left) stamps on a Singapore passport

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 a Turkish or EU citizen) valid for the period of intended stay, while Georgian citizens can enter with a valid or expired passport or identity card [1].

Visa policy map

Visa policy of Georgia

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 countries and territories may visit Georgia without a visa for a year (unless otherwise noted):[6][7][8]

1 — may enter using ID card.[12]
2 — applies 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:[13]

  • 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 or the United States - for stays of max 90 days in a 180-day period.[14] 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 and Pakistan.[15][16]

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.[17] An agreement with Serbia on mutual visa-free visits for holders of ordinary passports was signed in March 2018 and is yet to be ratified.[18]

Agreement on visa-free travel by ID-cards was signed with  Ukraine but it is not yet ratified.[19]

Holders of  Taiwan passports are refused entry and transit. [20]

e-Visa

Holders of passports of the following 66 countries and territories can obtain multiple-entry e-Visas online for a fee prior to arrival. [21]

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):[22][23]

Country 2017 2016 2015 2014
 Armenia Increase 1,718,016 Increase 1,496,246 Increase 1,468,8881,325,635
 Azerbaijan Increase 1,694,998 Increase 1,523,075 Increase 1,393,2571,283,214
 Russia Increase 1,392,610 Increase 1,037,564 Increase 926,144811,621
 Turkey Decrease 1,246,745 Decrease 1,254,089 Decrease 1,391,7211,442,695
 Iran Increase 322,938 Increase 147,915 Decrease 25,27347,929
 Ukraine Increase 193,002 Increase 172,631 Decrease 141,734143,521
 Israel Increase 125,319 Increase 92,213 Increase 59,48742,385
 India Increase 59,732Increase 36,410Increase 12,1144,679
 Saudi Arabia Increase 56,247Increase 21,257Increase 9,8505,485
 Kazakhstan Increase 56,765 Increase 48,809 Increase 36,77728,394
Total Increase 7,554,936 Increase 6,360,503 Increase 5,901,0945,515,559

See also

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ Georgia, Civil. "Civil.Ge - Georgia Restores One-Year Visa-Free Rules". www.civil.ge.
  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. ↑ "Country information (visa section)". Timatic. International Air Transport Association (IATA) through Olympic Air. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  9. ↑ https://www.geoconsul.gov.ge/HtmlPage/Html/View?id=25&lang=Eng
  10. ↑
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ "GeoConsul.Gov.Ge - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia". www.geoconsul.gov.ge.
  13. ↑ "GeoConsul.Gov.Ge - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia". www.geoconsul.gov.ge.
  14. ↑ "იმ ქვეყნების ჩამონათვალის დამტკიცების შესახებ, რომელთა ვიზების ან/და ბინადრობის ნებართვების მქონე უცხოელებს შეუძლიათ საქართველოში უვიზოდ შემოსვლა შესაბამისი ვადითა და პირობებით". matsne.gov.ge.
  15. ↑ Reporter, Faisal Masudi, Staff (24 December 2015). "Holiday makers turned back from Georgia -- $3,250 worth of holiday expenses wasted". gulfnews.com.
  16. ↑ http://www.eatpraytour.com/gcc-residents-read-before-travel-georgia/
  17. ↑ "Georgia-Paraguay launch visa-free travel for diplomats, businessmen". agenda.ge.
  18. ↑ "Serbia, Georgia sign visa liberalization agreement - Xinhua - English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com.
  19. ↑ https://golos.ua/i/640154
  20. ↑ Visa, Bureau of Consular Affairs of Taiwan.
  21. ↑ "Georgia e-VISA Portal". www.evisa.gov.ge.
  22. ↑
  23. ↑
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