Georgia Visa Requirements: Do You Need a Short-Stay Visa?

Georgia, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, rewards visitors with the Caucasus mountains, ancient wine country, the Black Sea coast and the lively capital of Tbilisi. Before you travel, the first thing to settle is whether you need a visa — and Georgia has one of the most generous policies in the world. Citizens of around ninety-five countries can turn up and stay for up to a year. This guide explains who is visa-free, who needs an e-visa, the documents and the important new insurance rule, and how to stay fully compliant.

The short version: citizens of the European Union and European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and most post-Soviet and developed countries can enter visa-free and stay for up to 365 days per visit, with no registration and no paperwork. Many others can apply for a simple e-visa online. Since 1 January 2026, however, all visitors must hold travel health and accident insurance for their whole stay. Georgia is not in the European Union or the Schengen Area, so it runs its own system, and working needs a permit.

What is a Georgian short-stay visa?

For most visitors, there is no short-stay visa to obtain at all: Georgia grants visa-free entry to citizens of around ninety-five countries for up to 365 days per visit, which is far more generous than the 90 days offered by most countries. For nationals who are not on the visa-free list, Georgia issues an electronic visa (an ordinary Category C visa) through its official e-visa portal, and consular visas are available from Georgian missions. Because Georgia is outside the Schengen Area, this is not a Schengen visa; time spent in Georgia does not count against any Schengen allowance, and the European Union’s Entry/Exit System and ETIAS do not apply here.

One rule changed recently and applies to everyone. Since 1 January 2026, under a government decree, all foreign nationals entering Georgia must hold travel health-and-accident insurance valid for the duration of their stay, with a minimum coverage of 30,000 Georgian lari (around 11,000 US dollars). The policy must be in English or Georgian, and proof is checked at both land and air border crossings alongside your passport. A handful of categories, such as diplomats and air-transit passengers who do not clear passport control, are exempt. Carry your policy in digital or printed form and be ready to show it on arrival.

Who needs a visa for Georgia?

It depends on your nationality. Citizens of around ninety-five countries — including all European Union and European Economic Area states, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and most post-Soviet countries — are visa-free for up to 365 days per visit. Nationals of many other countries can apply for an e-visa online before travelling. There is also a useful rule for others: a visa is not required for up to 90 days if you hold a valid visa or residence permit from a European Economic Area state, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea or a Gulf Cooperation Council country. Anyone not covered needs a consular visa. Always confirm your own status with the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs before booking.

Types of short-stay visa

Most people need no visa. For those who do, the main options are the e-visa and the consular visa. The ordinary short-stay category (an e-visa Category C) is issued with a one-year validity and a maximum stay of 90 days per entry, and can be single- or multiple-entry. There are also separate categories for study, work or immigration that go beyond a short visit. Transit passengers passing through Georgia for up to a few days with onward documents, and staying within designated areas, generally do not need a visa.

How to apply

If you need a visa, the simplest route is the official Georgian e-visa portal: you complete the online application, upload your documents, pay the fee, and receive your e-visa by email, usually within a few days. Alternatively, you can apply at a Georgian embassy or consulate. Only the official government portal, evisa.gov.ge, should be used — third-party agencies charge far more for the same document. Print a copy of your e-visa confirmation and carry it alongside the version on your phone, as some border officers ask for the printout.

Documents you need

Whether you enter visa-free or with an e-visa, you should carry a passport valid for at least six months, proof of your travel health-and-accident insurance meeting the 30,000-lari minimum, proof of accommodation such as a hotel or an address, evidence of sufficient funds, and ideally a return or onward ticket. For an e-visa, you complete the online form and upload a passport scan and photo. Border officers may ask about your plans, funds, insurance and accommodation, so have the details to hand. Anything over 30,000 lari in cash or its equivalent must be declared.

Fees

Visa-free entry is completely free of charge. The e-visa carries a modest fee, paid online through the official portal, and consular visa fees are set by the Georgian authorities and depend on the visa category and number of entries. All fees are quoted in the local currency or its equivalent. Fees can change, so confirm the current amount on the official e-visa portal or with a Georgian mission before you apply. Remember that the mandatory insurance is a separate cost you arrange yourself before you travel.

Processing time

E-visa applications are typically processed within a few days, so apply well before your planned travel dates to allow a margin. Consular visas usually take around ten calendar days, and this can extend to 30 or, exceptionally, 60 days if a more detailed examination is needed. Visa-free visitors, of course, have nothing to process in advance beyond arranging their insurance and being ready to show it. A complete, accurate application is the best way to avoid delay.

Validity vs duration of stay

Georgia’s headline rule is unusually simple: visa-free visitors may stay for up to 365 days per visit, and the clock starts on the day you enter. When your year is up, you leave — even briefly — and re-enter to start a fresh period; there is no minimum time you must spend outside, so a short border run resets the allowance. For e-visa holders, the visa is valid for one year with a maximum stay of 90 days per entry. There is no registration requirement and no immigration check-in during your stay. Even so, set a reminder before your period ends, because overstaying carries penalties.

Staying longer than 365 days

If you want to settle for the long term, the proper route is a residence permit rather than repeated border runs. Note too that simply being in Georgia can make you a tax resident after 183 days in a year, and that a Georgian company may not employ you without a work permit. However, remote work for a foreign employer is fine. For genuine long-term living, a residence permit gives legal certainty. For that route, see our Georgia residence permit guide.

Overstaying — the consequences

Georgia imposes fines for overstaying, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand lari depending on how long you have overstayed, and repeat or serious cases can lead to removal and a ban on future entry, as well as a flag on your record that makes later applications harder. Because the visa-free period is so long and easy to reset with a quick exit, there is little reason to overstay — set a calendar reminder and do a border run if needed before your time is up.

For business travellers

For most nationalities, the visa-free entry that covers tourism also covers business visits — meetings, negotiations, conferences and short training — within the 365-day allowance. What it does not cover is paid employment by a Georgian company, which needs a work permit, or setting up as an individual entrepreneur without registering and filing returns. Georgia is a popular base for remote workers and entrepreneurs thanks to its low taxes and reliable internet. Still, the line between a business visit and local employment matters, so plan accordingly.

Entering Georgia overland (for drivers)

Georgia borders Russia, Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, and the same entry rules—including mandatory insurance, which is checked at land crossings—apply by road as by air. The main crossings are Sarpi from Turkey on the Black Sea coast, Sadakhlo and Bagratashen on the Tbilisi–Yerevan route with Armenia, and the Red Bridge on the Tbilisi–Baku route with Azerbaijan; the Dariali Gorge crossing at Upper Lars is the only legal border with Russia and a complex political situation shapes its use. Crucially, the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia are off-limits — travel there is dangerous, and entering them from Russia is illegal under Georgian law. Drivers should carry vehicle registration, insurance valid for the journey, and a valid licence, and declare cash over 30,000 lari. Driving work needs a permit.

Common reasons for refusal

E-visa refusals are uncommon for standard tourist applications, but they can happen with incomplete or inconsistent documents, an invalid or soon-expiring passport, unclear purpose of travel, or a poor immigration history; if refused, the advice is to contact a Georgian embassy or consulate, which can sometimes issue a consular visa. At the border itself, officers may deny entry at their discretion if you cannot show valid insurance, sufficient funds, accommodation or a clear purpose. Carrying proof of insurance, a return ticket, and an address is the best way to ensure a smooth entry.

For professional drivers in Georgia

If your goal is to work as a driver in Georgia, visa-free entry is not the route — you need a job, a work permit and, for the long term, a residence permit. Start here:

• Browse driver vacancies in Georgia
• Register a driver profile
• For employers

Entering Georgia by region

Wherever you arrive, the same entry rules apply — but each region has its own entry points and draws. Here is a quick orientation for visitors.

Tbilisi

The capital and main gateway, home to Tbilisi International Airport, sulphur baths, the old town and a thriving food and wine scene. Most visitors arrive here. Driver jobs in Tbilisi.

Adjara

The subtropical Black Sea region around Batumi, with its own international airport and the Sarpi crossing into Turkey. Driver jobs in Adjara.

Imereti

A central region around Kutaisi, the second city, with its own airport, the Prometheus cave and the Gelati monastery. Driver jobs in Imereti.

Kvemo Kartli

A southern region around Rustavi, with the Red Bridge crossing into Azerbaijan and the ancient David Gareja monasteries. Driver jobs in Kvemo Kartli.

Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti

A north-western region from Zugdidi up to the mountain towers of Mestia and Ushguli in Upper Svaneti. Driver jobs in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti.

Kakheti

Georgia’s eastern wine country of Telavi and Sighnaghi, with the Lagodekhi crossing into Azerbaijan. Driver jobs in Kakheti.

Shida Kartli

A central region around Gori and the cave town of Uplistsikhe, bordering the occupied South Ossetia. Driver jobs in Shida Kartli.

Mtskheta-Mtianeti

Home to the ancient capital Mtskheta, the Gergeti church at Kazbegi, and the Dariali crossing into Russia. Driver jobs in Mtskheta-Mtianeti.

Samtskhe-Javakheti

A southern highland region of the Rabati fortress at Akhaltsikhe and the Vardzia cave city, near the Armenian and Turkish borders. Driver jobs in Samtskhe-Javakheti.

Guria

A small western region of tea plantations and the Black Sea coast around Ozurgeti. Driver jobs in Guria.

Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti

A remote, mountainous north-western region of alpine valleys and villages around Oni and Ambrolauri. Driver jobs in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti.

Related guides

• Short-stay visas in Europe
• Georgia residence permit
• Health insurance in Georgia
• Georgian citizenship

Official sources

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia — visa policy and diplomatic missions.
• Georgia e-Visa Portal — official electronic visa applications.
• Ministry of Internal Affairs — border police and entry.
• Georgian National Tourism Administration — official travel information.

Information only — not legal or immigration advice. Visa rules, fees and insurance requirements can change. Always confirm your nationality’s current requirements with the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the official e-visa portal before you travel, and carry valid insurance.