Do I Need a Visa for Georgia? Entry Regulations

Citizens of the EU, the US, Israel, Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia and Belarus do not need a visa for Georgia and can stay as tourists for up to 365 days. Since 1 January 2026 every visitor also needs medical insurance for the whole trip. Below: length of stay, documents, customs and the rules for Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region.

Who enters without a visa, and for how long

The list above follows Georgian Government Resolution No. 255, as of 2026. The 365 days count from the date of entry. Leaving and entering again starts the count anew, but a border officer may refuse entry without giving a reason.

For other passports, including the UK, Canada and Australia, the visa-free period may differ or a visa may be needed: check the rule for your passport on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia before you book flights.

Documents for the border

• a valid passport;
• an insurance policy for the whole stay, on paper or on your phone;
• a return ticket, a hotel booking and some cash - rarely asked for, but worth having.

Sources disagree on how long the passport must stay valid after entry, so we suggest at least 6 months. It helps to book your stay in advance: see where to stay in Batumi.

Mandatory insurance from 2026

Insurance was introduced by Georgian Government Resolution No. 602. The rules are the same for every country: cover of at least 30,000 GEL (Georgian lari) for treatment and accidents, valid for the whole stay, with the policy in English or Georgian. The patrol police may check it at border crossings. There are no age exemptions: children need a policy too.

Travel insurance costs from 2.7 GEL a day. You can buy a policy from the Georgian insurer Polis.ge, which pays claims inside the country. Based on our information for November 2026, the fine for having no valid policy is 300 GEL. What the policy must cover - in our guide to travel insurance for Georgia.

What you can bring in and take out

Cash, cheques and securities worth more than 30,000 GEL or the equivalent in another currency must be declared both on entry and on exit. According to the Georgian Revenue Service, the duty-free allowance is 1 litre of spirits or 2 litres of drinks under 22 % and 200 cigarettes, from age 18; check the limits before you travel.

Medicines with codeine, tramadol, pregabalin and other controlled substances are allowed only as a 31-day supply, with a prescription and a doctor's letter in English. The Revenue Service sets no limit on taking wine or chacha out of Georgia: the customs rules of your destination country apply.

Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region

Under Georgian law, foreigners may enter Abkhazia only from the Zugdidi side and the Tskhinvali region only from the Gori side. Entering from Russia breaks Georgian law and leads to criminal liability. Based on our information, people who visited these territories bypassing Georgian checkpoints are refused entry to Georgia. Your own government's travel advice for these areas may be stricter.

Planning a route around the country? See our tips on transport, mobile internet and stays in Georgia.

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