Georgia operates one of the most liberal visa policies globally, granting visa-free access to citizens of 98 countries and territories as of 2024. Citizens of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, European Union member states, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Israel, and most Latin American countries may enter Georgia without a visa for stays up to one year from the date of each entry. This policy was expanded significantly in 2015 under the "Georgia's Doors are Open" initiative and has remained among the most permissive in the region. Citizens of the Russian Federation also receive visa-free access for stays up to 90 days within any 180-day period despite political tensions between the two countries. The full list of eligible nationalities appears on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia at www.mfa.gov.ge, which should be consulted directly as it updates periodically.
Citizens of countries not on the visa-exempt list may apply for an electronic visa through www.evisa.gov.ge, a system operational since 2015. The e-visa costs 20 USD for short stays up to 30 days and 100 USD for long stays up to 90 days. Processing typically takes five business days, though applications may be submitted up to 120 days before intended travel. Applicants upload a passport-style photograph and a scanned copy of their passport's biographical page. Approval arrives as a PDF attached to an email, which must be printed and presented alongside the passport at the Georgian border. Nationals of approximately 50 countries including China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and most African nations are eligible for e-visas. The system does not require an invitation letter or proof of accommodation for tourist purposes.
Entry to Georgia occurs through seven international checkpoints: Tbilisi International Airport, Batumi International Airport, Kutaisi International Airport, and four land border crossings at Sarpi (from Turkey), Red Bridge/Tsiteli Khidi (from Azerbaijan), Ninotsminda and Vale (both from Armenia). The Russian land border crossings at Kazbegi/Upper Lars and Zemo Larsi are technically open, but travelers entering Georgia from Russia through these points may face scrutiny if they plan to visit the disputed territories of Abkhazia or South Ossetia, which Georgia considers occupied and where entry from the Russian side is illegal under Georgian law. Entry through the Black Sea port of Batumi is possible for cruise passengers and private vessels but requires advance customs notification.
Border officials stamp passports on entry and exit. This stamp must appear for the one-year visa-free period to be valid; without it, travelers are considered to have overstayed after 90 days. Occasionally, officials at Tbilisi International Airport fail to stamp passports during automated e-gate processing, and travelers must specifically request a stamp at a manned booth. Overstaying the permitted duration results in fines of approximately 200 GEL (around 70 USD as of 2024) and potential entry bans. Extensions of stay beyond the initial visa-free period are not granted by standard procedure; travelers must exit and re-enter to reset the clock.
Georgian law prohibits entry to the territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia from any direction other than the rest of Georgia through government-controlled checkpoints, which do not currently exist as these regions are controlled by de facto authorities backed by Russia. Travelers who enter Abkhazia from Russia through the Psou River crossing or South Ossetia from Russia's North Ossetia region face criminal charges under Georgian law for illegal border crossing, punishable by imprisonment of four to six years. Dozens of foreign nationals have been detained or banned from Georgia for violating this statute. The Georgian government considers these territories occupied under international law and monitors entry through flight manifests, social media posts, and passport stamps. Any evidence of having entered these territories from Russia may result in arrest at a Georgian checkpoint or denial of entry on subsequent visits.
Unaccompanied minors under 18 traveling without both parents require notarized parental consent in Georgian, English, or Russian. This document must name the traveling parent or guardian and specify travel dates. Birth certificates proving relationship may be requested. Georgia is not party to the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, so documents from many countries require full consular legalization rather than apostille certification. The Ministry of Justice website at www.justice.gov.ge provides notary locations in Tbilisi where foreign-language documents can be translated and notarized, a process taking one to three business days.
Customs regulations permit duty-free import of 400 cigarettes, four liters of wine, and three liters of spirits per adult. Georgia has no currency import or export limits, but amounts exceeding 30,000 GEL (approximately 10,600 USD) or foreign currency equivalent must be declared in writing. Prescription medications require accompanying prescriptions or medical documentation in English or Georgian. The Revenue Service of Georgia website at rs.ge lists prohibited items including narcotics, certain psychotropic substances, weapons without permits, and drones weighing over 250 grams without advance approval from the Civil Aviation Agency. Import of meat and dairy products from countries with recent disease outbreaks may be restricted; African swine fever restrictions applied to pork products from multiple European countries in 2023.
Registration of stay applies to all foreign nationals remaining in Georgia longer than 60 consecutive days in any 180-day period. Registration occurs at the Public Service Hall (service.gov.ge) in the traveler's city of residence and costs 60 GEL. Hotels automatically register guests staying more than 60 days, but apartment renters and private accommodation users must register independently. Failure to register results in fines of 400 GEL and potential deportation. The 60-day clock resets only after exiting and re-entering Georgia, not by internal movement. Long-term residents often cross to Armenia or Turkey for a day specifically to reset this requirement.
Georgia permits dual nationality for citizens of 51 specified countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Israel, but dual citizenship is restricted for nationals of most neighboring countries. Foreign nationals may apply for residence permits through the Public Service Hall for purposes including employment, studies, entrepreneurship, or family reunification. Temporary residence permits cost 400 GEL per year and require proof of health insurance, criminal background checks from the applicant's home country apostilled or legalized, and financial means or employment contracts. Permanent residence becomes available after six years of continuous temporary residence or five years of residence if married to a Georgian citizen. Residence permit holders may exit and re-enter Georgia freely but must maintain continuous residence with absences not exceeding 180 cumulative days per year. The language exam occurs at the Center for Language and Cultural Integration and includes written and oral components. Applicants must demonstrate legal income and lack of criminal convictions in Georgia or abroad. Spouses of Georgian citizens may apply for citizenship after five years of marriage and two years of residence in Georgia. Citizenship processing takes approximately one year from application to oath ceremony. The oath must be taken in Georgian before a representative of the Ministry of Justice.
Georgia signed a visa waiver agreement with the Schengen Area in 2017, allowing Georgian biometric passport holders visa-free travel to Schengen states for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This reciprocal arrangement increased diplomatic pressure on Georgia to maintain open visa policies. The country also participates in the European Union's Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area since 2014, which includes customs harmonization measures affecting import procedures for European goods. These agreements do not grant Georgians work rights in the EU or vice versa; employment requires separate work authorization.
Travelers arriving by air to Tbilisi International Airport find immigration counters operating 24 hours with typical processing times under 10 minutes for visa-exempt nationals during off-peak hours. Peak arrival times between 2:00 and 5:00 AM when multiple European flights land may create queues of 30 to 45 minutes. The airport has 12 immigration counters but often staffs only four to six during late-night hours. No visa-on-arrival option exists; travelers from countries requiring visas who appear without e-visas face immediate deportation on the next available flight at their expense. Airlines verify visa requirements before boarding, so such cases are rare.