Terms of stay in Georgia: rules, documents, nuances

In this article, we will talk about who needs a visa when entering Georgia and who can stay in the country without worrying about the treasured sticker in the passport. Let us explain whether there are special requirements for a passport and what punishment threatens if you delay the period of stay. Also we will mention the latest changes in relation to the current situation in the world.

Do I need a visa to Georgia ?

No, a visa to enter Georgia is not needed for citizens of 98 countries

For a complete list of countries who need a visa to Georgia and how to get it, see here

How long can you stay in Georgia?

Citizens of most countries can stay in Georgia for a whole year without a visa. Russia and Belarus are also included in this list. However, on many thematic sites there is scattered information. For example, that Belarusians and Russians can stay in Georgia for no more than three months every six months. In practice, this is not true.

When you enter the country, border guards put a stamp in the passport. After 365 days you can permanently stay in the country, then cross the border and enter back again for a year without any worries. If you ride to other countries during the year, you don’t have to worry about this rule: the period of stay is reset to zero and starts again the next time you enter Georgia.

Are there any fines?

Yes. And this is especially true for citizens of those countries who need a Georgian visa. Citizens of a number of countries - for example, the Filipinos - must obtain an electronic visa for up to 90 days of stay before visiting Georgia. But what to do if, while staying in the country on an old visa, the Consulate refuses a new one?

Answer: you can safely stay in Georgia. Fines for an overdue permit are not so terrible: up to three months - 180 GEL ($65),over - 360 GEL ($130). You can overstay even 10 years and pay only 360 GEL.

The same applies to those for whom there is a visa-free regime with Georgia. Delayed departure from the country even for a day - already pay 180 GEL.

Moreover, you can pay both when leaving the country and on your next arrival. In the first case, it is important to keep the receipt of payment, as upon arrival it will be required by the customs service. In the second you need an extract on the fine, so that you can pay the fine immediately upon arrival.

Are there any special requirements for a passport?

Many websites contain information that the validity of a passport when entering Georgia should not exceed 10 years. In fact, this is not so. This rule is strictly observed in the EU countries, but only one thing is important for Georgia - that the document is valid. This is the answer from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.

Article about customs, import and export from Georgia

Visiting Georgia after Abkhazia?

If your passport was stamped at the Gantiadi-Adler checkpoint, Abkhazia, you won't be allowed or let's say better not to enter Georgia, since you are violating the law “On Occupied Territories” of October 23, 2008. It also applies if you are entering Georgia from South Ossetia after the checkpoint "Rock — Nizhny Zaramag". The best scenario in this case you, if the border guards notice the stamp, is the inability to enter or a fine of up to 5000 GEL. In the worst case, imprisonment of up to 5 years is possible.

If your passport has a stamp on entry into Abkhazia or South Ossetia from the territory of Russia, then it is better to change your passport before entering Georgia, and it is also not worth telling about it.

Are there any plans to introduce a visa regime with Russia and Belarus?

The Georgian government is not considering such changes in 2023. The authorities stressed that such decisions will harm the country's economy. Therefore they are not going to destroy Georgia's main source of income - tourism - with their own hands.

How to get documents for leaving and staying for Ukrainians?

Ukrainians who need to order a passport, a certificate for returning to Ukraine (“white passport”),must register in the electronic queue on https://georgia.mfa.gov.ua/ 

The cost of the “white passport” is 97 GEL. 

You can pay through the Bank of Georgia application or come to the office if you do not have a card from this bank.

Everyone who applies to the Embassy for free services (consultations, extension of stay, etc.) must come in a live queue. It is advisable to do this as early as possible, from 5-6 in the morning.

Ukrainian Embassy address: Tbilisi, Chavchavadze Avenue 76G

Phones: office +995322311161 , consular department +995322311454

You can find more useful numbers in Georgia here.