Hospitable, colorful Georgia seems to be created for receiving guests. Tourists from neighboring and distant countries are increasingly choosing it, where for affordable money they can relax on the Black Sea beaches, drink healing mineral water, enjoy authentic Georgian cuisine, delicious wines, and the unique male polyphony. The country is as loyal as possible in terms of visa regime to citizens of different countries. But due to frequently changing legislation, tourists have many questions that we will try to consider.
Do you need a visa to Georgia for CIS countries?
According to the 2015 law, to Russians and citizens of 94 other countries, including Ukrainians, Belarusians, Armenians, Moldovans, and Azerbaijanis. The government's unilateral initiative gave a serious impetus to the economic development of the region. Tourists from both near and far abroad poured here in an endless stream, and the number of people wishing to purchase real estate increased sharply.
The country has learned to make money from tourism, and invest the money received in infrastructure and providing European services. Ordinary Georgians left the solution to political problems to specially trained people, and they themselves cordially opened the doors of their homes to citizens of the Russian Federation and guests from all over the world.
When crossing the border, border guards are also respectful, tactful and act within the limits of their authority.
What documents will be needed
It all depends on the agreements between countries:
- Citizens of the Russian Federation need a passport with two blank pages, valid at the time of crossing the border. Previous more stringent rules have been simplified.
- For Belarusians, the foreign passport is integrated with the general civil one.
- From March 1, 2021, Ukrainians can enter using internal ID cards with contactless electronic media.
As for a medical policy, it is better to buy it so that if the need arises, you will not have to pay for medical services.
How to extend your stay in Georgia
You can stay in the country for a full calendar year. If the allotted time has expired, to “reset” your protracted visit, you can go shopping, for example, to Turkey or return home, so that you can continue living, working, studying and solving business problems in hospitable Georgia.
Here it is incredibly easy for foreigners to open their own business. To do this, it is enough to obtain state registration, which they are required to issue in 3 days. The procedure for registering an LLC is often completed within 24 hours. A person comes to the House of Justice, provides his international passport, speaks of his intention to create a company, voices its name, pays 100 lari (about 40 dollars) and becomes the director of the new company. The tax office issues a TIN in 15 minutes. Nobody takes bribes: neither firefighters, nor tax officials, nor the sanitary inspectorate. The country strongly supports small and medium-sized businesses. Every year its investment attractiveness becomes higher. Therefore, today Georgia is the leader among the former USSR republics in terms of economic freedoms and ranks 9th in ease of doing business.
The period of stay can be extended for another 360 days after paying a service fee (100 GEL) to the Civil Registry Agency, filling out a form and providing two color photographs (3x4). The procedure does not take long. If desired, you can also apply for a special visa, such as a study, work or residence permit. If foreigners comply with the civil laws of the territory of their stay, all issues are resolved quickly and without any trouble.
Crossing the border for citizens of the Russian Federation
For citizens of the Russian Federation who wish to visit Georgia in 2021 for the purpose of tourist acquaintance with this country, permission to stay there can be issued at the border.
Map of Georgia showing districts and border states
That is, Russians should not worry in advance about obtaining a visa document. Today, the visa-free entry period that is relevant for citizens of the Russian Federation is ninety calendar days. If a Russian citizen needs a longer stay in Georgia, he will have to take care of obtaining the appropriate permit. If the issue is resolved positively, then the Russian citizen will be allowed to stay in Georgia for another 360 days.
Russians are allowed to cross the border with Georgia even if this state is a transit point. In this case, the Russian has the right to stay in Georgia for no more than 72 hours.
Preparation of documents for obtaining a long-term visa
Of course, for those citizens of the Russian Federation who plan to travel around Georgia to get acquainted with its natural and historical attractions, 90 visa-free days may be more than enough.
Sample of a Georgian visa for a trip to the country for more than 90 days
That is, Russians arriving in Georgia solely for tourism purposes will not require any additional documents. Only a foreign passport with the correct validity period will be a pass to Georgian attractions and cuisine.
But if the trip requires a longer stay on the territory of Georgia, then you will still need to prepare up-to-date documents. So, to obtain permission for a longer stay in Georgia, you need to collect and submit the following documents:
- application form (there is no need to download the form in advance, since the form can be filled out during the submission of the main package of current certificates);
- a certificate indicating that all payments have been made;
- 2 high-quality photographs (you can also take photographs on site, before submitting documents).
Having a complete list of these certificates in hand, one can hope that the Georgian authorities will allow you to stay in the country for a longer time. If you have any additional questions, you should contact the Georgian Embassy.
Trip to Georgia with children
If a Russian is planning a 2021 trip to Georgia with children, then no additional movements are required. The criteria for visiting Georgia for persons under eighteen years of age are similar to the requirements for adult travelers.
A minor must have a foreign passport. If the child does not yet have this document, then it should be included in the passport of one of the parents.
Additional travel documents, including permission from the father or mother of the child, are not required. However, when passing Russian border control, it is necessary to present consent from the parents for departure when traveling alone or accompanied by a third party.
It is important to note that Georgia offers many delightful opportunities for family vacations. There is something to see here for children, teenagers, and young adults.
Underwater rocks
Citizens of the Russian Federation usually do not encounter any serious pitfalls when visiting Georgia.
Some difficulties may arise if incorrect information about yourself has been provided. There is also a risk of running into trouble when trying to smuggle jewelry or weapons not specified in the declaration.
Otherwise, bureaucratic delays are not as scary as they are said to be. Even if a busy Russian suddenly exceeds the limit of stay on Georgian territory for ten days, no sanctions will be applied to him.
But if a person plans to make a long rendezvous in the Caucasus, he needs to plan his route with special care. The fact that Abkhazia and South Ossetia in 2021 continue to be, according to the Georgian authorities, “temporarily occupied republics,” should never be forgotten. If you want to visit there, then you first need to visit Georgia.
Otherwise, a Russian citizen faces serious trouble. In the worst case scenario, the unlucky tourist could be deported or even arrested.
In this case, he becomes “persona non grata” on the territory of not only Georgia, but also other states. Of course, if this fact can be proven, which is practically impossible, because you can enter Abkhazia with a Russian passport, and it is not necessary to receive various stamps in your international passport.
On June 21, 2021, the President of the Russian Federation signed a Decree banning air traffic with Georgia. The document will come into force on July 8, 2019. The ban applies to all Russian airlines that previously operated direct flights to Georgia.
Money issue
It is no secret that the standard of living in Georgia cannot be called high. This is due to almost mass unemployment. People are simply forced to survive in their home country. Of course, this issue is being gradually resolved, but it is impossible to immediately provide jobs for seventy percent of the population.
Therefore, the issue of self-employment continues to remain relevant in the country in 2021. Residents of Georgia living in rural areas and provinces offer their goods for sale. This fact, given the difficult economic situation, worries Russian tourists, who have heard that Georgia has a so-called double pricing policy.
Of course, with the onset of the tourist season, local entrepreneurs slightly increase prices. But this does not mean that you need to be a Rockefeller to visit Georgia in 2021.
Cost of food in Georgia
On average, prices here are even lower than in Russia. And it’s best to stay in the private sector to save money. When crossing the border, tourists are only required to pay the so-called entry tax, the amount of which is no more than fifty lari or 30 US dollars.
A multiple-entry permit, relevant for those who plan to visit Georgia more than once, costs sixty lari. The cost of transit entry does not exceed 10 GEL. If a tourist requires a multiple-entry visa document of a transit nature, then he will have to fork out 20 lari.
The cost of the registration fee, which you will have to pay if you want to stay for a long time in the territory of this state, is no more than 100 lari. This is equivalent to 100 US dollars. Payment of the fee occurs directly “at customs”, where the branch of the desired bank is located.
Modern Georgian customs
When paying the fee, you must take into account the commission, which in 2021 is no more than one and a half lari.
To Georgia after Abkhazia
Entry without border control, including from territories temporarily not subject to Georgian jurisdiction, is a violation of the law. The first time you will have to pay a fine of 400 lari, the second time up to 800. In aggravating circumstances, imprisonment for a term of 3-5 years is possible.
The logic of the actions of the Georgian side is as follows:
- Abkhazia and South Ossetia are Georgia.
- When crossing the state border, the passport should not have a stamp from the Adler checkpoint, that is, “occupied territories,” but from Georgia.
- If it is not there, it means that the border was crossed illegally, the laws of the country were violated, for which various sanctions are provided, ranging from a fine, sending back to arrest and imprisonment.
- This passport will have to be changed. The idea of erasing the stamp will not lead to anything good, but, on the contrary, even more serious problems will arise related to damage to documents.
Russians most often do the following: they travel to Abkhazia using a regular internal passport, and to Georgia using a foreign passport, in order to save themselves from unnecessary problems.
Passage through the Ingur checkpoint is theoretically possible, but practically impossible due to the need to present a large number of permits from the Foreign Ministries of both countries, print them out and demonstrate them at the checkpoint. Your passport will not be stamped because according to the law you did not leave Georgia. You need to return again through this checkpoint. If a tourist flies from Adler, for example, to Moscow, then in a month he will find himself in the category of “criminals” and if he tries to visit Georgia with this passport, he may end up in prison.
Belarusians have no choice but to ask border guards not to make any notes in their passports when visiting South Ossetia and Abkhazia, otherwise they will never get here again.
If unlucky Russian travelers find themselves in the hands of the local Themis, then they are rescued by employees of the corresponding section at the Swiss embassy.
Legal exit from the Russian Federation and back is possible only through the Verkhniy Lars checkpoint. In the summer, however, when it is high season, you have to wait for some time for the check procedure and border crossing. The same can happen in winter, when the risk of avalanches is high.
Customs clearance rules
Transportation Features
The Georgian authorities do not restrict the import of currency into the territory of their country
Georgia has its own certain rules when crossing the border, like any other country, protecting the safety of its citizens.
It is unacceptable to carry drugs, weapons, ammunition, or any items that could affect the overthrow of the state system in the country.
The Georgian authorities do not restrict the import of currency into the territory of their country.
Restrictions are imposed on the transportation of national currency. In 2017, the maximum amount was 25,000 lari. If a citizen plans to import a large amount of money, he must draw up a declaration.
Jewelry is subject to mandatory declaration. The document will need to be kept until the end of the trip.
The issue of importing necessary medications must be clarified in advance. If it is necessary to carry medications that are classified as prohibited, the citizen will need to provide a doctor’s certificate. In this case, the import ban will be lifted.
Entry procedure
At the border checkpoint between Georgia and Russia, tourists need to fill out a form and pay a fee, which is 50 lari. If Georgia is a transit country for a citizen and he will stay there for no more than 72 hours, then the cost of the fee will be 10 GEL.
For travelers by car, you must present the following when going through customs control:
- Technical passport for the vehicle.
- Driver's license. It can be either Russian or international. The most important thing is that the data is written in Latin letters.
- If a driver crosses the border in someone else's car, he must provide a power of attorney. The power of attorney must contain permission to export the car abroad. The document must be certified by a notary.
You can get to Georgia with your own car only from Vladikavkaz. The road through Abkhazia and South Ossetia is closed. This is due to military conflicts.
How to travel with a child
Children under 14 years of age must be included in the adult passport, with the obligatory inclusion of a photograph with a stamp from the relevant service. A birth certificate (original) can confirm the relationship, especially if the baby travels abroad or has a different surname. If the parents have a biometric passport, a separate document is issued for the little tourist.
Since 2015, the permission of the second parent to take the child out is no longer required. Exceptions are cases where one of the spouses imposes a ban on this action. In such situations, the court decides on its annulment or it is necessary to seek the written consent of a second adult.
How long can you stay in Georgia by car?
The country is distinguished by a compact location of attractions, so traveling by your own car allows you to better see all its picturesque landscapes, and, if desired, make stops in any place you like. A car with foreign license plates can travel through Georgian territory for 90 days when crossing the water border (ferry) and 60 land borders (upper lars). This is indicated on the sticker that is attached to the passport. If the owner of the vehicle (vehicle) is a citizen of Georgia, then the period is 60 days.
Afterwards, the car must leave the country or customs procedures will be applied to the owner of the vehicle in accordance with legislation and instructions. Violation of this rule is punishable by a fine of up to 1000 GEL. If you want to extend the period of stay of the vehicle on the territory of Georgia, you must obtain a temporary (for 3 years) registration of the car by paying 120 GEL. Monetary losses also await the front seat passenger who is not wearing a seat belt.
The legal owner of the vehicle must have a set of documents that he usually carries with him at home. This is a driver's license and a car registration certificate with data written in Latin. From March 1, 2021, car insurance has become mandatory for foreigners.
As for a power of attorney for a car, the Russian side may not require it, but Georgians will most likely ask, especially if the car is new (up to 3 years old). In a situation where there is no permission, border guards ask some questions, clarify the situation and, as a rule, let you through. At least, there have been no cases where the lack of such a document became the reason for denial of entry into the country. When drawing up a notarized power of attorney, it is imperative to indicate that the car can be exported outside the Russian Federation.
If you intend to stay in the country for more than 15 days, then from March 1, 2021, before entering Georgia, your car must be insured. This can be done directly at the checkpoint. Neither the Green Card, nor CASCO, nor MTPL are valid here. The cost of the service is influenced by: the type of vehicle, the duration of the insurance period. This will provide coverage for damage caused to the victim during an accident. Without insurance, the owner of a passenger car is subject to a fine of 100 lari, and a bus owner of 200 lari. Cars with license plates 82 and 92 regions (Crimea and Sevastopol) are not allowed into the country.
So, the answer to the main question “ do I need a visa to Georgia ” has been given. To clarify information, for advice and legal assistance, tourists should contact the House of Justice directly or go to the police website.
Georgia today is the most accessible of the neighboring countries, to which you can literally fly for a weekend. It attracts with its safety, energy, fantastic climate, incredible nature, new fashionable places, rich culture, warmth and hospitality of its inhabitants, which especially warms the soul. Maybe that’s why many visitors note that it was here that they suddenly felt at home.
Period of stay according to international passport
A foreign passport allows a citizen of the Russian Federation to stay in Georgia for no more than 90 days. According to widespread rumors, if the stay is overdue, a fine will be imposed by the government of the republic. In fact, penalties will be imposed on tourists only if they stay in the country for 100 days or more. If the period of delay is less than 10 days, you can safely leave the country.
If the stay is overstayed by 10 days, the authorities will be authorized to deport the overstaying tourist. He will be fined and a sanction imposed: a ban on entry for the next year.
How to extend your stay abroad
If a tourist is planning to travel to the republic for more than 90 days or has already realized during the trip that he would like to stay longer, he should promptly contact the state migration service in Tbilisi or Batumi. You can extend your stay if 90 days have not passed since entering the country. If the permitted period is overdue by less than 10 days, an extension is also permitted, but it will be more difficult to achieve.
To obtain permission, you need to have a foreign passport and high-quality 3 by 4 photographs. They can be taken at the migration center. You will need to fill out a form at the institution. The application is reviewed on the spot; in 90% of cases, the tourist is allowed to stay in the country for some more time and continue his vacation.
An additional permit to stay in Georgia is issued for 360 days.
