The 1-Year Visa-Free Stay in Georgia: What International Travelers Need to Know

Visa rules are the first thing most long-term travelers worry about, and 2026 is no different. Rules change quickly in many countries, and forum posts often contradict each other. Georgia is simpler than most: citizens of more than 90 countries can stay visa-free for 365 days. Even so, details trip people up, from passport validity to which border crossing is actually open. This guide covers how the one-year stay works, what to carry, how the e-visa works for other passports, and what to expect at airports and land borders.

Who Gets the 365 Days: Eligible Countries and How the Year Works

Georgia grants a 365-day visa-free stay to citizens of over 90 countries. The year counts from your date of entry. When it ends, you must leave the country. There is no mandatory waiting period before you return, so you can re-enter immediately and receive another 365-day stay.

The definitive list is kept by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia at www.geoconsul.gov.ge. Check it for your own passport before you book anything. In general, the list includes:

• European Union: all 27 member states, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland.
• Non-EU Schengen countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
• United Kingdom: UK citizens.
• North America: the United States and Canada.
• Oceania: Australia and New Zealand.
• East Asia: Japan and South Korea.
• Middle East: Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Turkey.
• Post-Soviet states: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
• Other notable countries: Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, South Africa, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and more.

What Officers Actually Check: Passport, Funds, Onward Travel and Insurance

The requirements are short, but some matter more than others.

• A valid passport. It must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended period of stay. This is the rule that causes real problems, so check your expiry date first.
• Proof of onward travel. Officially expected, but border officials rarely ask for it.
• Sufficient funds. Also rarely requested.
• Travel insurance. Highly recommended, though not strictly mandatory for entry.

Even though the officer may not ask, keep a flight booking and a hotel or apartment address on your phone. If you are a long-stay visitor, an answer like “I’m working remotely and staying in Tbilisi for several months” is usually enough.

If Your Passport Isn’t on the List: The E-Visa Step by Step

Nationalities that are not eligible for visa-free entry can use Georgia’s e-visa system. It is online and straightforward.

1. Go to the official portal: www.evisa.gov.ge.
2. Check eligibility. Select your nationality and visa type, usually “Tourist.” The system confirms whether you qualify.
3. Fill in the application form. You will give personal details, passport information, travel dates and accommodation details.
4. Upload your documents. You need a high-resolution scan of your passport’s bio-data page and a recent passport-style digital photo, typically 3×4 cm or a similar ratio. Hotel bookings or flight itineraries are usually not required, but check the portal in case that has changed.
5. Pay the fee. The standard fee is $20 USD, roughly 54 GEL at an exchange rate of 1 USD = 2.7 GEL. A service fee of about $1.50 USD (around 4 GEL) may apply. Payment is made online by Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card. Confirm on the portal whether the fee is still charged in USD.
6. Receive your e-visa. It is sent to your registered email, usually within 5 working days. Print a copy to show on arrival. An accelerated option, sometimes available for a higher fee, can cut processing to 1-3 working days. Check whether it is currently offered and what it costs.

Arriving at Tbilisi and Batumi Airports: Passport Control and Customs

Georgia’s main international airports are Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) and Batumi International Airport (BUS). The arrival process is the same at both.

Passport control

Hand over your valid passport, plus your e-visa if you have one. The officer may ask why you are visiting and how long you plan to stay. Biometric data, meaning fingerprints and a facial scan, is routinely collected. Your passport is stamped with the entry date, so look at that stamp. It marks the start of your 365 days.

Waiting times are typically 15-45 minutes during peak hours, and often shorter off-peak.

Baggage and customs

Collect your checked bags from the carousel, then choose a channel. Use the Green Channel if you have nothing to declare. Use the Red Channel if you carry dutiable goods, prohibited items, or more than 30,000 GEL in currency or the equivalent. Prohibited items include drugs, weapons and certain agricultural products.

Getting From the Airport to the City: Buses, Taxis and SIM Cards

SIM cards in the arrivals hall

Magti, Silknet (formerly Geocell) and Beeline all have kiosks in the arrival halls of both airports. Show your passport to register the SIM, and staff will help you activate it. Basic data packages of 5-10 GB with some local calls typically start from 15-30 GEL. Unlimited data packages range from 40-70 GEL. Prices and package names vary, so ask at the kiosk.

From Tbilisi airport (TBS)

• Official airport taxis: Found outside the terminal, often at fixed prices to the city center, typically 40-60 GEL. Confirm the price before you get in.
• Bolt and Yandex Go: Both are widely used. Download them before you land. A ride to central Tbilisi usually costs 30-50 GEL, depending on traffic and demand.
• Bus #337: The route was numbered #37 until 2024. It runs 24/7 between the airport and the city center, including Rustaveli Avenue, Freedom Square and Baratashvili Street. It comes every 15-20 minutes by day and every 30-40 minutes at night. The fare is 1 GEL, paid with a Metromoney card. The card costs 2 GEL and you can top it up with cash or a card. Buy it at the airport, for example from the bus stop vending machine or a Bank of Georgia Express branch.
• Train: The airport station is a short walk from the terminal, but only a few trains run each day, so it rarely suits arriving passengers. Check www.railway.ge for the current Georgian Railway timetable.

From Batumi airport (BUS)

Official taxis, Bolt and Yandex Go are all available. A ride to Batumi city center typically costs 20-35 GEL. Local buses connect the airport and the center for about 0.80-1 GEL, paid with a Batumi Card, which works like Metromoney, or possibly a contactless bank card.

Crossing by Land: Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia

Georgia shares land borders with Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia. The checks are similar to the airport: passport control and customs. Expect queues in peak season and on holidays. If you are driving, you will need your vehicle registration, an international driving permit and insurance.

Turkey

• Sarpi: The most popular crossing, on the Black Sea coast near Batumi. Open 24/7 and often busy.
• Vale: Near Akhaltsikhe, and less busy than Sarpi.
• Kartsakhi: In the Javakheti region, linking to Turkey’s Ardahan province.

Marshrutkas run often between Georgian cities such as Batumi and the border, and on the Turkish side to towns like Hopa or Artvin. International buses use these crossings too.

Armenia

• Sadakhlo (Bagratashen on the Armenian side): The main crossing on the Tbilisi-Yerevan route. Open 24/7.
• Bavra (Ninotsminda on the Georgian side): At higher altitude, connecting to Gyumri.

Marshrutkas and private taxis are common here. Georgian Railway also runs an overnight train between Tbilisi and Yerevan.

Azerbaijan

• Red Bridge (Tsiteli Khidi): The main crossing on the Tbilisi-Baku route. Open 24/7.
• Lagodekhi (Balakan on the Azerbaijani side): Further north, used by travelers heading to northern Azerbaijan.

Marshrutkas and international buses connect the cities.

Russia

Dariali (Upper Lars on the Russian side) is the only operational land crossing with Russia for third-country nationals. It sits on the scenic Georgian Military Highway. Queues can be long, especially for trucks, and snow, landslides or heavy rain can close the road.

Some nationalities may face extra scrutiny or restrictions when entering Russia from Georgia, depending on the geopolitical situation. Confirm the current rules for your passport before you travel. To get there, take a marshrutka from Tbilisi to Kazbegi (Stepantsminda), then a shared taxi to the border. Direct taxis from Tbilisi also run.

Leaving and Re-Entering: How the Reset Works

For many travelers, a trip across the border to Armenia, or a flight out of Tbilisi or Batumi, is enough to restart the clock.

Keep your entry stamp date in your phone calendar. Count 365 days from that date and set a reminder well before it ends.

Your 2026 Arrival Budget in GEL

Here are the costs you will meet in your first hours, using the figures above.

• Budget: Bus #337 at 1 GEL, a Metromoney card at 2 GEL, and a basic SIM at 15-30 GEL. Total: about 18-33 GEL, plus 54 GEL (about 4 GEL service fee extra) if you need an e-visa.
• Mid-range: A Bolt or Yandex Go ride at 30-50 GEL and a basic SIM at 15-30 GEL. Total: about 45-80 GEL.
• Comfortable: An official airport taxi at 40-60 GEL and an unlimited-data SIM at 40-70 GEL. Total: about 80-130 GEL.

Later, intercity marshrutkas typically cost 5-20 GEL for common routes, paid in cash to the driver.

What Has (and Hasn’t) Changed Since 2024

The headline is stability. As of early 2024 there were no significant changes to the core list of visa-free countries or to the 365-day duration. Because the list can shift, check the MFA website for any additions or removals in 2025 or 2026.

• E-visa: The portal, fees and processing times have been largely stable. Check the site for interface updates, extra document requirements, payment options in GEL, and the current status of accelerated processing.
• Customs: Declaration thresholds and prohibited items have not changed for general tourists.
• Airport bus: The route changed from #37 to #337 in 2024. The fare and the Metromoney system remain standard. Check whether contactless bank-card payment has been introduced.
• Ride-hailing: Bolt and Yandex Go remain dominant. Fixed-price airport taxis are still an option.
• Land borders: No structural changes to procedures. Dariali remains subject to weather closures and geopolitics, so look for any updates on digital declarations or faster processing.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Ignoring passport validity. Six months beyond your stay is the rule. Renew first if you are close.
• Using an unofficial e-visa site. Only www.evisa.gov.ge is the official portal.
• Assuming the visa list never changes. It has been steady, but verify at www.geoconsul.gov.ge before you fly.
• Skipping the Red Channel. If you carry more than 30,000 GEL or the equivalent, declare it.
• Not confirming the taxi price. Agree on the fare before you leave the airport, or use Bolt or Yandex Go.
• Forgetting your Metromoney card. Bus #337 uses it, so buy the 2 GEL card before you board.
• Planning a Russia crossing without checking. Dariali can close for weather, and your nationality may face extra restrictions.
• Losing track of the stamp date. It marks day one of your 365 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can I stay in Georgia without a visa?

Citizens of more than 90 countries can stay for 365 days from their date of entry. This includes EU states, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia. Check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs list at www.geoconsul.gov.ge to confirm your nationality before you book your trip.

Can I re-enter Georgia immediately after my year ends?

Yes. There is no mandatory waiting period. After your 365 days, you must exit the country, but you can come back right away and receive another 365-day visa-free stay. Many travelers do a quick trip over a land border or a short flight to reset the clock.

How much does the Georgian e-visa cost?

The standard e-visa fee is $20 USD, about 54 GEL at 1 USD = 2.7 GEL. A service fee of around $1.50 USD (roughly 4 GEL) may apply. Payment is by Visa or MasterCard on www.evisa.gov.ge. Processing usually takes up to 5 working days.

What documents do I need at passport control?

You need a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned stay, plus your printed e-visa if you needed one. Officers rarely ask for proof of onward travel or funds, and travel insurance is recommended but not mandatory. Fingerprints and a facial scan are routinely collected on arrival.

What is the cheapest way to get from Tbilisi airport to the city center?

Bus #337 is cheapest at 1 GEL per ride, running 24/7 to Rustaveli Avenue, Freedom Square and Baratashvili Street. You need a Metromoney card, which costs 2 GEL. Buses come every 15-20 minutes by day. Bolt and Yandex Go rides cost around 30-50 GEL.

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📷 Featured image by Max on Unsplash.