How to Get a SIM Card in Georgia: A Step-by-Step Tourist’s Guide

You land in Tbilisi late, your phone shows no signal, and you still need to order a ride, message your host and check the marshrutka schedule for tomorrow. Roaming from home can be expensive, and airport WiFi won’t follow you out of the terminal. The good news is that getting a Georgian SIM card is simple once you know the steps. This guide covers the operators, the paperwork, the eSIM option and the mistakes that trip up first-time visitors in 2026.

Why a Local SIM Beats Relying on WiFi

WiFi is easy to find in Georgia, but it only works where you are sitting. A local SIM or eSIM keeps you connected on the move. You can use maps while walking the steep lanes of Sighnaghi, book tickets for Georgian Railway (Sakartvelos Rkinigza), message a guesthouse owner about your arrival time, or call a driver when your marshrutka drops you at the wrong junction.

Magti, Silknet or Beeline: Choosing Your Operator

Georgia has three main mobile operators. They differ mostly in coverage and price.

• MagtiCom (Magti): Generally seen as the premium provider, with the widest coverage, especially in remote and mountainous regions.
• Silknet (formerly Geocell): A strong competitor to Magti with good coverage and competitive plans. Silknet also sells home internet and TV services.
• Beeline: The most budget-friendly option. Coverage is good in urban areas and along main routes, but it can be less extensive in very remote mountain areas than Magti or Silknet.

A simple rule: choose Magti if you plan to trek or travel in the mountains, Silknet for a balance of coverage and price, and Beeline if you will mostly stay in cities and want to spend less.

What You Need Before You Buy

Georgia requires SIM registration, so you cannot buy one anonymously. Bring these three things:

• Your original passport. A photocopy or other ID is generally not accepted.
• An unlocked phone. A phone locked to your home carrier will not accept a Georgian SIM. Check this before you fly.
• Be at least 18 years old. This is the standard requirement.

Step-by-Step: Buying a SIM at Tbilisi Airport

For most visitors, Tbilisi International Airport (Shota Rustaveli, code TBS) is the easiest place to buy a SIM. All three operators have kiosks or small stores in the arrivals hall, usually open 24/7 or during peak flight times. Here is the process:

1. Clear customs and collect your bags. Then walk into the arrivals hall.



2. Find the operator kiosks. Magti, Silknet and Beeline are usually near the exit. After a long flight, the cool, humming air of the hall and the glow of the branded counters make them easy to spot.
3. Pick your operator using the guide above.
4. Ask for a “tourist SIM” or a “prepaid SIM with internet.” Staff will know what you mean.
5. Hand over your original passport. The staff will copy or scan it to register the SIM.
6. Choose a package. Tourist packages usually combine data, local calls and sometimes international minutes, valid for 15 or 30 days. Examples for 2026:
   • Magti Welcome Plus (30 GEL): 15GB data, 100 local minutes, 50 international minutes to select countries, valid for 30 days.
   • Silknet Traveler (25 GEL): 10GB data, unlimited local calls, valid for 30 days.
   • Beeline Tourist Pack (20 GEL): 8GB data, 50 local minutes, valid for 15 days.
7. Pay in lari (GEL). Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, and cash works too.
8. Let the staff activate it. They will insert the SIM, switch it on and check that it works. They may also help you install the operator’s app. Allow 5–10 minutes per customer, so expect a short wait if a flight has just landed.
9. Keep the SIM packaging. It shows your phone number and sometimes the PUK code, which you may need later.

Buying in a City Store Instead

If you miss the airport kiosks or want to compare plans calmly, go to an official operator store in town. Magti, Silknet and Beeline all have many branded stores in Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, Mestia and Gori. These stores handle SIM sales, top-ups and customer support, and staff usually speak English.

Smaller electronics shops and kiosks sometimes sell SIM cards too, but it is better to buy from an official store or airport kiosk. That way your SIM is registered properly and you can see the tourist-specific plans.

eSIM in Georgia: How Activation Really Works

All three operators offer eSIMs for compatible phones. An eSIM means no tiny plastic card to lose, and you can keep your home SIM active at the same time. It also suits phones with no physical SIM slot.

In-store activation (most reliable)

Visit an official store, at the airport or in a city. Show your passport and choose a plan. The staff will give you a QR code, and you scan it to install the eSIM profile on your phone. It is quick, and you can ask for help if the scan fails.

Online activation (limited)

Magti and Silknet are moving towards online activation for new customers, using identity checks such as a passport photo and a live selfie. Not every tourist package may be available for online eSIM activation, so do not count on setting one up before you land. Existing customers can usually convert a physical SIM to an eSIM through the operator’s app.

Beeline offers eSIM too, mainly activated in its retail stores. Magti’s eSIM can be set up at any Magti service center, and the MyMagti app is increasingly used for it. Silknet activation is primarily done in official stores.

2026 Budget Reality: What You Will Pay

A basic SIM card is cheap: around 2 GEL for Magti and Silknet and around 1 GEL for Beeline. The real cost is the package. Here is what a one-month visit looks like in three tiers, using the prices from the operators’ standard prepaid plans and the example tourist packages above.

Budget (20–36 GEL)

• Beeline Tourist Pack: 20 GEL for 8GB and 50 local minutes, valid for 15 days.
• Beeline standard plan: a 1 GEL SIM plus 12GB for 25 GEL gives 26 GEL. Adding unlimited data (35 GEL) brings the total to about 36 GEL.

Mid-range (25–54 GEL)

• Silknet Traveler: 25 GEL for 10GB and unlimited local calls, valid for 30 days.
• Silknet standard plan: a 2 GEL SIM, 20GB for 35 GEL and unlimited local minutes for 12 GEL come to about 49 GEL. Choosing unlimited data (40 GEL) instead of 20GB raises it to about 54 GEL.

Comfortable (30–62 GEL)

• Magti Welcome Plus: 30 GEL for 15GB, 100 local minutes and 50 international minutes to select countries, valid for 30 days.
• Magti standard plan: a 2 GEL SIM, unlimited data for 45 GEL and unlimited local minutes for 15 GEL add up to about 62 GEL.

Signal in the Mountains: Kazbegi and Svaneti

Towns and main roads across Georgia have excellent 4G, and 5G in some cities. In the mountains the picture changes.

• Kazbegi (Stepantsminda): Coverage is generally good in the town, including 4G/5G. As you climb towards Gergeti Trinity Church or enter the Truso Valley, it becomes patchy, especially on Beeline. Picture crunching through early-morning snow on the trail while your signal bars flicker on and off. Magti typically gives the most reliable service in the more remote parts of the region.



• Mestia: All three operators offer excellent 4G/5G coverage.
• Ushguli: Coverage is more limited. Magti usually has the strongest signal, often 4G, but it can be intermittent. Silknet may offer 3G/4G, and Beeline can be very weak or missing in parts of the village and on the surrounding trails.
• Remote trails: Far from settlements, expect little to no coverage from any operator. Always tell someone your route and estimated return time.

WiFi as a Backup

Even with a SIM, WiFi saves data and is easy to find.

• Cafés and restaurants: Almost all offer free WiFi to customers. Ask for the password.
• Accommodation: Hotels, guesthouses and hostels consistently provide free WiFi. Quality varies, but it is generally enough for browsing and streaming. In remote guesthouses it may be slower because of satellite links or limited infrastructure.
• Tbilisi Loves You: The free municipal network covers many central areas, parks and public squares. It is handy for quick checks but less secure and less reliable than a private connection, so avoid banking on it.

Topping Up and Managing Your Balance

Each operator has an app: MyMagti, MySilknet and MyBeeline, all for iOS and Android. Use them to check your balance, activate packages and top up. You can also check balance and validity with a short code (Magti uses codes such as *111#, but check your SIM packaging for the current one).

Ways to top up:

• Operator apps: The easiest way, with a linked credit or debit card.
• Payment terminals: Express Pay and TBC Pay terminals are in supermarkets, metro stations and on street corners. They take cash and can top up any Georgian mobile number.
• Operator stores: Staff can top up and sell you new packages.

If something goes wrong, visit a store or call the English-speaking customer service line. The number is usually on the SIM packaging or the operator’s website: magticom.ge, silknet.com or beeline.ge.

If you plan to return, keep your SIM. The number usually stays active if you top up or use it every 3–6 months, but confirm the exact period with your operator.

What Has Changed Since 2024

• More eSIM options: There is a clear push for eSIM availability and simpler activation, especially from Magti and Silknet.
• Wider 5G: Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi and some key tourist hubs now have better 5G coverage.
• Higher prices: Package prices have risen by roughly 5–10% across the board because of inflation and infrastructure investment.
• No regulatory change: Passport registration is still required, as in 2024.
• Retired names: No major services or operators have been discontinued, though some older package names have been retired.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Arriving with a locked phone. Ask your home carrier to unlock it before you travel.
• Forgetting the original passport. Copies and other ID are generally not accepted.
• Buying from a random kiosk. Official operator stores and airport kiosks guarantee proper registration and access to tourist plans.
• Choosing by price alone for a mountain trip. A cheap plan is no bargain if you have no signal near Ushguli or the Truso Valley.
• Assuming you can set up an eSIM online before landing. In-store activation is still the most reliable route.
• Throwing away the packaging. It holds your number and sometimes the PUK code.
• Relying on mobile data on remote trails. Tell someone your route and return time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need my passport to buy a SIM card in Georgia?

Yes. You need your original passport, because a copy or other ID is generally not accepted. Staff scan it to register the SIM in your name. You also need to be at least 18 years old and have an unlocked phone that can accept a Georgian SIM.

Which operator has the best coverage in the mountains?

Magti. It typically gives the most reliable signal in remote parts of Kazbegi and is usually strongest in Ushguli, though it can be intermittent. Silknet may offer 3G/4G there, while Beeline can be very weak or absent. On remote trails, expect little to no coverage from any operator.

Can I get an eSIM in Georgia?

Yes, all three operators offer eSIMs for compatible phones. The most reliable route is an official store, where staff check your passport and give you a QR code to scan. Online activation for new customers is still limited, so do not count on setting one up before you land.

How much does a tourist SIM cost in Georgia in 2026?

Example packages run from 20 GEL to 30 GEL. The Beeline Tourist Pack is 20 GEL for 8GB over 15 days, Silknet Traveler is 25 GEL for 10GB over 30 days, and Magti Welcome Plus is 30 GEL for 15GB over 30 days. Confirm current prices at the counter.

How do I top up my Georgian SIM?

Use the operator’s app (MyMagti, MySilknet or MyBeeline) with a linked card, or use Express Pay or TBC Pay terminals in supermarkets, metro stations and on street corners. They take cash and work with any Georgian number. You can also top up at an operator store.

📷 Featured image by Yoav Aziz on Unsplash.