Is Georgia Visa-Free for Your Nationality? Find Out Before You Fly

Most travellers planning a trip to Georgia in 2026 ask the same thing: do I need a visa, and where do I get it? Search results are full of third-party sites that charge extra fees for paperwork you may not need at all. This guide shows who can walk in with just a passport, who must apply online, and what happens at the airport and at land borders, so you know the answer before you pack.

Who Can Enter Georgia Visa-Free in 2026

Georgia has one of the most open entry policies in the region. Citizens of over 90 countries and territories can enter without a visa. The list includes:

• European Union: all 27 member states.
• United Kingdom: UK citizens.
• North America: the United States and Canada.
• Oceania: Australia and New Zealand.
• Non-EU Schengen members: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein.
• Other key countries: Japan, South Korea, Israel, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Belarus, Ukraine, Armenia and Azerbaijan, among many others.

That list is not exhaustive. For a complete, current list of all 90+ countries, check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia at www.mfa.gov.ge or the e-visa portal at www.evisa.gov.ge. Do this before you buy flights, because the official sites are the only sources that count.

How Long You Can Stay Without a Visa

This is where Georgia stands out. Most visa-free nationalities, including those above, can stay up to one full year (365 days) within any two-year period. That is far longer than the 90-day limits in many other countries. It suits remote workers, slow travellers and anyone who wants a whole wine season, from spring in Kakheti to the Rtveli harvest in autumn.

You do not need a visa extension or a border run to use this time. If you are staying for tourism, there is generally no need to register with the authorities. The exception is living in Georgia for other purposes, such as employment or long-term education. In that case, check the specific requirements for 2026 before you plan a stay beyond 90 days.

Documents to Carry at Passport Control

The paperwork for visa-free entry is light:

• A valid passport that covers your whole intended stay in Georgia. No fixed minimum such as six months is generally enforced beyond the stay itself, but having 3 to 6 months of extra validity is wise.
• Proof of onward or return travel. It is rarely requested, but keep a booking on your phone.



• Proof of accommodation. Also rarely requested. A hotel or guesthouse confirmation is enough.
• A printed e-visa, if you needed one.

Travel insurance is not required for visa-free entry, but it is highly recommended for every visitor. It is often a requirement for e-visa applicants.

The E-Visa Step by Step (for Passports Not on the Visa-Free List)

If your nationality is not on the visa-free list, you will likely need an e-visa before you travel. Apply only through the official government portal, www.evisa.gov.ge. Be careful with unofficial websites that look similar.

What the e-visa allows

E-visas are most commonly issued for short stays such as tourism, business and transit. Typical validity is up to 30 days within a 120-day period from the date of issue, or up to 90 days within a 180-day period. The exact validity is printed on your e-visa. Depending on nationality and purpose, single-entry and multiple-entry options may be available.

The application process

1. Visit the website: go to www.evisa.gov.ge.
2. Check eligibility: select your nationality and travel document type.
3. Start the application: click “Apply for an e-Visa” and accept the terms.
4. Fill in the form: personal details, passport information, travel dates, purpose of visit and your intended address in Georgia.
5. Upload documents: a scan of your passport bio-data page, a recent passport-style photo (usually 3×4 cm, white background), travel insurance covering your stay, proof of accommodation (a hotel booking or invitation letter) and proof of onward or return travel such as flight tickets. Extra documents may be requested depending on your nationality or visa type, so read the requirements shown during the application.
6. Pay the fee: the standard fee is approximately 60 GEL. Expedited processing costs an additional 90 to 120 GEL. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted. If you plan to pay with another card type, check the portal first.
7. Review and submit: check every name, date and passport number.
8. Wait for confirmation: you will receive a confirmation email. Standard processing takes about 5 business days, expedited about 3 business days.
9. Receive and print your e-visa: it arrives by email. Print a copy to show on arrival.

Arriving at Tbilisi and Batumi Airports

The arrival routine

At both international airports, follow the signs to Passport Control. There are usually separate lanes for Georgian citizens and “All Passports.” The officer may ask why you are visiting and how long you will stay, and you may be asked for a facial scan or fingerprints. If all is well, your passport gets an entry stamp. Then you collect your bags and go through customs.

Tbilisi (Shota Rustaveli International Airport, TBS)

The airport is about 17 km southeast of the city centre. Your options:

• Taxi: available 24/7 outside arrivals. Expect 50 to 80 GEL to the centre. Agree the price first, or use Bolt or Yandex Go for transparent pricing.
• Bus #337 (formerly #37): runs 24/7 between the airport and the centre, including Freedom Square and Rustaveli Avenue. It comes every 15 to 20 minutes at peak times and every 30 to 40 minutes off-peak and at night. The fare is 1 GEL. You need a MetroMoney card (about 2 GEL to buy, available at the airport or metro stations) or a contactless bank card. Cash is not accepted on board.
• Train: a Georgian Railway service links the airport station to Tbilisi Central Station for about 0.50 GEL, paid with cash or MetroMoney. It runs only 2 to 3 times a day, so check the current schedule at www.railway.ge before counting on it.
• SIM cards: kiosks in arrivals sell Magti, Silknet (formerly Geocell) and Beeline. Tourist packages with enough data typically cost 15 to 30 GEL for 1 to 2 weeks.

Batumi International Airport (BUS)

Batumi’s airport is about 2 km south of the city centre. A taxi to the centre should cost 15 to 25 GEL. Local buses connect the airport to various parts of the city, typically for 0.80 to 1 GEL, paid with a Batumi Card or contactless bank card. Check the current route numbers locally, as they can change.

Customs Limits You Should Know

After baggage claim, choose the Green Channel if you have nothing to declare, or the Red Channel if you carry items that need declaring. The limits to keep in mind:

• Currency: amounts over 30,000 GEL (or the equivalent) must be declared.
• Alcohol: up to 4 litres.
• Tobacco: up to 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 250 grams of tobacco.
• Personal goods: up to 1,000 GEL in value by air, or 500 GEL by land.

Rules can change, so check www.rs.ge, the website of the Revenue Service of Georgia, before you travel.

Land Border Crossings: Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia

Georgia shares land borders with four countries. The same rules apply as at airports: show your valid passport, and your e-visa if you need one.

Main crossings

• Turkey: Sarpi-Sarp (the most popular, often busy, with a pedestrian crossing), Vale-Türkgözü, and Kartsakhi-Aktaş.
• Armenia: Sadakhlo-Bagratashen (the most popular), Guguti-Gogavan, and Bavra-Ninotsminda.
• Azerbaijan: Red Bridge (Tsiteli Khidi)-Samur (the most popular) and Lagodekhi-Balakan.
• Russia: Dariali/Kazbegi-Verkhni Lars, the only legal land crossing for foreigners.

Dariali can have long queues, especially in peak season or bad weather.

Important: entering Georgia from Russia through the occupied territories of Abkhazia or South Ossetia is illegal under Georgian law. Penalties include fines, deportation and possible future entry bans. Always enter through official Georgian border points.

Crossing with your own vehicle

Private vehicles need registration documents and an international driving permit. Third-party insurance is sometimes required as well. Major crossings largely operate 24/7, but check local conditions before setting out.

Public transport across borders

Marshrutka minibuses are the main way to cross by land from Tbilisi to Yerevan, Baku, Trabzon and Istanbul. Georgian Railway also runs international trains from Tbilisi to Yerevan and Baku. Check www.railway.ge for current schedules and fares.

2026 Entry Budget in GEL

Most visa-free visitors pay nothing for entry itself. These are the costs that can come up. The exchange rate is a useful reference: in late 2024, 1 USD was about 2.6 to 2.7 GEL and 1 EUR about 2.8 to 2.9 GEL, so check current rates before you travel.

Airport transfer to the city (Tbilisi)

• Budget: train at about 0.50 GEL (2 to 3 services a day) or bus #337 at 1 GEL, plus about 2 GEL for a MetroMoney card.
• Mid-range: a Bolt or Yandex Go ride, with the price shown in the app. Taxis cost 50 to 80 GEL.

Other entry-related costs

• E-visa (if needed): about 60 GEL standard, plus about 90 to 120 GEL for expedited processing.
• Tourist SIM: 15 to 30 GEL for 1 to 2 weeks.
• Batumi airport taxi: 15 to 25 GEL to the centre.
• Overland to Yerevan: 35 to 50 GEL by marshrutka, or 60 to 120 GEL by train depending on class.
• Overland to Baku: 40 to 60 GEL by marshrutka, or 70 to 150 GEL by train depending on class.
• Overland to Trabzon: 60 to 80 GEL by marshrutka.
• Overstay fine: approximately 180 GEL for up to 10 days, rising for longer periods.

What Has Changed Since 2024

The core rules are stable going into 2026. The one-year visa-free stay for eligible passports is expected to continue, and the list of eligible countries has stayed largely stable. The e-visa platform and its process have also had no major changes, though fees in GEL and document requirements may see small adjustments.

At Tbilisi airport, the airport bus changed from #37 to #337 in 2024. Older blog posts and some maps still show the old number.

Common Mistakes That Cause Trouble at the Border

• Using an unofficial e-visa website. Apply only at www.evisa.gov.ge.
• Assuming your list entry is current. Check www.mfa.gov.ge for your nationality before booking.
• Letting passport validity run short. Your passport must cover your whole stay. Aim for 3 to 6 months extra.
• Arriving without a booking you can show. Proof of onward travel and accommodation is rarely asked for, but you should still have both.
• Waiting for the cash bus. Bus #337 takes only MetroMoney or contactless cards.
• Overstaying. It is illegal. Fines start at about 180 GEL, and repeated overstays can lead to deportation and entry bans.
• Entering from Russia through Abkhazia or South Ossetia. This is illegal. Use Dariali/Kazbegi-Verkhni Lars.
• Skipping the Red Channel when carrying more than 30,000 GEL in cash or goods above the allowance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do US, UK, EU, Canadian and Australian citizens need a visa for Georgia?

No. Citizens of all 27 EU states, the UK, the United States, Canada and Australia can enter visa-free. Most visa-free nationalities may stay up to one year (365 days) within any two-year period. Confirm your own passport on www.mfa.gov.ge before you book your flight.

How do I apply for a Georgian e-visa?

Use only the official portal, www.evisa.gov.ge. Check eligibility, fill in the form, upload your passport scan, photo, insurance, accommodation and onward travel proof, then pay by card. The standard fee is about 60 GEL. Print the approved e-visa from your email and carry it.

How long does the e-visa take?

Standard processing takes about 5 business days, and expedited processing about 3 business days. Expedited service costs an extra 90 to 120 GEL. Apply well before departure, because you may be asked for extra documents depending on your nationality or visa type.

How do I get from Tbilisi airport to the city centre?

You can take a taxi for 50 to 80 GEL, or use Bolt or Yandex Go for fixed pricing. Bus #337 runs 24/7 for 1 GEL with a MetroMoney or contactless bank card. A train to Tbilisi Central costs about 0.50 GEL but runs only 2 to 3 times a day.

Can I cross into Georgia from Russia by land?

Yes, but only through Dariali/Kazbegi-Verkhni Lars, the only legal land crossing for foreigners. Expect long queues in peak season or bad weather. Entering through Abkhazia or South Ossetia is illegal and can bring fines, deportation and future entry bans.

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📷 Featured image by Gaëtan Werp on Unsplash.