Georgia (Caucasus) Travel Guide

Georgia (Caucasus) — Passport and Visa Information

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Passports

Country	Passport Required	Visa Required	Return Ticket Required
Canadian	Yes	No	No
USA	Yes	No	No
Other EU	Yes	No	No
British	Yes	No	No
Australian	Yes	Yes	No

Passport valid for at least six months from date of application required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Visas

Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days except:
(a) nationals of Australia who do require a visa.

Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements.

Visa Note

(a) Passengers on cruise ships which stay on a Georgian port for less than 72 hours do not require a visa. (b) For stays over 90 days nationals will need to apply for a temporary or permanent residence permit from the civil registration agency of the ministry of justice in Georgia. (c) Journalists now need to seek accreditation from the ministry of foreign affairs in Georgia before applying for a visa. (d) Armenian and Azerbaijani visas are no longer valid for transit through Georgia.

Types of Visa and Cost

Single Entry visas: £18; Double entry:£27; Multiple entry: £61.

Validity

Tourist visas are valid for three months from date of issue. Multiple-entry visas are valid for 12 months from date of issue for stays of up to three months each. Transit visas are normally valid for a maximum of three days (provided transit passengers are also holding valid onward or return documentation).

Applications to:

Consulate (or consular section at embassy); see Important Addresses.

Application Requirements

Individual travelers should apply to the embassy (or consular section at embassy) or send their application by post; see Important Addresses. Nationals of countries where there is no Georgian diplomatic representation may obtain visas for US$10 at Tbilisi international airport, where a 24-hour service is provided by the Visa Branch of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (tel: (332) 94 50 50; www.mfa.gov.ge). Visitors should note that this service is only applicable for short-stay visits. Visa Consular services are also available at Batumi and Kutaisi airports and the ports of Batumi and Poti. It is also recommended that the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs be informed in advance of the visitor's planned visit by the inviting party.

Tourist travelers must submit all documentation to the tour operator making the travel arrangements.

Working Days Required

Two to five for personal applications; two weeks to one month for multiple-entry visas; postal applicants must allow at least three to four working days for the return of passport and visa. If urgent, single- and double-entry visas can be processed the next working day during opening hours. Multiple-entry visas can also be processed, if urgent, within two weeks. An additional fee is required to process visas urgently. Note: Applications should be made no later than three working days and not earlier than three months from the date of departure.

Travel Warnings

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK advises against all travel to the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Unless you are carrying out essential business, such as humanitarian work, travelers are advised against all travel to areas near the Administrative Boundaries of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, in particular Zugdidi (unless transiting on the way to Svaneti) and villages north of Gori.

Tension remains high around the Administrative Border Lines with Abkhazia and South Ossetia. You should exercise caution if you travel along the M27 (also known as the M1) road, particularly where it runs very close to South Ossetia, i.e. between Gori and Khashuri and between the Stepantsminda/Gudauri turnoff and Gori, where there was a kidnapping in February 2009. There remains a risk of local volunteer militia or criminal activity along this road. It is not recommended that you use the M27 during the hours of darkness.

Travelers are also advised not to travel north from the M27 between the points named above, or west of the Georgian Military highway, as there is also a risk of criminal or militia activity in the Akhalgori area.

If you plan to visit any of the areas detailed above on essential business we advise that you liaise closely with the British Embassy, Tbilisi.

British nationals in Georgia who have not done so already should register with the British Embassy.

There have been some reports of mines and other explosions. There is some risk from unexploded ordnance in areas in which fighting took place last August or in military installations where Russian troops were present. You should avoid these areas until they are reported as having been cleared.

International airlines are operating normal services into and out of Tbilisi International Airport.

There is an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers.

Travelers should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organizations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel

Health Care

The health system is undergoing dramatic change. Medical facilities are available but owing to the present state of medical services, emergency evacuation travel insurance is recommended for all travelers. It is also advisable to take a supply of those medicines that are likely to be required (but check first that they may be legally imported) as medicines can prove very difficult to get hold of.