Georgia Visa & Entry Guide: Who Can Visit and For How Long

Georgia has one of the most generous visa policies in the world. Citizens of 98 countries can enter and stay for up to one full year — no visa, no registration, no questions asked. Just your passport.

Here's everything you need to know about getting in (and staying).

## Visa-Free Entry (1 Year) Citizens of the following regions can enter Georgia without a visa and stay for up to **365 days**: - **European Union** — All member states - **United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand** - **United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland** - **Japan, South Korea, Israel** - **Most of South America** — Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, etc. - **Many Middle Eastern countries** — UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman - **South Africa, Botswana, Mauritius** The full list is maintained by Georgia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If your country isn't listed above, check the [Georgian e-Visa portal](https://www.evisa.gov.ge/) — many additional nationalities can get an e-Visa online. ### What you need at the border - **Valid passport** with at least 6 months validity (recommended, though Georgia technically accepts less) - **Return ticket**: Not officially required, but airlines sometimes check. Having one removes any friction. - **Proof of accommodation**: Rarely asked, but having a hotel booking on your phone doesn't hurt. - **Travel insurance**: Not required. Strongly recommended anyway. That's it. No advance registration. No invitation letter. No proof of funds. Georgia genuinely makes it easy. ### At the airport Immigration at Tbilisi airport (TBS) is fast and painless. Expect: 1. Walk to passport control (follow signs — there's only one path) 2. Hand over your passport 3. The officer stamps it 4. Walk to baggage claim The whole process takes 5-15 minutes. There's no immigration form. No fingerprinting. No interview. The officer might ask "How long are you staying?" — "tourist" or "a few weeks" is all you need to say. **Kutaisi Airport (KUT)** is equally straightforward but smaller. Same process. ## The 1-Year Stay: How It Works The visa-free period starts from the day you enter. You can stay for 365 consecutive days. When that year is up, you need to leave the country — even briefly — and re-enter to restart the clock. ### The "Border Run" Many long-term visitors and digital nomads do periodic border runs. Popular options: - **Turkey**: Cheapest flights or drive to the Sarpi border crossing (5 hours from Tbilisi). Cross, get a Turkish stamp, turn around and come back. Takes a few hours. - **Armenia**: Drive to the Sadakhlo border crossing (1.5 hours from Tbilisi). Quick and easy. - **Azerbaijan**: Possible but slower — the Red Bridge crossing takes longer due to Azerbaijani visa requirements for some nationalities. You can technically do a same-day border run: cross out, cross back in. Georgia doesn't have a minimum stay-away requirement. Some people literally walk across the Turkish border and walk back. **Is this sustainable long-term?** Yes, many people have done it for years. Georgia explicitly welcomes it. There's no rule against repeated visa-free entries. That said, if you're planning to stay permanently, getting proper residency is smarter (and gives you additional benefits). ## Beyond Visa-Free: Residency Options If you want to stay longer than a year without border runs, or if you want to work legally in Georgia, here are your options: ### Individual Entrepreneur (IE) Status **Cost**: ~50 GEL ($20) registration **Tax rate**: 1% on revenue up to 500,000 GEL/year **What it gives you**: Legal right to earn income in Georgia, invoice clients, open a business bank account You can register as an IE at any Revenue Service office (or the Public Service Hall) in about 1 day. This doesn't give you residency by itself, but it's the first step toward a business residency permit. ### Temporary Residency (Work/Business) **Cost**: ~300 GEL ($110) application fee **Duration**: 1-6 years depending on type **Requirements**: Active business or employment contract, bank statements, clean criminal record With an IE registration and evidence of business activity (invoices, bank transactions), you can apply for temporary residency. This gives you a proper residency card — no more border runs. ### Permanent Residency **Cost**: ~500 GEL ($185) **Requirements**: 6 years of legal residence in Georgia, or investment above $300,000, or marriage to a Georgian citizen **What it gives you**: Indefinite right to live in Georgia. One step from citizenship. ### Citizenship **Requirements**: 10 years of legal residence, Georgian language proficiency (B1 level), basic knowledge of Georgian history and law **Note**: Georgia doesn't easily allow dual citizenship. You'd typically need to renounce your current nationality, with some exceptions. ## Special Cases ### Remote Workers & Digital Nomads Georgia launched a "Remotely from Georgia" program in 2020. While the formal program has evolved, the practical reality is simple: if you're from a visa-free country, you can live and work remotely in Georgia for up to a year with zero paperwork. Your income from abroad isn't taxed in Georgia unless you establish tax residency (183+ days and local income sources). ### Students Foreign students enrolled in accredited Georgian universities can get student residency permits for the duration of their studies. Tuition at Georgian medical schools (popular with Indian and Middle Eastern students) runs $3,000-8,000/year. ### Retirees No specific retirement visa, but the visa-free year + low cost of living makes Georgia attractive for retirees. Some establish IE status for occasional consulting or investment income. ## What You Can't Do on Visa-Free Status - **Formal employment**: Working for a Georgian company requires a work permit or residency - **Buy agricultural land**: Foreigners can buy apartments and commercial property but not farmland - **Vote or run for office**: Obviously - **Access public healthcare**: You'll need private insurance or pay out of pocket (which is very affordable anyway) ## Quick Reference | Nationality | Can enter? | Duration | Visa needed? | |---|---|---|---| | EU/EEA/UK | ✅ | 1 year | No | | US/Canada/Australia | ✅ | 1 year | No | | Russia | ✅ | 1 year | No | | India | ✅ | 30 days | e-Visa | | China | ✅ | 30 days | e-Visa | | Most of Africa | ❌ | — | Embassy visa | ## The Bottom Line Georgia makes it absurdly easy to visit and stay. One year visa-free is among the most generous policies in the world. If you're from a qualifying country, the only thing stopping you from living in Tbilisi next month is a flight booking. The immigration system is designed to be welcoming because Georgia genuinely wants visitors and residents. They've built their economic model partly around attracting international talent and tourists. Take advantage of it. --- *Last updated: February 2026. Visa policies can change — always verify with the [Georgian e-Visa portal](https://www.evisa.gov.ge/) for current rules.*