Is it safe to travel to Georgia right now?

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Georgia’s current rules for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Georgia set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Georgian Embassy in the UK.

Passport validity requirements

If you’re visiting Georgia, your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay.

Check with your travel provider to make sure your passport and other travel documents meet their requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.

Visa requirements

You can visit Georgia without a visa for up to one year.

To stay longer or to travel for work or study, you must apply for a longer-term visa. Contact the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for more information.

The rules on who can work in Georgia were changed on 1 March 2026. If you are a foreign national and want to work in Georgia, including working remotely or running a business, you must have a work permit.

A work permit is issued for one year and only for a specific job and a specific employer.

Once the work permit is approved, you must then apply for the appropriate visa and/or a worker’s residence permit.

To apply for a work permit or get more information, contact the State Employment Support Agency under the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia.

If you’re in Georgia for more than 183 days and do any paid employment, you’re automatically liable for income tax and must tell the Revenue Service of Georgia. You’ll be fined if you do not comply.

Entering or leaving Georgia

A small number of British citizens have either been denied entry to Georgia or had trouble leaving. These cases appear to be linked to alleged presence at or participation in political demonstrations, and unpaid fines.

Some families have reported being denied entry to Georgia due to their child’s passport photo no longer matching their current appearance.

Insurance upon entry

All visitors must have appropriate health and accident insurance to cover all healthcare needs during your visit. You may be asked for evidence of this, either by your airline at check-in or by immigration authorities when you arrive in Georgia. You may face difficulties if you do not have this evidence.

Make sure you have appropriate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation. The insurance coverage amount must be no less than 30 000 Georgian Lari. The insurance policy may be issued by either a Georgian or a foreign insurance company.

The insurance policy needs to cover the full period of your stay in Georgia, including both arrival and departure dates.

See Georgian Visa information for full details, including mandatory information that must be included in the insurance policy.

Vaccine requirements

For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Georgia guide.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Georgia. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Bringing medicines into Georgia

Georgia has a very strict anti-drugs policy. This covers prescription and non-prescription medicines commonly available in the UK. For example, non-prescription medicines containing codeine are illegal. This can cause serious problems for travellers and in some cases lead to criminal prosecution. Do not carry medicine that is illegal in Georgia. Even with a valid prescription, foreign nationals have been detained, prosecuted, and fined.

For more information on the legal status of a specific medicine, contact the Revenue Service of Georgia or the Georgian Embassy in the UK.

If you travel with prescription medicine that is legal in Georgia, you must carry a doctor’s prescription and the original packaging. You should check in advance if your prescription would be acceptable to the Georgian authorities and whether the medicine you carry needs a prescription. You can contact the State Regulation Agency for Medical and Pharmaceutical Activities via email: regagency@moh.gov.ge. Assessment of your enquiry will take approximately one month.

Some countries have imposed measures in response to the Ebola disease outbreak. These can include restrictions on entry and health screening measures for travellers having recently visited an affected country. If you are suspected of having symptoms, you may be subject to isolation, quarantine and/or travel restrictions. Contact the authorities of the country you are travelling to for more details.

The authorities of a country or territory decide who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from local authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the Foreign Representatives in Canada.

Passport

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you're travelling with.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country's entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay in Georgia and include one blank page for an entry stamp.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, verify this information with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

You should also be aware that current systems used by some countries and travel companies may not recognize the “X” gender identifier. You may still be asked to provide your sex/gender information as either male or female when travelling.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, verify this information with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

• Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics
• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports and other travel documents

Visas

Tourist visa: not required for stays of up to 365 days
Business visa: not required for stays of up to 365 days
Student visa: not required for stays of up to 365 days

For extended stays beyond 1 year due to self-employment or employment, study/training, or family reunification, you require a residence permit. If this is not pre-arranged before you enter the country, you can submit your application for a residence permit to the Public Service Hall. You should apply early, so that the residence permit is issued before the end of the year of visa-free stay.

Useful links

• Georgian visa information – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
• Postponing the obligation to leave – State Commission of Georgia on Migration Issues
• Residence permits – Public Service Hall

The occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia

If you choose to travel to the occupied regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, you will need prior authorization from Georgian authorities, who don’t recognize border crossings between Russia and these regions. If you enter Georgia via these regions at an unofficial border crossing, you could face heavy fines and jail sentences. If the self-declared authorities of these regions stamp your passport, Georgian authorities may consider you to have entered illegally.

Border regions

Russia

Georgian authorities only recognize the Kazbegi-Verkhnii Lars border crossing with Russia. If you choose to travel to and from the Russian border regions, avoid crossing at unofficial land borders connecting to the following Russian republics:

• Chechnya
• Dagestan
• Ingushetia
• Kabardino-Balkaria
• Karachay-Cherkessia

If you cross into Georgia through an unofficial border crossing with Russia, you could face heavy fines or jail sentences.

Azerbaijan

The land border with Azerbaijan is closed. If you plan to visit the Udabno Caves, be careful not to cross the border, which is unmarked.

Other entry requirements

Georgian dual citizens must enter and exit the country on their Georgian passport.

If you have overstayed the permissible time limit during a previous visit to Georgia, you may be denied re-entry. You should consult with Georgian authorities prior to travel.

Foreign nationals travelling to Georgia for tourism are required to present valid accident and health insurance covering the duration of their stay. You may be asked for proof of this by your airline before departure or by immigration authorities when you arrive in Georgia.

More information on insurance requirements – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia

Children and travel

Georgian authorities may hinder or deny entry to children whose physical appearance significantly differs from their passport photo. You should consider applying for a new passport before you travel if your child’s appearance has changed considerably.

Children and travel

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).