Tbilisi Entry Requirements
Visa, immigration, and customs information
Information last reviewed January 2025. Always verify with official government sources before traveling.
Visa Requirements
Entry permissions vary by nationality. Find your category below.
Georgia keeps one of the region's most relaxed visa regimes, letting citizens of over 90 countries enter without a visa and offering slick electronic options for many others.
Citizens of most developed nations can enter Tbilisi without obtaining a visa in advance
The 365-day stay applies to tourists, business visitors, and those seeking temporary residence. Citizens of Turkey and Ukraine receive 90 days. Visa-free entry cannot be used for employment purposes. The policy was significantly expanded in 2017 and remains one of the most generous in the world.
Citizens of select countries require an electronic visa obtained before travel
Cost: Approximately 20 USD for short stays, 50 USD for longer durations
The e-Visa is single-entry or multiple-entry depending on selection. Extensions possible within Georgia through the Public Service Hall. Print the approved e-Visa for presentation at immigration.
Citizens of countries not eligible for visa-free or e-Visa entry must obtain a traditional sticker visa
Georgian diplomatic missions are limited in number. Applicants in countries without representation may apply at designated honorary consulates or through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs directly. Some applicants may be interviewed.
Arrival Process
Arriving in Tbilisi involves a straightforward sequence of steps, whether by air at Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport or by land from neighboring countries.
Documents to Have Ready
Tips for Smooth Entry
Customs & Duty-Free
Georgian customs regulations align with international standards while protecting local industries and cultural heritage. The aroma of confiscated food items, often cheese and cured meats from neighboring countries, sometimes wafts from inspection areas.
Prohibited Items
- Narcotics and psychotropic substances - zero tolerance policy with severe penalties
- Weapons and ammunition without special permits - includes hunting knives and certain tools
- Obscene and pornographic materials - broadly interpreted under local standards
- Materials promoting extremism or terrorism - includes certain political literature
- Counterfeit goods and currency - intellectual property enforcement has increased
- Endangered species and products - CITES convention enforcement
- Radioactive and hazardous materials - strictly controlled
Restricted Items
- Medications containing narcotic or psychotropic substances - require prescription and original packaging with doctor's letter
- Cultural artifacts and antiques - export permits required from Ministry of Culture. Items over 50 years old restricted
- Plants and plant products - phytosanitary certificates required. Fresh produce from certain countries prohibited
- Animals and animal products - veterinary certificates and health documentation required
- Communication equipment and drones - registration may be required for certain frequencies or commercial use
Health Requirements
Georgia keeps health hurdles low for most visitors. There are no routine vaccination demands for the bulk of travelers landing in Tbilisi.
Required Vaccinations
- Yellow fever, only for passengers who have spent time in countries where yellow fever is present within the past 10 days.
Recommended Vaccinations
- Hepatitis A, advised for every visitor because the virus can slip in through food or water.
- Hepatitis B - recommended for longer stays or potential medical exposure
- Typhoid - recommended for travelers eating outside major hotels in Tbilisi
- Rabies, worth considering if you'll be outdoors for long stretches or working with animals.
- Routine vaccinations, measles-mumps-rubella, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, varicella, polio, influenza, should all be up to date.
Health Insurance
Entry gates won't ask for proof of coverage. But solid travel health insurance is still a smart move in Tbilisi. Clinics can handle everyday problems. Yet serious cases may demand cash up front or evacuation abroad. Make sure the policy covers hospital stays, emergency dental work, and medical flights to Western Europe if things go south. A handful of private hospitals in the capital already bill international insurers directly.
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Important Contacts
Essential resources for your trip.
Special Situations
Additional requirements for specific circumstances.
A child crossing the border with only one parent needs a notarized letter of consent from the other parent, translated into Georgian or English. If the child is traveling without either parent, both must sign. Carry the birth certificate. Border officers enforce these rules strictly to block child abduction.
Dogs, cats, and ferrets need a microchip, a rabies shot given at least 21 days before arrival but still valid, plus a vet health certificate issued no more than 10 days before travel. Pets from high-rabies countries face extra quarantine. Birds, reptiles, and exotic species follow separate rules.
The 365-day visa-free window doubles as a runway for temporary residence, you can file for work permits, student residence, or family reunification at the Public Service Hall in Tbilisi without stepping outside the country. Overstay the allowed period and you'll pay about 180 GEL for every extra month and risk a future ban. The old 'one year in, one year out' restriction for visa-free nationals was scrapped in 2021.
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