Why do you need a Georgia visa?

Georgia has excellent tourist destinations, beautiful sceneries, and a plethora of work and study opportunities many would love. However, only a Georgia visa will give you access to all these sites and opportunities. To know all it takes to obtain a Georgia visa, dive into this!

Eligibility for a Georgia Visa

Just like any other country, Georgia also makes provision for visa-free countries where citizens are exempted from obtaining a visa before their travel.

The screenshot below presents a list of these visa-free countries. You can look through the list to confirm if your country is on the list. If not, you will have to apply for a visa to travel to Georgia.

Apart from the list of countries shown in the screenshot, other foreign nationals exempted from obtaining a visa before traveling into Georgia are:

1. Citizens of all European Union countries, Turkey and Saudi Arabia can visit and stay in Georgia for one year without obtaining a visa. However, you need a Government-issued ID to prove your citizenship in these countries.
2. Among the United Kingdom British Overseas territories, citizens of Bermuda, Cayman Island, Falkland Island, Caicos Islands, Gibraltar and Turks, and British Virgin Island are allowed to travel without a visa.
3. Foreign nationals with a residence permit in EFTA, EU, or GCC countries.
4. Foreign nationals with residence permits in Japan, Australia, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, South Korea, or the United States. In all these cases, a traveler can stay up to 90 days.
5. Members of Georgia Diaspora are eligible for a visa-free stay of up to 30 days.
6. Holders of diplomatic or official/service passport issued by Egypt, Guyana, China, Peru, Iran, and Indonesia.
7. Holders of United Nations laissez-passer are allowed a visa-free status for a year.

If you do not belong to any category mentioned above, you have to apply for a visa to travel and stay in Georgia.

Types of Georgia Visa

As a foreign national, you can apply for one of the following visas:

1. Diplomatic Visa (Category A)
2. Special Visa (Category B)
3. Ordinary Georgia Visa ( Category C)
4. Immigration Visa (Category D)
5. Transit Visa (Category T)

Georgia Visa Application Process

First, read through the information on the visa section of the official website, confirm your eligibility, and decide on the type of visa application you need.  Here is the general process of applying for a visa in Georgia:

1. Apply online
2. Pay the visa fees
3. Submit the document at a Georgian diplomatic mission

Apply online

First, you have to apply online through the E-Visa portal. You can fill the application on the visa section of their website.

Then, provide all necessary personal details such as Name, Marital Status, Nationality, DOB, Passport number. While filling the application form, you will need to attach the following required documents:

1. Passport
2. Bank statement or any other document to prove financial capability
3. Travel and health insurance document
4. Proof of accommodation in Georgia

Possess required documents

This is an extension of the first step. Ensure that you have sufficient photocopies of the documents you intend to upload. At the interview in the Georgia consulate office, you need all the originals and photocopies of the required documents.Sort out your documents and ensure that none of these copies are missing.

Pay the visa fee

After filling the information and uploading the documents, you would be required to pay the visa fee. If you are filling the immigration visa for a long or short term stay, you will have to pay a service tariff of US$20. Although this might be typical for all immigration services, check Georgia’s official website to get any updates on the service fee.

Submit the documents

After paying the fees, you will be required to send all the documents through mail to the Georgian diplomatic mission. You also have the option of visiting the consulate in person. If you choose to visit, you can hand over the documents to the consulate officer personally.

Upon receiving your documents, the Georgian embassy will start processing your visa. If your visa is approved, the embassy will affix the visa to your original passport. You can either go to the consulate and collect the passport in person or get it by mail.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the average processing time of a Georgian Visa?

Time taken for processing your visa depends on the type of visa that you have applied for:

1. Short term visa – 10 calendar days
2. Long term visa – 30 calendar days
3. D5 immigration Visa – 10 calendar days
4. E-visa – 5 calendar days

2. Can I extend the duration of my Georgian visa?

Not all visas are eligible for an extension. According to the directions of the Georgia Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the following categories can apply for an extension on their visa:

1. Special and Diplomatic Visa (A and B Category)
2. Georgia Student Visa (D3)
3. Georgia Investor Visa (D5)

If you are a diplomat or holder of a special visa, your visa duration can be extended at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On the other hand, Investors and Students can get their visas extended at the Georgian Ministry of Justice – Public Service Hall.

3. What if my visa application is rejected?

If your visa application is rejected, you can appeal within ten business days from the date you get the right to file an appeal after being aware of the decision. To find about the entire appeal process, check their Georgia’s official website.

COVID19 restrictions for Georgia visa travel

Currently, the Georgia government is yet to lift the ban on entry into the country. For more information on the ban, its duration, and exemptions, check here.

Conclusion

After getting the visa approved, you can arrive at one of Georgia border checkpoints like Airport, Railway station, port, and harbor as per the approval of authorities.

Thereafter, Border Police Personnel would determine your entry within the borders of the country. You can complete your visa application to Georgia easily by following our precise guidelines and links to all relevant websites.