Changes in Georgian visa policy and procedures


Category: Georgia, Visa

Changes in Georgian visa policy and proceduresChanges in visa policy are entered in force by Georgian government starting from September 1, 2014. This is reported by Georgian mass media with reference to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.

Thus, visa-free regime has been abolished for 24 countries, including Iraq, the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Chile, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and others.

According to the "Georgia-News" Information Agency, visa-free regime is retained for 94 countries of the EU, NATO, the Schengen area, the CIS and several other countries, but the citizens of these countries still need a visa to stay in Georgia for more than 90 days during the 180-day period instead of the previous 360 days.

Starting from September 1, 2014 the Public Service Development Agency of Ministry of Justice of Georgia has stopped visa issuing. Now Georgian visas will be mainly issued in diplomatic representation or consular posts of Georgia abroad. Citizens of those countries that do not have diplomatic missions and consulates in their own countries should contact the embassies and consulates in neighboring countries in order to obtain Georgian visa. Visas at the state border now will be issued only in special cases, writes Georgia Online.

Also from September 1, 2014 there are five categories of visas in Georgia: immigration, diplomatic, special, ordinal and transit. Fee for any type of Georgian visa is $50 from now on.