Now that entry to Georgia is open, there is no need to advertise it: everyone already has many reasons to go there. The soulful streets of Tbilisi, the fantastic beauties of Svaneti, majestic temples, mysterious cave cities and cuisine, before which any diet respectfully gives in, await guests again. Learn the new rules for entering Georgia once borders reopen to ensure your next trip goes smoothly and safely.
Updated July 19, 2021. It's not easy for travelers right now. And as the world prepares to reopen in 2021, we're here to help you keep dreaming and planning new adventures—whether it's a short break close to home or a flight to parts of the world undiscovered. The latest news about tourism against the backdrop of COVID-19 will help you stay up to date. And using our interactive map, you can subscribe to notifications for a specific country - and when it opens its borders for Russians, you will receive a letter from us and a selection of profitable flights.
Is it possible to travel to Georgia now?
From February 1, 2021, Georgia lifted all restrictions on regular international flights introduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On June 1, Georgia opened its land borders. Foreign citizens who have either completed a vaccination course or passed a negative PCR test will be able to enter the country.
From the end of June 2021, the curfew and mandatory wearing of masks on the street were lifted in Georgia.
Is entry into Georgia now open for Russians? And when will Georgia open its borders with Russia?
From February 1, 2021, Georgia is open to international tourism.
From March 1, Russians can officially enter Georgia with a negative COVID-19 test result . Entry is also free for everyone (including Russians) who have already completed the full course of vaccination. Any vaccine.
From June 1, Georgia opens land borders.
No later than 48 hours before arriving in Georgia, everyone except Georgian citizens must fill out a special application form.
Due to the pandemic, the rules for entry into Georgia have changed. But the sunsets in Tbilisi are still just as peaceful
Entry to Georgia for freelancers: current requirements
Freelancers with a confirmed income of over $2,000 per month are allowed into Georgia. To enter, you must first fill out an application and receive approval.
Georgia only accepts freelancers who already have a foreign employer or customer at the time of application. Not all foreigners have a chance of entry approval, but only citizens of those countries that are listed on the website where the application is filled out. Proven income and health insurance are required.
Freelancers will have to self-isolate or quarantine in Georgia upon arrival.
Transit
In 2021, Russians will not need a special visa to Georgia for transit purposes. To travel through the state, for example, to Armenia, you can safely use the rules of visa-free entry and simply proceed to another country, presenting a single document - a foreign passport.
It should be remembered that transit passengers are subject to exactly the same customs rules as guests of the country.
New requirements for those entering Georgia during the COVID-19 pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has forced many countries to introduce quarantine safety measures and stricter entry requirements, and Georgia is no exception.
From February 2021, all foreign citizens who have completed two stages of receiving the vaccine can enter Georgia.
For Russians, the conditions are even more welcoming: since the beginning of spring, Georgia has been accepting Russian tourists, even if they are not vaccinated against Covid - it is enough to present a recent certificate of a negative PCR test.
At the end of last year, the government lifted quarantine for Georgian citizens arriving in the country. Now, upon arrival, they are not automatically sent to quarantine: instead, Georgian citizens are required to go into self-isolation mode. For citizens who do not have the opportunity to self-isolate at home, the state will provide hotel accommodation.
If citizens returning to the country have the results of a PCR test carried out within the last 72 hours, then they only need to spend 8 days in self-isolation. If there are no test results, you will have to self-isolate for 12 days.
The beauty of Georgia amazes even the most experienced travelers
Entry into Georgia after the opening of borders: what requirements apply now
From February 1, Georgia again welcomes tourists from other countries. But there are several conditions.
Citizens and residents of the European Union, Switzerland, Israel, the USA, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain can enter Georgia with a negative coronavirus test result. From March 1, 2021, Russians also belong to this group.
All other foreigners must undergo a full course of vaccination against coronavirus to enter Georgia. The vaccine can be any.
Thus, Russians can choose under what conditions to enter Georgia: with a certificate of a full course of vaccination against coronavirus or with a fresh PCR test.
Entry rules have also changed for residents of Georgia. Those who take a COVID-19 test before travel will be able to choose to isolate immediately upon arrival for 8 days or take a repeat test on the third day of their stay and leave quarantine.
Is there a quarantine in Georgia now?
A foreign tourist entering Georgia with documents confirming completion of the full course of vaccination against COVID-19 is exempt from quarantine.
Now that entry into Georgia is open, there are more than enough reasons to go there. Although it is not customary to have more than enough at the Georgian table
Do I need to take a coronavirus test to enter Georgia?
A medical certificate confirming a negative test result for COVID-19, issued no later than 72 hours before entry, is required for citizens of the European Union, Switzerland, Israel, the USA, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain to cross the border. This category of tourists does not require anything other than this certificate to enter Georgia. On the third day of their stay in Georgia, they must do another PCR test.
The same rules apply to Georgian citizens. And from March 1, 2021, Russians can also enter Georgia with a PCR test.
To enter Georgia, other foreign travelers must document that they have completed a full course of vaccination against coronavirus - any of the existing vaccines. Russian travelers can also choose this option, in which case it is not necessary to take a PCR test before traveling.
Before boarding a flight, all passengers and crew undergo a mandatory medical examination.
Visiting Georgia after Abkhazia and South Ossetia
In the recent past, as a result of armed conflicts, the state has problems with two breakaway territories: South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Many Russian citizens visit these regions as tourists, as well as for other reasons. A natural question arises about the consequences of such trips and the possibility of visiting Georgia after them.
No problems will arise if the Georgian authorities do not become aware of the fact of the visit. It’s good that on the border with South Ossetia or Abkhazia no marks are put on the passport, especially since entry into these unrecognized states is possible with a Russian passport, and in Georgia a Russian shows a foreign passport. Therefore, you can plan your trip in any order.
It must be borne in mind that the checkpoints on the border with Abkhazia, as well as with South Ossetia, are closed for political reasons, that is, crossing the border through them by car is illegal. If the Georgian customs service discovers that a foreigner nevertheless entered Georgia in such an illegal way, then he will face a fine of 400 to 800 Georgian lari, and in some situations even imprisonment. The first time you can get away with a fine, but the second time you will face more serious sanctions.
Find out which countries, besides Georgia, are already accepting Russians!
To slow the spread of coronavirus, many countries have imposed travel restrictions or completely closed borders. If you are traveling abroad during a pandemic, it is important to know the current entry requirements.
Currently, 63 countries have soft restrictions for Russians. This means that there is a high probability that quarantine upon arrival and return may not apply.
29 countries have introduced moderate restrictions for travelers from Russia. To enter, you may need a certificate of negative coronavirus test results, and quarantine is also possible, both upon arrival and upon return.
Another 63 countries now have strong restrictions for Russians: either entry is allowed only to citizens and certain categories of travelers, or the border is closed completely, or the requirements for entry are so strict that a tourist trip is impossible.
Are the borders of the country you need open, will you have to be in quarantine, and what documents are needed for everything to go smoothly, look at our interactive map.
What are the rules now for Russians arriving in Russia from abroad?
You now know everything about the current rules for entering Georgia, but there are things that need to be taken into account for a smooth return home.
Before flying to Russia from another country and immediately upon arrival, citizens of the Russian Federation are required to do the following:
- fill out a special “Form for those arriving on flights to the Russian Federation to cross the border” on paper;
- before registering for a flight to Russia, fill out a special form of the questionnaire “Registration of those arriving in the Russian Federation” on the State Services portal for citizens flying home (this is already in electronic form);
- within three calendar days from the date of arrival in the Russian Federation, take a PCR test for COVID-19 and post information about the result on the State portal;
- Within five days from the date of entry into the Russian Federation, you must undergo a repeat laboratory test for COVID-19 using the PCR method. The result must be uploaded to the EPGU. The interval between the first and second PCR test should be at least 24 hours.
- in case of any deterioration in health status, within 14 calendar days from the date of arrival in the territory of the Russian Federation, urgently seek medical help at the place of residence (stay) without visiting medical organizations.
If you're going abroad, look at your passport!
On the eve of the Christmas and New Year holidays, the number of those who plan trips to countries near and far abroad at this time for various excursion and tourism purposes traditionally increases. What are the requirements for obtaining a passport, in what cases is it subject to exchange, and does an infant need a passport when traveling abroad? These and other questions were answered by the head of the department for passport work and travel abroad of the Department of Citizenship and Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Alexander Derikolenko.
What should you pay attention to when going abroad?
– To travel outside our country, first of all, you need to check the validity of your passport and its integrity. You need to make sure that the document allows you to leave Belarus and return back. For example, if you change your last name, your passport is valid for one month. If a citizen returns to the country with an invalid document, he or she may be held administratively liable for violating border crossing rules. Please pay attention in advance to the relevance of your personal photograph, regardless of the time the document was issued. This will help avoid additional questions and delays when going through border control.
For how long is a passport issued?
– A passport of a citizen of the Republic of Belarus to persons aged 14 to 64 years is issued for a period of 10 years. Those under 14 years of age will be issued a passport for 5 years or until they reach 14 years of age. That is, if a child, for example, is 6 years old, then he will receive a passport for 5 years - until the age of 11; if 12 – before reaching the age of 14; if 13 years and one day - then already for 10 years. After 64 years of age, the document is issued until the owner reaches 100 years of age.
What are the requirements for a passport when applying for a Schengen visa?
– To open a Schengen visa, the passport must be issued no more than 10 years ago. This requirement is imposed by the European Union Visa Code. If your passport is older than this time, you will not be able to obtain a Schengen visa without issuing a new document.
What to do if your passport is damaged?
– The passport must be replaced due to its unsuitability for use, regardless of the degree of damage. This applies, among other things, if the seal with the image of the state emblem of the Republic of Belarus in the identity document has become unreadable. To exchange, you must contact a person authorized to conduct passport work (settlement and reference centers, owner's associations, etc.) or the citizenship and migration department of the internal affairs body and, depending on the situation, submit the documents provided for in paragraph 11.2 of the list of administrative procedures .
How quickly can a new passport be produced?
– The period for obtaining a passport does not exceed a month. Payment of the state duty is one basic amount (25.5 rubles). If a citizen wants to speed up the process of obtaining a passport up to 15 days, another basic amount is paid additionally. For processing a document within one week, the cost increases by two basic amounts (51 rubles). The service of document registration up to 7 days is possible only in the capital and regional centers! By the way, children under 14 years old receive a passport free of charge.
Where and how can I pay for services for issuing and exchanging a passport?
– In bank branches, RUE "Belpochta" or through electronic payments through the ERIP system using Internet banking, mobile banking, information kiosk or other payment devices.
Is it necessary to obtain a passport for a child in order to take him abroad?
– A passport is required even for an infant. It does not matter which country you enter. This requirement also applies to visiting the Russian Federation.
Is the father's consent required when a child goes on holiday with his mother?
– If a minor crosses the border with one of the parents, the consent of the second parent is not required. This is provided for by the Law of the Republic of Belarus of September 20, 2009 N 49-Z “On the procedure for exit from the Republic of Belarus and entry into the Republic of Belarus for citizens of the Republic of Belarus.”
How is a dispute resolved if one of the parents objects to the child leaving with the other parent (legal representative)?
– These issues are resolved in court. One of the parents must file a claim to establish a different procedure for the minor child to travel abroad.
What documents are needed for a child to go on holiday with his grandmother or as part of an organized group of children?
– Passport and consent of parents (legal representatives) notarized or certified by the citizenship and migration department of the internal affairs body.
What should I do if all the pages in my passport are used, but I still have a valid visa?
– In this case, the passport to be exchanged can be returned to the citizen by the Citizenship and Migration Unit or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs based on a written application from the owner. In this case, on pages 1-30 (except for pages with valid visas) marks will be placed indicating their cancellation. Crossing the Belarusian border occurs only with a valid passport of the Republic of Belarus. After the need to use the exchanged passport no longer exists, it must be returned.
According to
the official website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus
What to do if, after the borders open, the flight is canceled due to coronavirus?
In the search on Skyscanner, check the box next to “Show only airlines with flexible fares.”
This way, if the airline cancels your flight due to worsening COVID-19 conditions, you can reschedule, change your route, or get a full refund.
Money for a canceled flight is returned by transferring the amount to your account or in the form of a voucher for future travel.
Most airlines, hotels and car rentals are offering flexible booking conditions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
