Georgia has decided to change its entry rules, making it mandatory for travelers from a total of 95 countries who enjoy visa-free travel to purchase travel health insurance before entering the country.
As the Georgian authorities have confirmed, the requirement for visa-exempt travelers to present proof of having purchased travel health insurance will start applying from June 1, 2024, VisaGuide.World reports.
So far, travelers who are permitted to enter Georgia without obtaining a visa were not required to purchase travel health insurance.
However, in order to ensure that all travelers, regardless of the entry privileges they enjoy, are covered from any expenses in case of any unforeseen medical emergencies, Georgia has decided to make this requirement mandatory for everyone.
What Should the Travel Insurance Policy for Georgia Cover?
The travel health insurance policy for Georgia must cover at least €30,000 of medical costs. Moreover, the policy must be valid during the entire stay in Georgia.
This means that regardless of whether travelers plan to stay in Georgia for a day, a week, or a month, they must purchase travel health insurance.
The proof of having purchased travel health insurance needs to be presented upon entry into Georgia. The document must be either in Georgian, English, or Russian.
It is recommended that those who plan to travel to Georgia purchase their travel health insurance policy around 15 days before their planned departure.
Travelers Exempted From Visa Requirement Can Stay in Georgia for up to 1 Year
Travelers who are permitted visa-free entry to Georgia can stay in the country for up to one year without needing to obtain a visa.
However, visa-exempt travelers reaching Georgia must ensure that their travel documents are valid at the time they enter the country and at least three months after leaving the country.
While nationals of 95 countries who are exempt from the visa requirements can stay in Georgia for up to 365 days without a visa, the case is not the same for those who want to remain in the country for a longer period of time.
Those who want to stay in Georgia for over a year for work, study, training, or family reunification purposes must apply for a residence permit. The application for the residence permit can be made at the Public Service Hall in Georgia’s major cities after entering the country.