A visa is a permit given by a country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry that allows someone to enter that particular country. It is generally stamped on person’s passport by an embassy. It states the kind of visit and how long the person can stay. Many countries require foreign visitors to have a valid passport and a visa before they can enter the country.
A citizen of a foreign country who seeks to enter Georgia must first obtain a Georgia visa. The visitors can obtain the visa from Georgian diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries, or from the countries whose citizens can obtain e-visa. Visitors must hold a passport (or identity card if a Turkish or EU citizen) valid for the period of intended stay, while Georgian citizens can enter with a valid passport or identity card. The visa policy in Georgia is said to be liberal, allowing the citizens of 98 countries to enter, reside, work, and study in Georgia without the necessity to obtain either visa or resident permit. Not just this, the Georgian Government has also approved a list of 50 countries whose visa and/or residence permit holders may enter Georgia without a visa for an appropriate period and under appropriate conditions.
Types of Visa in Georgia
Depending on the purpose of your travel to Georgia, there are different categories of visas that will apply to the occasion. Whether you are planning to go on a visit, study, or work and reside there permanently, you will have to apply for a different Georgian Visa, accordingly.
There are generally 2 types of Georgian visas:
- Single Entry Visa
- Multiple Entry Visa
A single-entry short-term visa is issued according to the length of stay requested on the visa application form, but form a stay of not more than 30 days.
A multiple-entry short-term visa is issued for the duration of maximum five years. At the same time, the entry and the total length of stay of a foreign citizen shall not exceed 90 calendar days within the 180-day period. A multiple-entry short-term visa is issued to the foreigner who has been in Georgia at least once during the previous year and has grounds for applying for a short-term multi-entry visa.
Georgian visa may fall into one of the following categories:
- Diplomatic (A)
- Special (B)
- Ordinary (C)
- Immigration (D)
- Transit (T)
All the above categories have sub-categories and depending on the same an individual must apply for a visa.
Procedure for Obtaining a Georgian Visa
The visas are Georgia are issued by Georgia’s diplomatic missions and consular offices abroad while the electronic visa is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia after submitting the relevant application along with the supporting documents through the official website of the Ministry. The documents required for the same are:
- Order form
- Your original passport (valid for 6 months)
- One passport size photo
- One visa application form completed and signed
- Official letter of invitation is also required
Immigration Services in Georgia
An immigration visa has five sub-categories, which are explained as under:
1. D1 Category Visa [for entrepreneurial activities]
It is issued to individuals arriving in Georgia to work, representatives and consultants of companies coming to Georgia to perform their official duties, foreigners coming to Georgia for contracted work, and others coming to Georgia for carrying out entrepreneurial activity according to the Law of Georgia on entrepreneurial activity.
2. D2 Category Visa [for professional services]
It is issued to the people coming to Georgia to carry out scientific, sports, cultural or educational activities, freelancers, foreigners coming to Georgia as interns or volunteer, press workers coming to Georgia to carry out their professional activity, etc.
3. D3 Category Visa [for research and educational purposes]
This type of visa is issued to individuals coming to Georgia for study or do research at an authorized educational institution or to those coming to Georgia as part of an international educational program.
4. D4 Category Visa [for family reunification]
It is issued to individuals/family that comes to Georgia for family reunification.
5. D5 Category Visa [for people with right to immovable property]
It is issued to the person - and his/her family members - who, according to the rule established by Georgian legislation have the right to immovable property (except for agricultural land), with the market price above USD 35,000 equivalent in GEL.
Georgia immigration permit holders can also apply for residence permit in Georgia.
E-Visa
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Georgia has launched an e-visa portal allowing short-term visitors to get a visa in an effortless way. There are just three simple steps to obtain an e-visa for the prospective travelers without visiting the Georgian Embassy or the Consular’s office. They are:
- Applying for the visa from the official portal of the MFA. Applying through this portal comes with a lot of advantages. There is no need to make an appointment or present the original documents to the Embassy
- Make an online payment as stated on the website
- An e-visa will be issued and you must take a printout copy of the same
Documents Required for an E-Visa
You must be able to present all the required documents at the Georgian state border:
- Travel Document/Passport
- Document proving the purpose of travel
- Proof of accommodation
- Travel and health insurance
- Document proving sufficient financial means
Our Visa Services
We can assist you with all the processes, right from application to procurement and renewal, of Georgia visa. In particular, we provide the following Georgia visa services:
- Applying for all types of visas
- Processing and visa renewal in Georgia business and employment visas
- Arranging for visa transfer and visa cancellation
- Assisting in arranging and submitting the notarized documents to the Ministry
If you are looking to apply for a visa in Georgia, you can contact us – we’d be glad to help.