GoGeorgia Visa Requirements

Visa Entry

The Georgian side may adjust its visa entry policy from time to time. Please pay attention to the announcements issued by the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or consult with the Georgian Embassy in China in a timely manner.

According to the bilateral agreement between China and Georgia, Chinese citizens holding diplomatic passports, official passports, or ordinary official passports are exempt from visa requirements and can stay in Georgia for no more than 30 days. For long-term work or study in Georgia, it is necessary to apply for a visa in advance (including official passport and official ordinary passport) and obtain a Georgian residence permit upon entry.

On September 11, 2023, the Prime Minister of Georgia announced at a government meeting that Chinese citizens would be granted visa free treatment. Confirmed by the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, starting from September 11, 2023, Chinese citizens who come to Georgia for tourism purposes can enter Georgia visa free with any type of Chinese passport and stay in Georgia for no more than 30 days.

Chinese citizens holding valid visas and/or residence permits from countries such as the United States, Canada, Japan, and South Korea (see www.geoconsul. gov.ge for details) can enter Georgia visa free and stay for up to 90 days within 180 days.

Chinese citizens holding United Nations passports or travel documents issued by specialized agencies of the United Nations are eligible to enter Georgia visa free and stay for up to 90 days within 180 days.

Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports applying for work, study, family visit and other types of visas to visit Georgia must apply at the Georgian Embassy in China. Applicants should contact the Embassy of Georgia in China in advance. To apply for a visa, they must provide:

1、 Basic documents (required for applying for any type of visa):

1. Travel documents - must be valid for at least 3 months longer than the Georgian visa applied for, with at least 2 blank visa pages, and must have been issued within the past 10 years

2. Completed electronic and physical (signed) visa application forms

3. Visa fee payment receipt, the applicant must go to the bank to make the payment

Cost: $20 (with an additional 2% handling fee)

Account Name: Consular Section, Embassy of Georgia in China.

Account: 01664118093014

Swift code: BKCHCNBJ

Bank of Deposit: Head Office of Bank of China

4. Color electronic version photo (size 3 cm x 4 cm)

5. If punished for illegal residence in Georgia, a receipt of the fine paid must be provided

6. Personal Health and Accident Insurance Certificate

7. If applying for a visa as a minor or incapable person, a written consent form from their legal representative must be submitted

8. If the application materials are submitted by an agent, a notarized power of attorney must be provided

2、 Other materials (omitted)

For more information, please consult the Embassy of Georgia in China

Address: No. 38, Block G, Jingrun Water Garden Villa, No. 18 Xiaoyun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing

【Kings Garden Villa, Block G38, Xiao Yun Road 18, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100016, China】

Phone: 010-64681203 Fax: 010-64681202

E-mail: geobeijing@gmail.com

geoembassy@mfa.gov.ge

china.emb@mfa.gov.ge

china.con@mfa.gov.ge

Or visit the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular website www.geoconsul.gov.ge

At the time of entry, the border guards strictly review the passport and visa, and release them after stamping the entry seal on the visa page of the passport.

When leaving the country, the authorities are very strict in reviewing passports, visas, and residence permits. Please be sure to leave the country within the validity period of your visa or residence permit. If it exceeds the deadline, border personnel will impose varying degrees of fines based on the duration of the delay (a fine of 180 lari within three months, a fine of 360 lari for more than three months, and a fine of 100 lari for violating transit regulations), which may affect your next entry into Georgia.

Customs epidemic prevention and control

According to the customs regulations, it is prohibited to carry drugs, weapons, explosives, obscene and pornographic materials, etc. when entering or leaving the country. If carrying pets into or out of the country, animal quarantine must be done in advance. If carrying art or cultural relics out of the country, approval must be obtained from the Georgian Ministry of Culture. Goods exceeding the quantity for personal use will be subject to customs duties.

There are no clear restrictions on carrying foreign exchange and duty-free goods into and out of the country, but all currencies with an equivalent amount exceeding 30000 lire must be declared in advance.

The National Food Safety, Veterinary and Plant Protection Agency of Georgia, under the Ministry of Agriculture, is specifically responsible for inspection and quarantine of animal and plant products and food, providing "one-stop" services. Conduct import and export inspection and quarantine on fresh animal products and plant products, and handle customs clearance procedures with the issued inspection and quarantine certificate. Specific product catalogs and contact information can be found on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture http://moa.gov.ge/

Residency and Naturalization

According to the purpose and status of stay, the following types of residence permits can be applied for in Georgia: work, study, family reunion, former Georgian citizens, special residence permits, short-term residence permits, permanent residence permits, investment residence permits, stateless person residence permits, etc.

Materials must be submitted, taking the work residence permit as an example:

1. The completed residence permit application form;

2. Copy of passport or other travel documents;

3. Copy of Georgian immigration visa D1 or D2;

4. Employment relationship or business activity proof documents (labor contracts or other documents), if the above documents cannot prove the applicant's legal income, the applicant must submit personal bank account information, and the deposit amount of the account during the validity period of the applied residence shall not be less than five times the minimum living standard in Georgia;

5. One photo with a size of 3 cm x 4 cm;

6. Payment receipt.

According to the Georgian Nationality Law, Georgia does not recognize dual citizenship. Foreign citizens can apply for citizenship, and applicants must meet the following conditions:

1. Have resided continuously and legally in Georgia for at least 10 years as of the date of application for Georgian citizenship;

2. Mastering a certain level of Georgian language;

3. Master a certain degree of knowledge of Georgian history and law;

4. Legally employed and/or owning real estate in Georgia, engaging in commercial activities in Georgia, or owning shares in Georgian enterprises.

In addition to meeting the above conditions, the President of Georgia may grant Georgian nationality to foreigners who have made outstanding contributions to Georgia.

The applicant must personally or through a representative submit an application for Georgian citizenship to the Public Service Development Bureau of the Georgian Ministry of Justice or the Georgian embassy or consulate abroad.

Applicants can also submit a special nationality application directly to the Georgian Presidential Office.

For details, please refer to the website psh.gov.ge of the Public Service Hall of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia. The initial page of the website is in Georgian, and you can click to switch to other languages in the upper right corner of the page.

Georgia's risk level is blue (low risk)

Security situation

The general public security environment in Georgia is good, but robbery, theft and attacks on foreigners sometimes occur. Affected by the epidemic, the economic situation in Georgia has declined and unemployment has increased, which has had a certain impact on the public security situation. Chinese citizens should try to avoid going out alone late at night, avoid going to remote areas, and do not carry large amounts of cash with them when coming to Georgia.

natural disaster

Georgia is located between the Greater and Lesser Caucasus Mountains, with many mountainous areas and abundant precipitation, which can easily cause landslides and mudslides. Due to its location in the Mediterranean Himalayan seismic belt, earthquakes also occur from time to time. Attention should be paid to avoiding mountain activities during frequent rainy and snowy weather in summer and winter.

FDA

Ge is an agricultural country with relatively developed animal husbandry and planting industries. It is rich in fruits and vegetables, and has good soil, water quality, and climate conditions. Moreover, fruits and vegetables are generally not treated with pesticides, and the overall food safety situation is good. Ge tap water can be consumed directly, but due to aging pipes, it is recommended to boil it before drinking.

Urgent Help

24-hour unified alarm hotline 112 (fire alarm, rescue, medical emergency, bandit police).

air traffic

In September 2016, China Southern Airlines launched direct flights from Tbilisi to Urumqi to Beijing, with a total of three flights per week on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

·Currently, there are three international airports in Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi.

·Tbilisi International Airport is located 17 kilometers southeast of the capital city of Tbilisi and can be reached by light rail, bus, and taxi. The one-way ticket price for light rail and bus is 0.5 lari. Tbilisi International Airport has flights to:

·Athens, Moscow, Almaty, Simferopol, Likou, Baghdad, Rome, Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Baku, Minsk, Urumqi, Prague, Dubai, Amsterdam, Vienna, Paris, Warsaw, Munich, Qatar, Ankara, Kiev, Yekaterinburg. Domestic flights lead to Kutaisi and Batumi.

·Kutaisi International Airport is located 14 kilometers away from Kutaisi, the second largest city in Georgia, with flights to Minsk, Moscow, Tel Aviv, and Baghdad.

·Batumi International Airport is located 2 kilometers south of the seaside tourist city of Batumi, with flights to Minsk, Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Ankara, and Kiev.

（※ https://flights.avia.ge/flights/TBS1508BCN26091 On this website, you can see all flights in and out of Georgia, and there is also a Chinese version available.

land transport

Mainly for railways and highways. There are international direct trains between Tbilisi and the Armenian capital Yerevan and the Azerbaijani capital Baku. Tbilisi to major cities such as Kutaisi and Batumi can be reached by train.

·The main highway in Georgia only has a two-way four lane expressway from Tbilisi to Gori city, with a total length of about 70 kilometers. The rest of the highways are two-way two lane roads with many mountain roads and average road quality. Georgians drive very fast and pedestrians often cross the road. In addition, some mountain roads in Ge are narrow and steep, with deep valleys on both sides or one side and many curves. Self driving poses a danger and requires special attention to safety. The vehicle should drive on the right side, and the Chinese driver's license can be used locally for no more than 6 months (calculated from the date of entry). If staying for a long time, it is necessary to obtain translation notarization and consular dual authentication in China.

water communication

There are regular liners from Batumi to Odessa, Ukraine during the summer. (Currently suspended during the epidemic)

Urban transportation

The main public transportation modes in Tbilisi city include subway, bus, minibus, and taxi. The subway, bus, and minibus ticket prices are 1 lari, and taxis can be negotiated.

major city

Tbilisi, the capital and largest city of Georgia, with a population of 1.241 million (as of January 2023), is the political, cultural, economic, and educational center of Georgia, as well as a transportation hub.

·Kutaisi, the capital of Imereti Province, has a population of 130000 as of January 2023.

·Batumi, the capital of the Gezar Autonomous Republic, is located on the Black Sea coast and is a famous tourist destination in Gezar. It has a population of 179000 (as of January 2023) and is an important port and commercial center in Gezar.

Commodity prices

The common currency in Georgia is the lari, which is currently equivalent to 2.71 lari per US dollar (as of November 2023) and can be freely exchanged. MASTERCARD or VISA credit cards that have activated international payment functions can be used to make purchases by swiping the card. The Central Bank of Georgia is the national bank of Georgia, with major commercial banks including Bank of Georgia, TBC Bank, BASIS Bank (acquired by Xinjiang Hualing Group), VTB Bank, Free Bank, TERA Bank, etc. Each bank has many branches.

·Ge wine has a large production capacity and currently exports alcoholic beverages to 53 countries, with Russia, Poland, Ukraine, China, and Kazakhstan ranking in the top 5. Vegetables and fruits are relatively abundant, cheaper during peak seasons and more expensive during off-season. At present, the price of pork, beef, and mutton is about 20-30 lari per kilogram, and the price of eggs is 0.4-0.5 lari per kilogram. Format bread is 1-3 lari each, and format cheese cakes are 3-4 lari each. Gasoline costs 3.39-3.79 lari per liter. Compared to the income of ordinary people, the price level is relatively high.

Insurance Medical

Georgia does not implement compulsory medical insurance for its own country and foreigners.

·The medical conditions in Tbilisi are still acceptable, and there are multiple state-owned and private hospitals and clinics in Tbilisi.

·The largest hospital is the Republic Hospital, with reasonable fees, convenient medical treatment, and 24-hour service, but the medical equipment is relatively outdated. Private hospitals and clinics have good conditions, advanced equipment, and strong professionalism, but their fees are relatively high.

Customs taboos

Georgians have a rough and unrestrained personality, are frank and straightforward, generous and generous, friendly to others, respect elders and love children, and are hospitable. They like the numbers "7" and "3", but do not like the numbers "13" and "666". Pay attention to dressing appropriately in daily life, especially in social occasions. Men wear suits and ties, women wear makeup, and dress neatly and appropriately. When meeting in social situations, shake hands more often as a sign of etiquette, and when meeting or saying goodbye to family and friends, stick your face and hug as a sign of etiquette.

·Georgians usually prefix their names with 'Mr.', 'Ms.', etc. when meeting, addressing, or greeting each other. Close friends like to call them by their first names; She likes to give gifts in social activities. The number of gifts is uneven. She prefers to give flowers, perfume and other gifts. Flowers should be given in odd numbers; To show respect to foreign friends and guests, Ge should give more local wine and swords as gifts.

·The main dietary habit is barbecue, and the dishes have unique flavors. Chinese cuisine is widely popular. Taboo to inquire about personal income, age, and religious beliefs.

·Georgian statutory holidays include:

·January 1-2, New Year's Day;

·January 7th, Eastern Orthodox Christmas;

·January 19th, washing ceremony;

·March 3rd, Mother's Day;

·March 8th, International Women's Day;

·April 9th, National Independence Day;

·Easter in April (Friday before Easter and Monday after Easter are all closed);

·May 9th, Victory Day of World War II;

·May 12th, Saint Andrew's Day, the founder of the Gedong Orthodox Church;

·May 26th, Independence Day;

·August 28th, Our Lady of Mary Day;

·On October 14th, Mtskhetatoba Festival;

·November 23rd, Saint George's Day.

·Every Saturday and Sunday is a public holiday.

Communications Power

Georgia has a high degree of Internet popularity, and major government departments and enterprises have official websites. The general public uses the internet more frequently in their daily lives and work, with a higher degree of office automation and informatization.

·The network cost is relatively low, with a cost of 5 lari for 1000MB.

·Chinese mobile phones can be used directly in China and are compatible with network standards.

·The grid voltage is 220 volts, using a round head socket (the same as in Russia).

contact information

Main Chinese funded institutions:

·China Southern Airlines Representative Office

·Address: 10th floor， 11， Apakidze street，Tbilisi，Georgi

·Phone:+ 995 32 2236683

·BASIS Bank (acquired by Xinjiang Hualing Group)

·Head Office Address: 1， Ketevan Tsamebuli Ave. Tbilisi， Georgia

·Phone:+ 995 32 2922922

·Website: www.basisbank.ge

·Main government departments:

·Emergency center (fire alarm, rescue, medical emergency, bandit police) phone number: one hundred and twelve

·Ministry of Internal Affairs website: http://police.ge/

·Department of Justice Immigration Office Phone:+995 32 2401010 Website: https://sda.gov.ge/

·Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Security

·Phone:+995322510026 Website: https://www.moh.gov.ge/

·National Tourism Administration Phone:+995 32 2436999 Website: https://georgia.travel/

·Tbilisi International Airport Phone:+ 995 322310341

·Website: www.tbilisiairport.com

·Georgian Railway Company telephone: 1331+ 99532199010 website:

· www.railway.ge