Foreign Minister explains what EU visa waiver means for Georgia
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The regulation allowing for visa-free travel for Georgian citizens to the Schengen Zone comes into effect tomorrow on March 28.
Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze says that, first of all, the European Union (EU) visa waiver is a recognition of the efficacy of Georgia’s recent reforms and institutions.
Janelidze also said the visa waiver will bring concrete results for citizens too.
He believes this is an opportunity:
- for Georgian entrepreneurs to establish more business contacts in Europe;
- for Georgian small and medium-size entrepreneurs to participate in exhibitions in Europe;
- for Georgian artists to perform their work at European exhibitions;
- for Georgian students to participate in short-term exchange programs or internships.
Janelidze also explained what a Georgian citizen may expect while being interviewed by a customs officer before entering an EU country.
"It is necessary for the trip purpose to be defined and the citizen to explain to the officer what he or she is traveling to the EU for. The purpose could be a short educational program, medical or scientific reasons or business. What matters is that there must be a purpose and a traveler must provide information regarding where they are going to stay and for how long”, Janelidze said.
"A citizen must be able to prove all of these if such questions are asked”, he added.
The regulation letting Georgian citizens travel to the Schengen Zone without a visa comes into full effect on Tuesday, March 28.
New security measures will track the status of Georgian citizens travelling to the Schengen Zone after new legislation lifting visa-requirements for Georgians will enter into force on March 28.
Georgian citizens will be able to travel to any of the Schengen Zone countries visa-free in just 20 days. New legislation lifting visa-requirements for Georgians has been published in the European Union’s Official Journal today.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili says that today’s approval of the visa waiver for Georgians is an expression of political support of the European Union towards Georgia.
Agenda.ge’s team of journalists will be some of the first Georgian citizens to cross the EU border without a visa requirement early tomorrow morning.
Georgia is taking steps to ensure its citizens do not violate EU visa-free travel rules as the visa-free regime for Georgian citizens to the European Union comes into force tomorrow.
From now on, Georgian citizens no longer need a visa to travel to the Schengen Zone. The regulation lifting visa requirements for Georgians entered into effect today, Tuesday, March 28.
Today is a day Georgians have awaited for years. A number of international leaders have taken to Twitter to share their happiness for Georgia. Some of them even issued a congratulatory video message in Georgian.
One month on from the introduction of the visa-free regime between Georgia and the European Union (EU) unofficial preliminary data is now rolling in. Between March 28 and April 27, 11,700 citizens of Georgia travelled visa-free in Schengen area and only 26 people were denied entry at the border.
Reforms in Georgia are impressive and the country should continue in this way, says a delegation of the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs after paying a visit to Georgia.
Seventy-nine days on from the introduction of the visa-free regime between Georgia and European Union (EU) preliminary data is now rolling in.