Georgia marks 4th anniversary of visa-free travel to EU
Georgian citizens can enter the European Union visa-free for 90 days within a 180-day period, whether it be for tourism, family visits, or business. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Four years ago on this day the regulation lifting visa requirements for Georgians to travel to the European Union entered into effect.
Agenda.ge's economic editor Mariam Papidze and photographer Nino Alavidze were among the first Georgian citizens to cross the EU border without the visa requirement back on March 28, 2017.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili believes the visa-free travel is 'one of the most visible successes' in the EU-Georgia relations.
Noting the government spares no efforts to prepare Georgia for full-fledged EU membership, he said Georgia will submit the membership application in 2024.
Marking the 4th anniversary of the entry into force of the visa-free regime the ???????? on March 28th. Visa-free travel is one of the most visible successes in ???????????????? relations. ????????'s recognition as a reliable&worthy partner by the ????????has brought us even closer to the European family.
— Irakli Garibashvili (@GharibashviliGe) March 28, 2021
Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has also tweeted:
Today marks the 4th anniversary of one of the greatest political achievement of ????????-????????relations – visa free regime for GEO citizens accounting for over 1.1 mln visits. Visa free enhanced P2P contacts, tourism, business & education ties keeping ????????’s EU integration success driven.
— David Zalkaliani (@DZalkaliani) March 28, 2021
Former ambassador of Georgia to the EU Natalie Sabanadze who has served in Brussels for almost eight years before her recent resignation said visa-free travel is 'a symbol of breaking down barriers and acquiring a privilege of freedom'.
Many of us will always remember March 28 when #Georgia was granted #visaliberalisation 4 years ago. A symbol of breaking down barriers and acquiring a privilege of freedom.
— Natalie Sabanadze (@natasabanadze) March 28, 2021
Georgian citizens holding biometric passports can travel to EU/Schengen Zone visa-free for 90 days within a 180-day period, whether it be for tourism, family visits, or business.
However, international flight have been restricted for over a year now due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili is paying his first visa-free visit to Lithuania with Georgian citizens with Abkhazian and Ossetian origin today.
A large street banner has been installed near the Vilnius Airport to warmly greet first guests from Georgia who travel to Lithuania visa-free. The bilingual banner says in English and Georgian: "Closer than ever.”
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.
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.
Georgia joined celebrations of Europe Day on Sunday, an annual date celebrating peace and cooperation across the continent, with landmarks across the country illuminated with European Union colours and messages recognising ties between Georgia and the EU.
The European Commission has published its fourth report on the monitoring of the EU visa free regime with eight countries, including Georgia, and stated that ‘overall Georgia continues to fulfil the visa liberalisation benchmarks and has taken action to address the European Commission’s recommendations.’
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani says any information that European Union is suspending the visa-free regime with Georgia is ‘a big lie’. “Georgia is fulfilling all of its obligations and no suspension mechanism will enter into force”, he says.
Georgian law enforcement has strengthened its international cooperation during the five years of visa-free travel with the European Union, the Interior Ministry of Georgia said on Monday.
Visa-free travel with the European Union has been a “vital” and “tangible benefit” for Georgian citizens, Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, said on Monday on the fifth anniversary of the country’s travel agreement with the EU and the Schengen Area countries.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday highlighted France's support for the country’s European Union integration path.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday said it was “unlikely” for any European Union member state not to back the European Commission’s decision to recommend the European Council to grant the country the membership candidate status in December.