Georgia has revealed more details of the country’s new visa regulations and announced which countries do not need a visa to enter Georgia.
From September 1, 2014, the number of countries eligible to enter Georgia without a visa has been slashed by 24, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today.
See the full list of countries eligible in the visa-free regime below.
Under the old rules, citizens from 118 countries were able to enter Georgia without a visa and stay for a maximum of 360 days. But from September 1, 2014, citizens from 94 countries will be able to enter Georgia without a visa however they can only stay for a maximum of 90 days in a 180 day period.
The Ministry said it was still negotiating with other countries not named on the visa-free list and in the future more countries would be added to the visa-free regime.
Under the new rules no one from any country is eligible to enter Georgia for 360 days.
In addition, from next month visitors to Georgia will not be able to obtain a visa on arrival. People who wish to spent time in Georgia longer than the 90 day allocated period, must apply for a Georgian visas from a Georgian Embassy or Consulate in a person’s home country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the reason for this change was to enhance the level of security at the border, as currently when visas were granted at the border, there was not enough time to gather appropriate information about the traveller who wanted to enter the country.
The Ministry said this rule was in line with other European countries, however there would be exceptions when a Georgian visa could be issued at the border however this would only happen in "special cases” determined by the Georgian Government.
In addition, the cost of obtaining a visa will become universal for all citizens all over the globe and will cost $50 USD (86 GEL).
Meanwhile, when planning a longer visit to Georgia all citizens are required to obtain an immigration visa, regardless of nationality. The Ministry said this change was noted in the Association Agreement (AA) and this must be done before the traveller arrived in Georgia.
The Ministry confirmed people had the possibility to apply for a visa online and while this service was not available yet, this would be possible in the near future.
List of countries whose citizens may enter Georgia without a visa for a short-stay visit:
1. Commonwealth of Australia
2. Republic of Austria
3. Republic of Azerbaijan
4. Republic of Albania
5. United States of America
6. Principality of Andorra
7. Antigua and Barbuda
8. United Arab Emirates
9. Argentine Republic
10. New Zealand
11. Barbados
12. Kingdom of Bahrain
13. Commonwealth of the Bahamas
14. Republic of Belarus
15. Kingdom of Belgium
16. Belize
17. Bosnia and Herzegovina
18. Republic of Botswana
19. Federative Republic of Brazil
20. Nation of Brunei
21. Republic of Bulgaria
22. Federal Republic of Germany
23. Kingdom of Denmark
24. Kingdom of Denmark territories - Faroe islands, Greenland;
25. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
26. British overseas territories - Bermuda, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Falkland Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, Gibraltar;
27. British dependant territories - Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man;
28. Commonwealth of Dominica
29. Republic of El Salvador
30. Republic of Ecuador
31. Kingdom of Spain
32. Republic of Estonia
33. Republic of Turkey
34. Turkmenistan
35. Japan
36. Irish Republic
37. Iceland
38. State of Israel
39. Italian Republic
40. Canada
41. State of Qatar
42. Republic of Cyprus
43. Republic of Colombia
44. Republic of Korea
45. Republic of Costa Rica
46. Republic of Latvia
47. Republic of Lithuania
48. Lebanese Republic
49. Principality of Liechtenstein
50. Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
51. Republic of Mauritius
52. Malaysia
53. Republic of Malta
54. United Mexican States
55. Principality of Monaco
56. Republic of Moldova
57. Montenegro
58. Kingdom of the Netherlands
59. Kingdom of Netherlands territories - Aruba, the Netherlands Antilles;
60. Kingdom of Norway
61. Sultanate of Oman
62. Republic of Panama
63. Republic of Poland
64. Portuguese Republic
65. Republic of Romania
66. Russian Federation
67. Hellenic Republic
68. Republic of South Africa
69. Republic of San Marino
70. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
71. French Republic
72. French Republic territories - French Polynesia, New Caledonia
73. Republic of Seychelles
74. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
75. Republic of Serbia
76. Republic of Singapore
77. Slovak Republic
78. Republic of Slovenia
79. Republic of Armenia
80. Kingdom of Thailand
81. Republic of Tajikistan
82. Republic of Uzbekistan
83. Ukraine
84. Hungary
85. Republic of Finland
86. State of Kuwait
87. Kyrgyz Republic
88. Republic of Kazakhstan
89. Kingdom of Sweden
90. Swiss Confederation
91. Czech Republic
92. Holy See
93. Republic of Croatia
94. Republic of Honduras