Russian visas available to Georgian transport companies

Georgian trucking companies can now apply for a Russian visa with the Land Transport Agency.

From today the Agency, which is part of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, has begun accepting Russian visa applications from Georgian carrier companies.    

The carrier drivers should be Georgian citizens and the visa application will only be accepted if necessary paperwork accompanied the application, the Ministry of Economy said.

Truck drivers will have to fill in a special application form and submit a extract from the state register, a notarized copy of the contract signed by the driver and copies of the drivers passport, driving license and vehicle registrations certificates.

An official statement about easing Russian visa rules for Georgian trucking companies was received by the Swiss Embassy in Georgia on December 27, 2013. The embassy has represented Georgias interests in Russia since the country broke diplomatic relations with Moscow in 2008.

Easing visa rules means Georgian carriers will get multi-use visas for one year. It will cost $310 USD to issue a visa in three days or $160 USD to issue a visa in ten days.

The Ministry of Economy believe this initiative will increase the trade turnover between the countries and will decrease transportation costs, which inhibit economic growth.

Road freight transport between Tbilisi and Moscow only resumed last August after it was suspended by the initiation of the Russian Government in 2006.

Detailed visa procedures are posted on the Ministry of Economy website (www.economy.ge) and Land Transport Agency website (www.lta.gov.ge).