100 years of history of Georgian passports showed in new Arch of 26 May

Arch of 26 May has been opened in front of the Tbilisi Justice House, showing how the Georgian passport has changed since the creation of the first Democratic Republic of Georgia in 1918.

The opening of the Arch of 26 May is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the creation of the first Democratic Republic of Georgia, which Georgia celebrates on May 26.

The arch which is installed at the entrance of the Justice House is a symbol of the road that Georgia has passed over a century to return to Europe. Citizens of Georgia who come to take a modern biometric passport will have to symbolically pass through the same road, which Georgia has passed since 1918”, read the press-release from the Justice House.

Arch of May 26 was opened in front of the Tbilisi Justice House. Photo: Ministry of Justice. 

The installation features information about six different travel documents that Georgian citizens received since 1918 until today.

The first passport of the Democratic Republic of Georgia was in Georgian and French languages and featured the national emblem of Georgia.

Since 1954 passports of the so-called ОФ series were released while in 1975 these passports were replaced with the symbolic passport of the Soviet Union.

The first passport of the independent Republic of Georgia was issued on November 22, 1994. On April 16, 2005 a 32-page passport was approved, while since 2006 it has been possible to receive a 48-page passport as well.

Holders of Georgian passports are able to travel to the European Union and Schengen countries visa-free.