Georgian citizens will now be screened at border checkpoints while traveling to the EU or Schengen zone in addition to facing checks at their destination.
The change has come into force today.
All documentation required by Schengen regulations will have to be presented.
A citizen of Georgia may be refused the right to depart from Georgia if he/she is prohibited from entering any EU/Schengen area country or fails to submit the documents required by law,” says the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.
Circumstances taken into account during the checks will include the documentation of a passenger, history of the person’s travel in an EU member state/Schengen area and purpose of travel.
The rule applies to Georgian citizens wishing to travel to an EU/Schengen area with the visa-free regime by direct flight or through transit.
If a person is participating in conferences, seminars or official meetings, in addition to the documents listed above, it is recommended for a passenger to have an invitation to the event/conference/seminar/programme.
If a person is traveling to use medical services of for a short-term medical course/surgery, in addition to the documents listed above it is recommended a passenger to have consent of the medical institution where the treatment is planned and/or the recommendation of the Georgian medical institution to conduct the relevant treatment in the EU/Schengen member state. In addition, it is recommended for him (her) to prove the financial capability for treatment
Austria, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Greece, France, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Finland, Czech Republic, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Sweden, Croatia, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania.
The duration of any such visit shall not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period.