Sokhumi

Passport validity requirements

If you’re visiting Georgia, your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay.

Check with your travel provider to make sure your passport and other travel documents meet their requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.

Visa requirements

You can visit Georgia without a visa for up to one year.

To stay longer or to travel for work or study, you must apply for a longer-term visa. Contact the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for more information.

The rules on who can work in Georgia were changed on 1 March 2026. If you are a foreign national and want to work in Georgia, including working remotely or running a business, you must have a work permit.

A work permit is issued for one year and only for a specific job and a specific employer.

Once the work permit is approved, you must then apply for the appropriate visa and/or a worker’s residence permit.

To apply for a work permit or get more information, contact the State Employment Support Agency under the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia.

If you’re in Georgia for more than 183 days and do any paid employment, you’re automatically liable for income tax and must tell the Revenue Service of Georgia. You’ll be fined if you do not comply.

Entering or leaving Georgia

A small number of British citizens have either been denied entry to Georgia or had trouble leaving. These cases appear to be linked to alleged presence at or participation in political demonstrations, and unpaid fines.

Some families have reported being denied entry to Georgia due to their child’s passport photo no longer matching their current appearance.

Insurance upon entry

All visitors must have appropriate health and accident insurance to cover all healthcare needs during your visit. You may be asked for evidence of this, either by your airline at check-in or by immigration authorities when you arrive in Georgia. You may face difficulties if you do not have this evidence.

Make sure you have appropriate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation. The insurance coverage amount must be no less than 30 000 Georgian Lari. The insurance policy may be issued by either a Georgian or a foreign insurance company.

The insurance policy needs to cover the full period of your stay in Georgia, including both arrival and departure dates.

See Georgian Visa information for full details, including mandatory information that must be included in the insurance policy.

Vaccine requirements

For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Georgia guide.

Customs rules 

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Georgia. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Bringing medicines into Georgia

Georgia has a very strict anti-drugs policy. This covers prescription and non-prescription medicines commonly available in the UK. For example, non-prescription medicines containing codeine are illegal. This can cause serious problems for travellers and in some cases lead to criminal prosecution. Do not carry medicine that is illegal in Georgia. Even with a valid prescription, foreign nationals have been detained, prosecuted, and fined. 

For more information on the legal status of a specific medicine, contact the Revenue Service of Georgia or the Georgian Embassy in the UK. 

If you travel with prescription medicine that is legal in Georgia, you must carry a doctor’s prescription and the original packaging. You should check in advance if your prescription would be acceptable to the Georgian authorities and whether the medicine you carry needs a prescription. You can contact the State Regulation Agency for Medical and Pharmaceutical Activities via email: regagency@moh.gov.ge. Assessment of your enquiry will take approximately one month.

Customs rules 

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Georgia. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Bringing medicines into Georgia

Georgia has a very strict anti-drugs policy. This covers prescription and non-prescription medicines commonly available in the UK. For example, non-prescription medicines containing codeine are illegal. This can cause serious problems for travellers and in some cases lead to criminal prosecution. Do not carry medicine that is illegal in Georgia. Even with a valid prescription, foreign nationals have been detained, prosecuted, and fined. 

For more information on the legal status of a specific medicine, contact the Revenue Service of Georgia or the Georgian Embassy in the UK. 

If you travel with prescription medicine that is legal in Georgia, you must carry a doctor’s prescription and the original packaging. You should check in advance if your prescription would be acceptable to the Georgian authorities and whether the medicine you carry needs a prescription. You can contact the State Regulation Agency for Medical and Pharmaceutical Activities via email: regagency@moh.gov.ge. Assessment of your enquiry will take approximately one month.

Emergency services in Georgia

Telephone: 112 (ambulance, fire, police)

Contact your travel provider and insurer

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.

Refunds and changes to travel

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim

Support from FCDO

FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:

• finding English-speaking lawyers, funeral directors and translators and interpreters in Georgia
• dealing with a death in Georgia
• being arrested or imprisoned in Georgia
• getting help if you’re a victim of crime
• what to do if you’re in hospital
• if you’re affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack

Contacting FCDO

Help abroad

See how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency.

Help in the UK

You can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)

Find out about call charges

Get travel advice updates

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.

Follow FCDO: 

• travel advice on X
• travel advice on Facebook

Risk information for British companies

The Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating in Georgia on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.

Areas where FCDO advises against travel

South Ossetia and Abkhazia

For security reasons, FCDO advises against all travel to the Russian occupied regions of:

• South Ossetia
• Abkhazia

FCDO also advises against all but essential travel to areas immediately next to the administrative boundary lines with South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

FCDO cannot provide face-to-face support to British nationals travelling in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, as UK government employees are restricted from travelling there.

Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.

Global travel impacts due to escalation in the Middle East

Escalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights.

Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East. Before you travel:

• check travel advice for any countries or territories you are transiting through
• check for the latest updates from your airline or tour operator
• review your travel insurance policy for coverage
• monitor local and international media for the latest information and sign up for travel advice email alerts

If you have been impacted by travel disruption and need to review your visa contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.

Before you travel 

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: 

• see general advice for women travellers
• read our guide on disability and travel abroad
• see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
• read about safety for solo and independent travel
• see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

About FCDO travel advice

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.

Get travel advice updates

Sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.

Follow FCDO: 

• travel advice on X
• travel advice on Facebook
• Travel Aware on Instagram

Laws and cultural differences

Personal ID

You are not legally required to always carry ID, but if the police or a service provider (hotel, bank etc) ask you for ID you are expected to show your passport.

Dress codes and behaviour in public

Tbilisi is a cosmopolitan city. There can be more conservative attitudes in rural areas. When travelling outside cities, be aware of cultural sensitivities around modest dress (particularly in places of worship) and showing affection in public.

Money

Prices may be quoted in US dollars and euros, but goods and services must be paid for in local currency (lari).

Travellers’ cheques are rarely accepted. Outside major towns, you may not find ATMs or be able to use credit and debit cards. Take enough cash in lari if travelling to rural or remote areas.

Illegal drugs

Illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties. You should expect a long jail sentence of 5 to 25 years and heavy fines for possessing, using, or smuggling of illegal drugs, including when transiting through the airport.

Airports in Georgia have excellent technology and security for detecting illegal items. This is also used to scan the baggage of transiting passengers.

Using cameras

Do not photograph sensitive sites like military bases and power installations.

Be aware of cultural sensitivities when photographing churches and other religious sites.

Using Drones

You must register any drone with a video or audio recording system at the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency before it can be used in a public place. To register you need your passport and a valid email address. Foreign nationals cannot register drones online, so you will need to do this in person at the Civil Aviation Agency office.

You must get a special licence from the Civil Aviation Authority for any drone that weighs more than 250g but less than 25kg, even if it does not have a video or audio system.

LGBT+ travellers

Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Georgia, and there are anti-discrimination laws, but same-sex relationships are still not widely accepted.

Showing affection in public may result in discrimination or harassment. Homophobic harassment and assault take place.

Pride marches in 2019 and 2021 were cancelled because the police did not guarantee security. In 2023, a Pride event was cancelled after a violent protest.

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.

Surrogacy

The Georgian Parliament is expected to adopt a law banning surrogacy for foreign couples soon. Keep up to date and get emails when we update Georgia travel advice.

If you’re visiting Georgia to arrange an international surrogacy, consider the risks and challenges involved. Surrogacy is a complex, lengthy process. You should:

• make sure you’re aware of the facts and well-prepared before starting the process
• get specialist legal advice on Georgian and UK laws before making any arrangements
• read FCDO and Home Office guidance on surrogacy overseas
• research clinics and hospitals thoroughly to make sure they are safe and reputable

The British Embassy cannot get involved in surrogacy arrangements or recommend hospitals or clinics.

Commissioning a surrogacy will not automatically mean that the child holds British citizenship. To bring your child born through surrogacy from Georgia to the UK, you must apply for a full British passport. You need a Georgian birth certificate for this. Check the Public Service Hall and Service Development Agency websites and research the rules for leaving the country with children (some legal details are in Georgian only). You can stay visa-free in Georgia for a continuous period of up to one year. The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has more information.

Trade with South Ossetia and Abkhazia

Anyone trading with Abkhazia and South Ossetia must have a licence issued by the Georgia government. This includes buying and selling property and most financial transactions. Anyone trading without a licence may face penalties under Georgian civil and criminal law.