Decree 602 Explained: Georgia's Travel Insurance Law
Decree 602 Explained: Georgia's Travel Insurance Law
title: "Decree 602 Explained: Georgia's Travel Insurance Law" description: "Plain-English guide to Georgia's Decree 602. Who needs travel insurance, the 30,000 GEL minimum, exemptions, and how to stay compliant at the border." slug: "decree-602-explained" datePublished: "2026-04-24" dateModified: "2026-04-24" author: "Cover Editorial" heroAlt: "Georgian border control checkpoint" tags: ["decree-602", "travel-insurance", "georgia-regulations"] primaryKeyword: "georgia decree 602 insurance" relatedRoutes: ["/extend", "/exempt"]
What is Decree No. 602?
Decree No. 602 — officially titled On the Approval of Rules and Conditions for Mandatory Health and Accident Insurance of Incoming Tourists to Georgia (full text in Georgian) — is the Georgian government regulation that requires most visitors to hold valid travel insurance for the full length of their stay. It was adopted on 26 December 2025 and took effect on 1 January 2026. It applies at every land and air border.
In practice, it means one thing for foreign travelers: you need proof of insurance before you cross into Georgia.
Who needs insurance to enter Georgia?
The requirement applies to nearly every non-Georgian traveler, regardless of purpose:
- Tourists on short visits
- Business travelers and digital nomads
- Drivers entering with a foreign-plated car (Decree 602 covers you, not the vehicle — vehicle TPL is a separate mandate, see our car insurance page)
- Long-stay visitors, students, and remote workers
- Family members joining residents for a visit
If you're entering Georgia with a non-Georgian passport and you're not in the narrow group of exemptions covered below, assume you need a policy.
What the policy must cover
To satisfy Decree 602, your travel insurance has to meet three minimums:
- Coverage amount: at least 30,000 GEL (or equivalent).
- Scope: medical treatment and accident cover for the duration of your trip.
- Duration: valid for every day you're in Georgia, from the moment you cross the border to the day you leave.
A policy that covers fewer days than your stay — or caps below 30,000 GEL — won't be accepted. If your plans change mid-trip, you can extend your existing policy rather than buy a second one.
Cover's standard Decree 602 policy is issued in partnership with JSC Unison, a licensed Georgian insurer, and is recognized at every Georgian border checkpoint. The policy also includes dental, COVID-19, and medical evacuation cover.
Who's exempt from Decree 602
A narrow set of travelers don't need to present a policy at the border:
- Diplomats and consular staff on official assignment
- International organization personnel traveling on mission
- Citizens of countries with specific bilateral agreements covering entry insurance — though many treaties cover official travel only, not tourism
- Transit passengers who stay inside the airport's international zone and don't clear passport control
- Georgian citizens and permanent residents (Decree 602 targets visitors)
Unsure whether you qualify? Take the 2-minute exemption check — it walks through the full list and tells you what documents you'd need at the border.
Bottom line on exemptions: even if you think you're exempt, bring supporting documentation (diplomatic passport, mission ID, treaty-country passport, transit itinerary). Border officers can request proof on the spot, and if you can't produce it, you'll be asked to buy insurance before being allowed through.
What happens at the border
Georgian border officers at land crossings and the three international airports (Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi) ask for one of two things:
- A PDF or printout of your travel insurance policy, or
- A digital border card (QR code) linked to your policy on file with the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Both formats are accepted. Cover issues both automatically at checkout: a PDF in English and Georgian, plus an Apple Wallet / Google Wallet border card.
If you arrive without insurance, you'll be asked to buy a compliant policy before being cleared through — either from an on-site agent (where available) or by purchasing online at the checkpoint. Online rates from home are typically lower than anything you'll find at the border.
How long does coverage need to last?
Your policy must cover every day of your stay in Georgia. If you land on the 3rd and leave on the 17th, the policy has to be valid from the 3rd through the 17th at minimum.
Common mistakes to avoid:
- Gaps between two policies — buying one policy for the first week and another for the second, with a day uncovered in between. Decree 602 treats this as non-compliance.
- Expiring before departure — a policy that ends on the day you fly out is fine, but one that ends the night before isn't.
If your trip gets extended unexpectedly, extend your existing policy rather than stitching two together — it guarantees no gap in cover and your border card keeps working.
Buying before vs. at the border
Both are legal, but the experience is different:
- Online, before you travel: you pick the dates, you see the price upfront, and you arrive at the border with the PDF already on your phone. This is what Decree 602 is designed for.
- At the border: a fallback option, typically slower and more expensive. You'll wait in a separate queue and pay a premium compared to online rates.
Most travelers buy online. Cover's standard policy takes about two minutes to issue, and the PDF + border card arrive by email before you've finished boarding.
Quick summary
- Decree No. 602 is Georgia's travel insurance entry requirement, in effect since 1 January 2026.
- Applies to most non-Georgian visitors at every land and air border.
- Minimum cover: 30,000 GEL, for the full duration of your stay.
- Exemptions exist (diplomats, certain treaties, airport transit) but are narrow — always bring proof.
- Buy online before you travel, or at the border for a higher price.
Need a compliant policy right now? Get a quote — it takes about two minutes and the PDF lands in your inbox before boarding.