Traveling to Georgia in 2026: 12 Things to Know Before You Go

Georgia is one of the easiest countries in the world to visit. Most passports get in without a visa, you can stay up to a year, and the food, wine and mountains live up to the hype.

But one rule changed in 2026, and it catches travelers out at passport control: every visitor now needs travel insurance to enter. Here are the 12 things to know before you go, starting with the one that can stop your trip at the border.

Georgia at a glance

1. Travel insurance is now mandatory

Since 1 January 2026, Georgian Government Decree No. 602 requires almost every foreign visitor to hold health and accident insurance for the whole stay. Border officers can ask to see it at passport control, and without a valid policy you can be refused entry.

To count, a policy has to meet three rules:

• At least 30,000 GEL of medical and accident cover per traveler
• Valid for every day you are in Georgia, from arrival to departure
• Proof you can show on the spot, as a PDF or printout in English or Georgian

This applies to tourists, business travelers, digital nomads and children alike. Each traveler needs their own policy. Only a few groups, such as diplomats and passengers who never leave the airport transit zone, are exempt. If you think you might be one of them, run the 2-minute exemption check.

Your home travel insurance may or may not pass. Many foreign policies don't state the cover amount, dates and territory clearly in English or Georgian, and that is what the officer checks. A Georgian policy built for Decree 602 removes the guesswork.

2. Buy your policy before you fly

Don't leave insurance until you land. Two reasons:

• The first 6 hours after purchase are not covered. That is a standard rule in the policy terms. Buy on arrival and anything that happens on your first evening falls outside the cover.
• Passport control is the worst place to shop. Sorting it out at the border means a phone, a signal and a queue behind you.

Buying at home takes about two minutes. Choose your dates, see the total price before you enter any personal details, and pay by card or crypto. Your policy PDF arrives by email within minutes, ready to show at the border.

Buy once your dates are firm: the premium is one-time and non-refundable once the policy is issued.

3. Most visitors don't need a visa, and can stay a year

Citizens of 98 countries, including the EU, the UK, the US, Canada, Israel, the Gulf states, Turkey, Ukraine and many more, enter Georgia visa-free for up to one year per entry. A few nationalities have shorter visa-free stays, and others need an e-visa.

Rules vary by passport, so check yours with our entry requirements checker before you book. Make sure your passport is valid for your whole stay, and carry proof of your onward ticket and accommodation in case an officer asks.

Visa-free entry does not exempt you from the insurance rule. Even a one-year visa-free stay needs a policy for every day you are in the country. If your plans grow, extend your policy online instead of letting it lapse.

4. Pay in lari, and carry some cash

Georgia's currency is the lari (GEL). Cards are accepted almost everywhere in Tbilisi and Batumi: cafes, supermarkets, taxis booked by app, most hotels.

Cash still matters for markets, minibuses, small guesthouses, wineries and anything in the villages. ATMs are easy to find in towns. Airport exchange rates are often worse than in the city, so change only what you need on arrival. Your bank sets its own conversion rate and fees, so check them before you leave.

5. Get a local SIM or an eSIM

Mobile data is cheap and fast in Georgia. Magti, Silknet and Cellfie all sell tourist SIM packages, including at Tbilisi airport. Bring your passport, because you need it to register a SIM. If your phone supports it, an eSIM bought before you fly means you are online the moment you land.

Coverage is good in cities and along the main roads. In the high mountains it can drop out, so download offline maps before heading to places like Kazbegi or Svaneti.

6. Use apps for taxis, and trains or minibuses between cities

In Tbilisi and Batumi, Bolt and Yandex Go are the easiest way to get around. The price is fixed in the app, which avoids haggling. If you take a street taxi, agree the fare before you get in.

Tbilisi's metro and buses take a contactless bank card or a rechargeable Metromoney card. Between cities, you have three options:

• Trains, such as the comfortable Tbilisi to Batumi route
• Marshrutkas, the shared minibuses that go almost everywhere, usually for cash
• Private drivers, which are worth it for mountain day trips

7. Driving is an adventure, especially in the mountains

Georgia drives on the right. City traffic is assertive, and mountain roads are narrow, winding and shared with livestock. In winter, the road over the Jvari Pass to Gudauri and Kazbegi can close after heavy snow, so check conditions before you set off.

If you drive in with a foreign-plated car, the vehicle needs its own third-party liability insurance. That is a separate rule. Your Decree 602 policy covers you as a person, not the car. For land arrivals, see our guide to crossing into Georgia by land.

8. Healthcare is good in cities, but you pay as a foreigner

Tbilisi and Batumi have modern private clinics. As a visitor, though, you are not covered by any Georgian public scheme, and an emergency visit is billed to you.

That is exactly what the mandatory policy is for. The Cover policy is issued by JSC Unison Insurance Company, a licensed Georgian insurer founded in 2011. Per traveler it includes:

Save two numbers before you travel: 112 for emergencies, and Unison's 24/7 assistance line, +995 32 2 991 991. If something happens, call the assistance line within 24 hours. Unison handles claims directly and can point you to a covered clinic.

If you take regular medication, bring your prescription and keep pills in their original packaging. Pre-existing conditions are not covered by the policy, so top up with your own insurance if you need that cover.

9. Heading to the mountains? Know what's covered

Georgia's winter season runs roughly from December to April, with skiing in Gudauri and Bakuriani. In summer, hikers head to Svaneti, Kazbegi and Tusheti.

The mandatory policy covers recreational sport, including medical evacuation after a sport injury up to 2,000 GEL. It does not cover professional sports, and it does not cover gear, lost bags or cancelled flights. If you are bringing expensive equipment or doing something high-risk, add a private travel plan for those extras. The Decree 602 policy keeps you legal at the border and covers emergency medical care.

10. Respect church etiquette and the supra

Georgia is one of the oldest Christian countries in the world, and churches are active places of worship. In churches and monasteries:

• Women usually cover their hair and wear a skirt. Scarves and wrap skirts are often available at the entrance.
• Men should avoid shorts and remove hats.
• Everyone should keep shoulders covered and voices low.

If you are invited to a supra, a traditional feast, expect a lot of food and a toastmaster, the tamada, who leads long and heartfelt toasts. Don't drink between toasts, and don't feel obliged to finish every glass. Georgia has an 8,000-year winemaking history, and its clay-vessel qvevri method is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list.

Two words go a long way: gamarjoba (hello) and madloba (thank you).

11. Check the bill before you tip

Many restaurants in Tbilisi and Batumi add a service charge, typically 10% to 18%, to the bill. Check for it before adding more. If there is no service line and you enjoyed the meal, around 10% is a generous tip. Rounding up is enough for taxis.

12. Georgia is safe, but stay out of the occupied territories

Georgia is widely regarded as one of the safer destinations in the region, and violent crime against tourists is rare. Normal city precautions apply.

The one firm no-go: Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the regions occupied by Russia. Entering them from Russia is illegal under Georgian law. Travel insurance, including the mandatory policy, does not cover them.

Your pre-departure checklist

• Passport valid for your whole stay, and visa status checked with the entry requirements checker
• Decree 602 travel insurance bought, with the PDF saved offline
• Return or onward ticket and accommodation booked
• Some lari, or a card with low foreign fees
• eSIM bought, or a plan to get a SIM at the airport
• Emergency numbers saved: 112 and +995 32 2 991 991
• Modest clothes packed for church visits

Why travelers buy with Cover

• Built for the border rule. The policy is designed around Decree 602 and recognized at Georgia's land and air borders.
• Issued by a Georgian insurer. JSC Unison Insurance Company underwrites every policy. Cover is Unison's appointed agent.
• Proof the officer can read. Your PDF is in English and Georgian, on your phone or on paper.
• Fast. About two minutes to buy, with the policy in your inbox within minutes.
• Flexible. Cover any stay from 1 day to 1 year, insure a family in one go with the group form, or extend if you stay longer.
• Easy to recover. Lost the email? Resend your documents with the address you used to buy.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need travel insurance to visit Georgia?

Yes. Since 1 January 2026, Decree No. 602 requires almost every foreign visitor to hold health and accident insurance with at least 30,000 GEL of cover for every day of the stay. Border officers can ask for it at passport control, and without a valid policy you can be refused entry. Only small groups, such as diplomats and airport-transit passengers, are exempt.

When should I buy my Georgia travel insurance?

Before you fly, once your dates are firm. Events in the first 6 hours after purchase are not covered under the policy terms, so buying on arrival leaves a gap. The premium is non-refundable once the policy is issued, so wait until your dates are settled.

Will my home travel insurance be accepted at the Georgian border?

Possibly, but it is not guaranteed. It must cover medical and accident treatment in Georgia up to at least 30,000 GEL for your whole stay, and the officer has to be able to read the cover amount, dates and territory on the document. A Decree 602 policy in English and Georgian avoids that risk.

Do children need their own policy?

Yes. Every traveler, adult or child, needs their own policy, and the 30,000 GEL minimum applies per person. The group form lets you insure the whole family in one purchase, with a separate PDF for each traveler.

Can I use my card everywhere in Georgia?

In Tbilisi and Batumi, almost everywhere. Carry some lari in cash for markets, minibuses, small guesthouses and rural areas, where cards are less common.

Is Georgia safe for tourists?

Georgia is widely regarded as one of the safer destinations in the region, and violent crime against tourists is rare. Use normal city precautions, and do not try to enter Abkhazia or South Ossetia, which is illegal from Russia under Georgian law and outside the insurance cover.

What if I stay longer than planned?

Extend your existing policy online before it runs out. Decree 602 requires cover for every day you are in Georgia, and extending keeps your cover continuous without buying a second policy from scratch.

Ready to go? Get your Georgia travel insurance in about two minutes, and arrive with the one document every visitor now needs.