Georgian Visa For Us Citizens

Getting a Georgian visa for US citizens can be a bit tricky. With this guide, we’ll make the process easier for you and walk you through the steps needed to get your Georgian visa.Obtaining a Georgian visa has recently become a lot easier. US citizens can now apply for one at home, without needing to visit an embassy or consulate.The focus of this guide is on how to get your Georgian visa from the United States or Canada. It should be fairly easy. The process might take a few weeks, but that’s the price for living in a free country like the United States. Overall, it’s not that hard to get a non-immigrant visa for Georgia. This is great for those willing to live and work in Georgia for at least 12 months (for some work visa types).

American citizen planning a holiday to Georgia? If yes, Georgian Embassy in the USA is issuing tourist and business visas. A citizen of the United States can travel to Georgia for tourism purposes for 30 or 90 days without any visa. However, if a U.S. citizen wants to stay longer than 30 days in Georgia, he/she has to get an individual visa from the Georgian Embassy in USA.

Georgian Visa For Us Citizens

Who Needs a Georgia Visa?

You need a Georgia visa unless you are from one of the visa-exempt countries below. The Georgian government allows citizens of the following countries to enter Georgia for tourism, work, studying and any other purpose for up to one year (unless otherwise specified) without having to obtain either a visa or a residence permit:

Any European Union country*AlbaniaAndorraAntigua and BarbudaArgentina
ArmeniaAustraliaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrain
BarbadosBelarusBelizeBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswana
BrazilBruneiCanadaChile (up to 90 days in a 180-day period)Colombia
Costa RicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEl SalvadorHonduras
IcelandIran (only up to 45 days)IsraelJapanJordan
KazakhstanKuwaitKyrgyzstanLebanonLiechtenstein
MalaysiaMauritiusMexicoMoldovaMonaco
MontenegroNew ZealandNorwayOmanPanama
QatarRussiaSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSan MarinoSaudi Arabia*
SerbiaSeychellesSingaporeSouth AfricaSouth Korea
SwitzerlandTajikistanThailandTurkey*Turkmenistan
United Arab EmiratesUkraineThe United Kingdom British Overseas Territories **United StatesUruguay (only up to 90 days)
UzbekistanVatican City   

*Citizens of the EU, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia may enter with simply their ID.

**Only applies to citizens of Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar and Turks, and Caicos Islands.

Other Georgia Visa exemptions

Additionally, you are exempt from a Georgia visa for if you fall under one of the following categories:

  • You have a visa or residence permit issued by an EU, EFTA, or GCC country, or from Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea or the United States.
    • You may stay for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
    • Visas and residence permits issued by overseas territories of EU countries are also included, except those issued by Anguilla, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha.
  • You are a member of the Georgia diaspora but have a passport issued by a country who is subject to Georgia visas. You may stay visa-free for up to 30 days.
  • You have a diplomatic or official/service passport issued by China, Egypt, Guyana, Indonesia, Iran and Peru.
  • You have a United Nations laissez-passer (up to one year)

What Are the Types of Georgia Visas that I Can Apply for?

The Georgia government issues the following types of visa to foreign nationals:

  • Category A (Georgia Diplomatic Visa).
  • Category B (Georgia Special Visa).
  • Category C (Ordinary Georgia Visa).
  • Category D (Georgia Immigration Visa).
  • Category T (Georgia Transit Visa).

Georgia Diplomatic Visa

This type of Georgia visa, as the name suggests, is issued to foreign diplomats who are visiting Georgia for diplomatic and official reasons. The family members of the main visa holder are also included.

Georgia Special Visa

This type of Georgia visa is issued to:

  • Service passport holders and members of foreign delegations visiting Georgia for work and to their family members.
  • Consular workers, administrative, technical and service staff of foreign diplomatic missions, and international and humanitarian organizations located in Georgia.
  • Members of military/peacekeeping forces and international bilateral/multilateral treaties of Georgia
  • Members of missions of benefit to Georgia

Ordinary Georgia Visa

The Category C visa is the type of Georgia visa you need if you are travelling for tourism or other short-term purposes (not included in the categories above). Ordinary Georgia Visas are then further divided into:

  • Georgia Tourist Visa (Georgia C1 Visa), issued to foreigners travelling to Georgia for tourism
  • Georgia Visitor Visa (Georgia C2 Visa), issued to foreigners who are travelling to Georgia to visit friends and/or family
  • Georgia Business Visa (Georgia C3 Visa), issued to foreigners who are travelling to Georgia to conduct business, take part in a cultural/sports/pedagogical event, as a journalist, etc.
  • Georgia Mission Visa (Georgia C4 Visa), issued to foreigners travelling to Georgia as part of a humanitarian mission during life-threatening situations

Georgia Immigration Visa

This is the type of visa issued to foreigners who want to enter Georgia with the purpose of long-term settlement, such as:

  • Georgia Work Visa, issued to foreign nationals who have found a job in Georgia or are joining the Georgian branch of a foreign company
  • Georgia Student Visa, issued to international students who have been accepted into a Georgian higher education institution
  • Georgia Family Visa, issued to foreign nationals who want to join a family member who is a Georgian citizen or legal resident.

Georgia Transit Visa

The transit visa for Georgia is for visa-required nationals who have to transit through the territory of Georgia on their way to a third country.

Georgia Visa Requirements

When applying for a Georgia visa, you must have several documents to support your application, including:

  • The printed-out Georgia Visa Application Form. You have to complete the form online, print it, and sign it.
  • Your passport, which has been issued in the last ten years and has at least two blank pages. The passport must be valid for at least three more months from the time you intend to depart Georgia.
  • Proof of sufficient financial means to cover the duration of your stay, such as:
    • Bank statements from the last six months
    • A letter confirming your salary
    • Pay slips, etc.
  • Confirmed round-trip ticket.
  • Travel health insurance, covering the entire duration of your stay.
  • Proof of accommodation in Georgia.
  • Proof you have paid the Georgia visa fee.
  • Passport-size pictures, in line with Georgia visa photo requirements. The picture you attach when applying for a Georgia visa should have the following specifications:
    • Dimensions: 5 mm length x 4 mm width
    • Resolution: 300 DPI
    • Taken in front of a white or off-white background
    • It must be taken recently (no older than six months) and reflect your current appearance
    • You must be staring straight ahead at the camera
    • You must not have glasses on
    • You must not have any headgear. Only head coverings for religious purposes are accepted, and only when they do not obstruct the face
    • The picture must be of high quality – there cannot be any under-, or over-exposure, shadows, or glare.
  • Any additional documents attesting to your purpose of travel (see below).

Georgia Tourist Visa (Georgia C1 Visa) Requirements

If you are travelling to Georgia for tourism (ie. on a Georgia C1 Visa), in addition to the standard set of documents listed above, you need:

  • Proof of accommodation shown in the form of:
    • Hotel reservation
    • Rental agreements
    • If you are staying with a friend/relative: A notarized Letter of Invitation from the person inviting you. You can download the Invitation Form from the website of the Georgia Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • If you are travelling with a travel agency or organized group: Include the trip itinerary or agenda

Georgia Business Visa (Georgia C3 Visa) Requirements

If you apply for a Georgia C3 Visa (Business Visa), the additional documents you need are:

  • Notarized Letter of Invitation or Invitation Form from the company that you will visit or conduct business with while in Georgia. You can download the Invitation Form from the website of the Georgia Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  • If applicable: Sufficient financial means can be shown through proof of sponsorship or proof your employer will cover your expenses.
  • Letter from your employer confirming your employment, and that you are undertaking the trip for business purposes.

Georgia Work Visa Requirements

If you are travelling to Georgia because you have found a job, and will be employed there, you also need the following documents, in addition to the standard ones:

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