Entry and residence permitsFor everyone entering Georgia

Travel insurance for Georgia in 2026: rules and prices

From 1 January 2026, you need medical and accident cover of at least 30,000 ₾ for your whole stay to enter Georgia. Georgian policies cost from 1.7 ₾ a day.

Checked by the editors on 29 September 202618 sources5 minutes

In short

Who needs it: All foreigners entering as tourists, including children. Exemptions are listed in the questions below
What it covers: Medical expenses and accidents
Cover: At least 30,000 ₾: about $11,500, €10,100 or 970,000 ₽ at the National Bank of Georgia rate on 28 September 2026
Period: Your whole stay, including the days of entry and exit, but no more than a year
Policy: In Georgian or English, on paper or electronic. The insurer can be Georgian or foreign
Price in Georgia: From 1.7 ₾ a day at Unison, from 2 ₾ at IRAO
Who checks: The airline at boarding and the patrol police at the border crossing, as spot checks
Visa-free stay: Most CIS and Western nationals, including those of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, can stay in Georgia for up to a year

How to prepare

Work out how long you will stay
The policy must cover your whole stay, including the days of entry and exit, but no more than a year.
Choose a policy
A policy from a Georgian or a foreign insurer will do:
From a Georgian insurer, onlineUnison from 1.7 ₾ a day, IRAO Visitor from 2 ₾ a day; Aldagi, GPI, ARDI and Imedi L also sell these policies. A GPI policy bought when you are already in Georgia takes effect after 24 hours.
In your home countryCheck four things: cover of at least 30,000 ₾ when converted, accidents, English language, your whole stay. The policy must state where it is valid, and Georgia must be included.
Take the policy with you
You may be asked for it when boarding your flight and at border control. An electronic policy on your phone is also fine.
Leaving and coming back? Check the dates
The resolution requires insurance on entry and for the whole stay. If your policy ends before your new stay does, you need a new policy to enter again.
Staying long term? Consider annual health insurance
An entry policy only pays for emergency care. Doctor's appointments and planned treatment are covered by annual plans from Georgian insurers: see the guide "Health insurance in Georgia for foreigners".

Grey areas: lawyers disagree here

Fine for not having insurance

The real risk is being refused entry, not a fine. The media mention a 300 ₾ fine, but we found no such fine in the Law on Tourism or the Code of Administrative Offences as in force in September 2026. The Law on the Legal Status of Aliens (Article 11) allows entry to be refused to anyone without insurance.

Insurance for residence permit holders

Resolution No. 602 says nothing about them. According to JNews, the National Tourism Administration does not consider residence permit holders to be tourists. A blogger quoted by Ekho Kavkaza (RFE/RL) in January 2026 writes that showing a residence permit at the border is enough. There is no official clarification.

Annual health insurance instead of an entry policy

Resolution No. 602 requires cover of at least 30,000 ₾, cover for medical expenses and accidents for the whole stay, and a policy in Georgian or English. Annual plans are often split into limits: Unison Classic has 5,000 ₾ for emergency hospitalisation and 1,500 ₾ for outpatient care. ARDI says its C–E packages are valid for entry, but there is no official list of suitable plans.

Land border

The resolution allows policies to be checked at any border crossing, including Upper Lars and Sarpi. According to a blogger quoted by Ekho Kavkaza (RFE/RL), policies were hardly ever asked for at land borders. Drivers on international routes are exempt; their passengers are not.

FAQ · 7

What cover do I need to enter Georgia?

At least 30,000 ₾ for your whole stay, but for no more than a year. That is about $11,500 at the NBG rate on 28 September 2026.

What language must the policy for Georgia be in?

Georgian or English. An electronic policy is also fine.

Do children need insurance?

Yes. Resolution No. 602 has no age exemptions: everyone entering as a tourist needs a policy, including children.

Will a policy from a Russian insurer do?

Yes, if it meets the requirements. Resolution No. 602 accepts policies from foreign insurers operating under the law of their own country and makes no exceptions for particular countries.

Who does not need entry insurance for Georgia?

Holders of diplomatic or special visas; holders of diplomatic, official, service or special passports; accredited staff of embassies and international organisations, and their accredited family members; drivers of international freight and passenger transport; people whose entry is governed by an international treaty.

Why does the airline ask for my policy?

If a passenger is refused entry to Georgia, the carrier must take them back, but it can ask the passenger to repay the costs (Article 13 of the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens). So airlines may check your policy at boarding.

Do I need insurance if I have a residence permit?

This has not been officially specified: Resolution No. 602 says nothing about residence permit holders. According to JNews, the National Tourism Administration does not consider them to be tourists. We will update the guide once there is a clarification.

What changed · 2

26 December 2025The government approved the entry insurance rules: Resolution No. 602
1 January 2026Insurance on entry became mandatory

Sources · 18

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