Tbilisi - Georgia will introduce new visa regulations starting Sept. 1, 2014, which would be applied to all foreigners, including those from countries whose citizens can enter Georgia without visas.
“In line with the new law ‘On Legal Status of Foreigners and Individuals Without Citizenship’, a unified system of stay of foreigners in Georgia has been developed, which will be put into effect on Sept. 1,” Georgian Foreign Ministry Consulate Department Director Giorgi Tabatadze told journalists.
The new regulations “are aimed at harmonizing Georgian and European law and efficiently managing migration processes,” Tabatadze said.
“In particular, Georgia will issue multi-entry visas valid for 180 days with the right to stay in the country for 90 days,” Tabatadze said, noting that the same principle is applied in the Schengen area.
Changes will also be made to the visa issuance procedure, which would include the obligation for those wishing to receive a visa to fill out of a special electronic form available online, he said.
“The prerogative to issue visas will be delegated solely to Georgia’s diplomatic missions,” Tabatadze said, adding that the issuance of visas at border checkpoints will be possible only in exceptional cases starting September.
Georgia grants visa-free treatment to citizens of European countries, the NATO and CIS member-states, and citizens of countries that are “Georgia’s important partners and with which bilateral and multilateral agreements have been formalized,” Tabatadze said.
“Citizens of these countries will be able to stay in Georgia without visas for 90 days,” he said.
The law currently in effect entitles foreign citizens to stay in Georgia without visas for up to 360 days.
Tabatadze familiarized members of the diplomatic corps and international organizations accredited in Georgia with the new regulations on Friday, July 25.
