One of the things that makes Georgia stand out is the sheer generosity of its visa-free regime. Where most countries grant tourists a 30- or 90-day stamp, Georgia gives citizens of around 95 nationalities a full 365 days of visa-free entry — and you can simply leave and re-enter to reset the clock. For travellers, remote workers and people testing the waters before a longer move, it is one of the easiest borders in the world to cross. But “easy” does not mean “no rules”, and a few details have changed for 2026. This guide explains who qualifies, what the year actually lets you do, and where the traps are.

As of 2026 the visa-free list and its conditions are set by Georgian government decree and can change. Treat everything below as general guidance and confirm your own nationality and situation on the official portal at geoconsul.gov.ge before you book.

Who qualifies for the 365-day regime?

The full visa-free list runs to roughly 95 countries and territories. It includes most of the places sending the largest numbers of visitors and newcomers to Georgia: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the entire European Union and Schengen area, the Gulf states, and many others. Citizens of these countries can arrive at the border with just a valid passport, receive a stay of up to a year, and need no visa, no advance application and no in-country registration for that period.

The table below shows representative categories rather than the exhaustive list. The only authoritative source is the official decree published via geoconsul.gov.ge, so always confirm your specific passport there.

Representative category	Typical visa-free treatment
United States, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand	Up to 1 year visa-free
EU & Schengen member states	Up to 1 year visa-free
Gulf states (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain)	Up to 1 year visa-free
Israel, Japan, South Korea and many others on the list	Up to 1 year visa-free
India and some other nationalities	Generally visa required, unless a qualifying third-country visa/permit is held (see below)

What the visa-free year lets you do

This is where Georgia is unusually liberal. The visa-free year is not a narrow tourist stamp — you can genuinely live in the country for the duration. You can rent a flat, open a bank account, register a company, and crucially you can work remotely for an employer or clients based outside Georgia. This is exactly why Georgia became a magnet for remote workers; the digital-nomad guide goes into how people structure that life.

What the visa-free regime does not by itself grant is the right to take up local employment with a Georgian employer in the way a formal work authorisation would, nor does it make you a long-term resident once the year is up. If your goal is a Georgian job or an indefinite stay, you will eventually want a Georgian work permit or a residence permit for longer stays. The distinctions matter, and our explainer on how work permit, residence permit and D1 visa differ untangles them.

The 2026 mandatory travel-insurance rule

This is the single most important change for 2026, and it applies even if you are visa-free. From the start of 2026, every foreign visitor entering Georgia must hold valid health and accident travel insurance covering the full period of the stay, with minimum coverage of 30,000 GEL. The policy can be issued by a Georgian or a foreign insurer, must be available in Georgian or English, and can be shown on paper or digitally at the border.

Crucially, this rule applies regardless of nationality or visa status — so visa-free travellers from the US, EU, Gulf and everywhere else are covered by it too. Border officers can check it, and travelling without valid insurance can lead to a fine and, in principle, difficulties at entry. As of 2026 the exact scope and any exemptions are best confirmed on geoconsul.gov.ge before you fly. The practical takeaway is simple: buy a compliant policy before you travel.

The exceptions that catch people out

Not everyone gets the year, and the most common surprise involves Indian citizens. As a general rule, Indian nationals are not on the open visa-free list and need a Georgian visa or e-visa — unless they hold a valid qualifying visa or residence permit from a recognised third country (such as the US, UK, Schengen, and certain others), in which case a visa-free entry of a more limited duration may be available. The exact qualifying documents and the length of stay differ from the standard one-year rule, so this is an area where reading the official guidance carefully really pays off. We cover it in detail in the visa rules for Indian citizens.

A second point that trips people up: visa-free does not mean unlimited. The year is generous, but it is not residency. If you intend to settle, the clean approach is to convert to a residence permit rather than relying on repeated border runs indefinitely.

How Georgiafy can help

If you are not certain whether your passport qualifies, whether the insurance rule applies to you, or how to move from a visa-free stay to something longer-term, we sort it out for you. We confirm your eligibility against the current official rules, help with compliant insurance, and map the path to a work permit or residence permit when you are ready. See our visa services in Georgia for the full picture.

Frequently asked questions

How long can I stay in Georgia without a visa?

If your nationality is on the visa-free list — around 95 countries including the US, EU, UK and Gulf states — you can generally stay up to 365 days per entry. Always confirm your specific passport on geoconsul.gov.ge, as the list can change.

Can I work in Georgia during the visa-free year?

You can live in Georgia and work remotely for an employer or clients based outside the country. The visa-free regime is not, by itself, an authorisation to take a local job with a Georgian employer; for that, look at a work permit or residence permit.

Do I need travel insurance to enter Georgia in 2026?

Yes. As of 2026 all foreign visitors must hold health and accident insurance with minimum coverage of 30,000 GEL for the full stay, in Georgian or English. This applies even to visa-free travellers. Verify the current rule on geoconsul.gov.ge before you travel.

I’m an Indian citizen — can I enter Georgia visa-free?

Generally not on the open list, but Indian nationals holding a qualifying visa or residence permit from a recognised third country may enter visa-free for a limited period. Otherwise a Georgian visa or e-visa is required. Confirm the current rules on geoconsul.gov.ge.

This article is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Rules change — verify your nationality and the current entry conditions officially at geoconsul.gov.ge before you travel.