Deep breath. Here's the answer.

With an ordinary US passport you do not need a visa for tourist stays in Georgia of 365 days or less (State Department). Separately, from 1 January 2026 Georgia requires tourists to hold health and accident insurance covering at least GEL 30,000 for the whole stay, from entry to exit, from a Georgian or foreign insurer (State Department; Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs embassy guidance; Georgian National Tourism Administration). This insurance is not a visa, and GEL 30,000 is the minimum coverage amount, not the price of the policy. Your passport must be valid at entry with one blank page for the entry stamp.

Key facts

For United States passport holders, tourism or short business trips.

You may need a visa if…

• Mandatory insurance (from 1 January 2026): health and accident insurance covering at least GEL 30,000 for your whole stay, entry to exit, from a Georgian or foreign insurer (State Department; Georgian MFA embassy guidance; Georgian National Tourism Administration). It is not a visa. GEL 30,000 is the minimum coverage, not the premium.
• Insurance policy (Georgian MFA embassy guidance): carry it on paper or electronically, in English or Georgian. It should show the parties, territory (must cover Georgia), subject, start and end dates/times covering your arrival and departure, insured risks, coverage limits and the premium including payment place and deadline. Check your certificate before you travel.
• Holding an ordinary US passport alone is not a listed exemption. The Georgian MFA lists insurance exceptions (diplomatic/special visas; diplomatic, official, service or special passports; accredited mission, consular or international organisation staff and families; treaty entrants; international road transport drivers) — anyone claiming a treaty or other special-status exemption must confirm eligibility with Georgian authorities.
• Work: the State Department says that from 1 March 2026 most foreign workers need work permits. Consult the relevant authority or your employer before working; exact activities, exemptions and application steps were not checked. Tourist entry is not permission to work.
• Border authorities can deny entry to anyone at their discretion, regardless of citizenship.
• US citizens who overstay the permitted 365-day period will be fined.
• Dual U.S.-Georgian citizens should enter and leave Georgia on their Georgian passports.
• Travel to the Russian-occupied regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia is strongly discouraged and prohibited for US government employees.
• Verify the latest visa information on the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Before you travel

• ✓Ensure your passport is valid at the time of entry.
• ✓Have at least one blank page in your passport for an entry stamp.
• ✓Buy mandatory health and accident insurance covering at least GEL 30,000 for your whole stay in Georgia (entry to exit), and check the certificate shows Georgia as the territory and dates/times covering your arrival and departure. Carry it on paper or electronically, in English or Georgian.
• ✓Optional, separate from the mandatory policy: the State Department recommends travel insurance covering evacuation, medical expenses and trip cancellation.
• ✓Check return ticket and other arrival requirements before travel — not confirmed.
• ✓Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts.
• ✓If carrying more than 30,000 Georgian Lari (GEL) or foreign currency equivalent, declare it upon entry.
• ✓Check recommended vaccinations with the CDC.

Common questions