Visas To Georgia – Work Visa, Tourist Visa And More
Georgia Castle Ananuri. Image by Makalu from Pixabay
There are several types of visas to Georgia. Using one of these visas an international traveler can enter Georgia and be there for a short while or a longer period or transit through the country while traveling to another destination.
The Georgian visa may either be stamped inside the passport of the international traveler/migrant or be electronically issued which is referred to as the e-visa.
Georgia Castle Ananuri. Image by Makalu from Pixabay
Depending
on your purpose of visit to this country and the days you intend to be there
you may apply for a long term visa or a short term visa. The different types of
visas to Georgia include the following;
Work visas
Visas for research
Student visa
Visa for tourists
Short-term visa to visit family/friends
Visa for diplomats
Family reunification visa
Transit visa
Why Georgia?
Officially
known as the Federal Republic of Georgia, this country is situated in Central
Europe. Georgia has some of the most beautiful beaches on the Black sea coast
and this nation is also home to mountain villages
The capital city of Tbilisi is known for its mind-blowing architecture, castles that look right out of a fairytale, and old-town streets of cobblestone. The cave monastery, Vardzia, dates back to the 12the century AD.
Besides, this nation is also famous for wine and cuisine with herbs. All these factors attract several international tourists to Georgia every single year.
Several
colleges and universities in Georgia offer good quality education, training,
and degrees. Compared to most of the other nations Georgia has very low tuition
fees for education. Hence, this country is quite popular among international
students
The
low cost of living, minimum regulations, low taxes and the welcoming nature of
its citizens brings in a lot of foreigners to this nation for work, for making
business investments and as migrants. Georgia also has a good standard of
living.
Georgian Visa Classifications
Unless
you belong to one of the countries that have visa exemptions to travel to
Georgia an international traveler/migrant requires a Georgian visa to be there.
The visas to Georgia are broadly classified into the following:
Short-Term Visa For Single Entry
This visa is issued based on the number of days the applicant has requested for his/her stay in Georgia.
This is a short term visa than can be used for a one-time entry.
The maximum days a person can stay using this visa is 30 days.
Short-Term Visa For Multiple Entry
This visa is issued to a foreign national who has been in Georgia during the previous year at least once
The duration of this visa is for five years
You can make multiple visits to Georgia using this visa
However, the maximum time limit of a stay at a time is 90 days within 180 days.
Long-Stay Visa
This visa allows you to stay a long while in Georgia
This visa may be sanctioned for one year or for the entire term the foreigner plans to be in Georgia
This visa is usually applied by international students, workers, the family of a Georgian citizen/resident and other migrants
Do All Foreigners Require Visas To Georgia?
No, not all international travelers or migrants require a visa to travel to and be in Georgia. The citizens of the European Union and the following nations can be in Georgia for higher studies or employment or as a tourist for a maximum of one year without a Georgian visa or permit for residence:
Australia
Israel
Switzerland
Albania
Iran
Seychelles
Andorra
Japan
South Africa
Argentina
Jordan
Singapore
Antigua and Barbuda
Kuwait
South Korea
Armenia
Kazakhstan
San Marino
Azerbaijan
Kyrgyzstan
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Bahrain
Lebanon
Saudi Arabia
Bahamas
Liechtenstein
Thailand
Barbados
Malaysia
Tajikistan
Belize
Mexico
Turkey
Brazil
Monaco
Turkmenistan
Brunei
Mexico
The United Kingdom British Overseas Territories
Canada
Montenegro
United Arab Emirates
Chile: Maximum of 90 days in 180 days
New Zealand
Ukraine
Colombia
Norway
Uruguay (Maximum of 90 days)
Costa Rica
Oman
Uzbekistan
Dominican Republic
Panama
United States of America
El Salvador
Qatar
Vatican City
Honduras
Russia
Iceland
Serbia
Other Nations With Visa Exemptions
Visa
exemptions to Georgia are also applicable to those people who have a
visa/resident permit of the following nations:
If you hold a laissez-passer of the US. The visa is valid for a maximum of one year
Different Kinds Of Visas To Georgia
International
traveler/migrant who wishes to be in Georgia for a short-stay or a long-stay requires
one among the visas given below:
Category A: Diplomatic Visa To Georgia
Category B: Special Visa To Georgia
Category C: Ordinary Visa To Georgia
Category D: Immigration Visa To Georgia
Category T: Transit Visa To Georgia
Category A: Diplomatic Visa To Georgia
The ‘Category A’ visa contains different types of visas issued to diplomats and their family members from other countries. Their visit to Georgia is for official reasons most of the time.
Category A1 Visa
This
visa is issued to top officials occupying the foreign legislative positions
Foreign
delegators occupying the top positions in their native land
Executive
authorities of a foreign nation
Family
members who are accompanying them
The
purpose of the visit may be official, unofficial, friendly or related to
business
Category A2 Visa
This visa is for consular officials and their family
Employees working for diplomatic missions accredited to the country of Georgia
Employees working for representative international organizations situated in Georgia and who have been granted the status of a diplomat by Georgia and their family
Category A3 Visa
Individuals appointed for diplomatic missions in Georgia are given this type of visa
Category A4 Visa
Honorary consuls of Georgia who are citizens of another country along with their family are granted this visa
Category A5 Visa
This visa is for individuals who are on different missions in Georgia working towards the country’s national interests
The individuals could have an official/business/regular/diplomatic passport
Category B: Special Visas To Georgia
The different types of visas issued to foreign nationals under this category are as follows:
Category
B1 Visa
This
visa is for foreign delegation members
who plan to travel to Georgia and their family and others who wishes to
accompany them
They
have a service passport and they are on a working visit to this country
Category
B2 Visa
This visa is issued to employees working for an international organization or a humanitarian organization situated in Georgia along with their family members and domestic workers (Who have Category A2 diplomatic visa)
Technical, administrative, service personnel who are on an international diplomatic mission can also avail this visa
Service staff and consular employees working in a consulate along with their family members and household employees are eligible for this type of visa to Georgia.
Category B3 Visa
This
visa is for members belonging to the special forces for peace-keeping
For
military workers who are deployed in
Georgia based on an international treaty
Individuals
who arrive in Georgia based in the treaties in Georgia: both international and
multilateral treaties of this country
Category B4 Visa
This
visa is for people traveling to Georgia as members of different national
missions working towards the national interest of this country.
Category
C: Ordinary Visas To Georgia
The following visas
are issued to international travelers under the C category.
Category
C1 Visa
The C1
category visa is for international travelers who wish to travel to Georgia for
a holiday or the purpose of tourism
Category C2 Visa
The
Category C2 visa is for foreigners who wish to be in Georgia for a short visit
to visit their friends and family
This
visa is also for freelancers who wish to be in Georgia for a short while
Category
C3 Visa
The category C3 visa is a short-stay visa issued for several purposes including the following:
Foreigners
traveling to Georgia to attend conferences, workshops, scientific training, and
research programs
To
participate in a sports/cultural event
For
journalism
For the
crew of a ship docked in Georgia
For
individuals from other nations coming to Georgia for business negotiations and
meetings
For
drivers who transport people and cargo internationally
Category
C4 Visa
The Category C4 visa is required for the following purposes
Foreigners
who arrive in Georgia for medical care and treatment
For
pilgrimage
People
who wish to visit the grave of friends and family in Georgia
For a
caregiver or a guardian of a citizen of Georgia
For an
individual who is under the guardianship of a Georgian citizen
For
religious and charitable activities
Those
who wish to provide/receive humanitarian help during natural calamities/and
situations that are life-threatening
Category D: Immigration Visas To Georgia
The different kinds of
Immigration visas to Georgia are the following.
Category D1 Visa
This
visa is for foreigners who go to Georgia for work.
This is
a long-term visa
For
international workers who have entered in a work contract in Georgia
Consultants
and business representatives of organizations who wish to travel to Georgia for
official duties
For
international business people to carry out business and related activities in
Georgia without compromising on the Georgian law related to business activities
Category D2 Visa
For
foreigners who come to Georgia as volunteers or interns
Individuals
coming to this nation for educational, cultural, scientific or sports
activities
For
media-persons who travel to Georgia for official reasons
For
self-employed people/freelancers
Category D3 Visa
For
international students who wish to pursue their higher education/
degree/diploma at a college /University that operates legally in Georgia
A
research program in Georgia
For
foreign students who are part of an international program for education
Category D4 Visa
This
visa is for family reunification
For
those international migrants who have a family member who is either a resident
or a citizen of Georgia
Category D5 Visa
For
foreign nationals and their family members who have a right to immovable
property in Georgia
Foreigners
do not have a right to agricultural land in Georgia
The
market price of the property should be above 35,000 US Dollars
Category T: Transit Visas To Georgia
The
Category visa is issued to international travelers who wish to travel to
another country through Georgia
The
maximum limit of a transit visa in Georgia is 10 days
Extending
A Visa To Georgia
International travelers/ migrants in Georgia
can apply for a visa extension in the following types of visas.
Short-Term
Visas
Special Visas: Category A
Diplomatic Visas: Category B
The foreigner has to submit the documents required to the Georgian Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Long-Term Visas
Immigration visas: Category D3 and Category D5
The
applicant must apply for the extension at a Community Center, Public Service
territorial offices, Public Service Hall branches in Georgia as well as the
Georgian Ministry for Foreign Affairs
This can
be done while remaining in Georgia
Until
the final decision comes the foreigner cannot be expelled from the country
Where
To Apply For A Georgian Visa?
Visas to
Georgia are issued by a Georgian Consulate or the Diplomatic Missions of
Georgia within the native land of the applicant
E-visa is
issued by the Georgian Ministry for Foreign Affairs following the processing of the visa
application submitted online
The
immigration visa is also issued by the Georgian Ministry for foreign affairs
If you
do not have a Georgian consulate in your native country you may submit the visa
application at the consulate office of one of the neighboring countries
Foreigners
who do not live in their native land but is a resident of another country may
apply for a Georgian visa at the consulate/ embassy of the country in which
they reside in
Find out the type of visa to Georgia you require. Submit a visa application form along with all the necessary supporting documents and the fee for that particular visa at a Georgian consulate or embassy within your native country.
You can also choose to apply online. The visa will be granted if the authorities are convinced that you are a genuine applicant.