Georgia’s rich history, culture, language, customs and natural beauty have always drawn visitors by the hordes. However, with the Covid-19 pandemic, Georgia’s borders had to shut down, and travel had to be put on the back burner. Here’s some great news though! Georgia is soon to open up its doors to visitors, which means that the ideal vacation destination is available to you when you decide to travel. Georgia has several safety protocols in place to protect everyone from the dreaded Covid-19 infection, so please be sure to follow all of them when you visit. You can also directly visit the official Georgia travel website for more details.
Your Georgia Covid-19 Travel Guidelines
The Georgia border has very recently opened to people from various countries. The list includes India, apart from the European Union Member States and others. However, anyone looking to visit Georgia must adhere to the following regulations:
Travel Registration
Before you cross into Georgia, you need to fill out a passenger registration form and submit it. Provide detailed information pertaining to your travel history in the previous 14 days and your detailed address and contact information. There is a dedicated portal where you can enter all the details.
72-hour PCR Test
When you arrive at the Georgia border or at the airport, you must present a negative PCR Test result, for a test conducted 72 hours before your arrival time. This, however, is not applicable to children under the age of 10 (regardless of nationality.) If your country is listed, then you can travel by air directly, transiting through other countries as needed. Flying direct to Georgia is the best recourse, as each transit eats into your travel time, which means you have to undergo the Covid-19 test again.
Mandatory Check at Entry Points
Be sure to submit your pre-travel PCR test results while travelling by air or crossing a border checkpoint, along with your vaccination certificate confirming you’ve taken the full vaccination course. That will be two doses in case of all vaccines except for the Johnson&Johnson vaccine (which has only one dose). People travelling from India need to produce a negative PCR test conducted within the last 72 hours, and also undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine in Georgia. This quarantine will be at the traveller’s own expense. So be sure to include the quarantine period into your travel plans and adjust travel duration accordingly. No matter which country you’re from, your negative PCR test result must be in English, Russian or Georgian.
Second PCR Test
On the 3rd day of your stay in Georgia, you will need to obtain a second PCR-test and submit the results to the authorities. This is the rule for all visitors, except for kids under the age of 10.
Which Places to Visit
While in Georgia, be sure to check with the local media sources and information centers to find out which parts of the country are safe to visit. Some regions are seeing sudden spikes in Covid-19 cases. The Georgian government has put in place several restrictions in these regions, so do follow the latest news for current updates while traveling.
General Notes
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- All the above rules do not apply to Georgian diplomatic mission representatives and their family members. They also don’t apply to family members of Georgians, no matter what their nationality. Log on to Georgia’s government website for a detailed list of people exempted from adhering to the Covid-19 protocols for entering Georgia.
- Note also that in Georgia a nationwide curfew is in place from 11 pm to 4 am. Parties and gatherings of more than 10 people are not allowed. These restrictions vary from region to region, so be sure to check in advance.
Avoid crossing into Georgia via the Russian, Abkhazian or South Ossetia borders, as these borders face routine barrage from Russian forces. Also, if you are taking any medications, be sure to carry a doctor’s prescription with you and declare your meds on the Custom Declaration Form. Obtain a comprehensive travel insurance package, and register your details at entry points for immediate help during an emergency.
