255,429 Georgians Enjoy Visa-Free Regime with EU

Tamar Khulordava, Chairperson of the Committee on European Integration, stated that 255,429 Georgians have used visa-free travel with the European Union since its coming into force for Georgia on March 28, 2017.

The MP says in total 357,990 visits were made to EU states, which means that a number of travelers have traveled more than once visa-free.

As for the persons who violated the terms of visa-free travel, According to Khulordava, 1001 Georgian citizens were denied entry to Schengen zone.

The visa-free regime with the EU took effect on March 28, 2017, meaning all Georgians holding biometric passports can now enter the Schengen Area for 90 days within any 180-day period for vacation, business, or any other purpose except work.

Georgians are able to travel without visas to the following 22 EU member states: Belgium, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Greece, France, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, Finland, Sweden, and the Czech Republic.

Georgians can also travel without visas to four non-EU-member states (Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) as well as four Schengen candidate countries (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania and Croatia).  

Exceptions for visa-free travel include Ireland and the United Kingdom.

By Thea Morrison 

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