Georgian Gov't Answers FAQs on Border Crossing Procedures

The Government of Georgia today answered frequently asked questions about border crossing procedures.

• What countries will enjoy open borders with Georgia?

At this point, Georgia is opening its borders without reservation to 5 of the 27 EU member states, namely Germany, France, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

Citizens/permanent residents of said 5 countries can use only air travel for any kind of visit to Georgia, travelling from one of said 5 countries. For example, Latvian citizens/permanent residents can travel from Germany to Georgia without reservation.

Before crossing Georgia’s border, they are obligated to fill in a special electronic form and describe their 14-day travel history prior to arriving in Georgia, also the location of their stay in Georgia, contact information, and others.

With their consent, a PCR test at the state’s expense will be performed at the airport.

If thermal screening on the border reveals a temperature higher than 370C, visitors will be hospitalized.

Citizens of the EU member states (Italy, Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Sweden, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Croatia) listing Georgia as a green country (besides the 5 countries above), or of those enforcing different types of restrictions, will be able to enter Georgia as long as they complete a 14-day quarantine period at their own expense.

If citizens/permanent residents of the 5 countries above arrive by air from an EU state enjoying conditional open borders with Georgia (Italy, Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Sweden, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Croatia), or from countries that do not enjoy open borders with Georgia, or if their 14-day travel history includes countries other than the 5 listed above, will be asked to complete a 14-day quarantine period at their own expense.

As for other EU member states that have not opened borders to Georgia (Slovenia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Malta, Slovakia, Finland, Hungary, Norway, Czechia, and Croatia), the status quo will be maintained by Georgia as well.

Importantly, business trips from all countries of the world will be allowed without reservation, based on a completed special form and coordination with relevant sectoral agencies. Business visitors to Georgia are obligated to complete a PCR test for COVID-19 at their own expense every 72 hours, or complete a mandatory 14-day quarantine, also at their own expense. That does not apply to the citizens/residents of the 5 countries enjoying unconditional border reopening with Georgia.

The Government of Georgia continues active cooperation with partner EU member states. Based on the relevant recommendation, the rules for entering Georgia and for Georgian citizens entering various EU states will be reviewed jointly once every other week.

• Are Georgian citizens required to fill the electronic form?

The electronic form is mandatory only for those Georgian citizens who are permanent resident/dual citizens of the 5 countries above.

• Are citizens/residents of EU states enjoying the conditional reopening of borders with Georgia required to fill the electronic form?

No, they are not, because they are required to complete a 14-day quarantine period.

• How to access the electronic form?

The electronic form is available on the Georgian Government’s special website www.StopCoV.ge.

• Is PCR testing required before departing for Georgia?

No, it is not. Laboratory reports from abroad do not cancel out mandatory PCT testing and/or 14-day quarantine in Georgia.

• Citizens/residents of what countries will be required to complete a 14-day quarantine period at their own expense upon arrival in Georgia?

Italy, Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Sweden, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Croatia.

• What approach applies to non-EU member states?

Georgia does not reopen borders with these countries, with business visits being the only exception.

• What approach applies to citizens of Germany, France, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia entering Georgia from EU member states enjoying conditional border reopening?

Persons entering from these countries are required to complete a 14-day quarantine period at their own expense.

• What approach applies to citizens of Germany, France, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia entering Georgia from EU member states that do not enjoy border reopening with Georgia?

Persons entering from these countries are required to complete a 14-day quarantine period at their own expense.

• What approach applies to citizens of Germany, France, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia entering Georgia from non-EU member states or other continents?

They are required to complete a 14-day quarantine period at their own expense.

• What approach applies to Georgian citizens entering from EU member states? From other countries?

Georgian citizens are required to complete a 14-day quarantine period, with the exception of Georgian holders of French, German, Estonian, Latvian, or Lithuanian permanent residence permits or dual citizenship.

• What approach applies to Georgian citizens holding French, German, Estonian, Latvian, or Lithuanian permanent residence permits?

• No 14-day quarantine applies to these citizens. Similar to the citizens of these countries, Georgian citizens holding permanent residence permits in these countries are required to fill in the special electronic form before entering Georgia and describe their 14-day travel history prior to arriving in Georgia, also the location of their stay in Georgia, contact information, and others.
• With their consent, a PCR test at the state’s expense will be performed at the airport.
• If thermal screening on the border reveals a temperature higher than 370C, they will be hospitalized.
• If Georgian citizens holding permanent residence permits in the 5 countries above arrive by air from an EU state enjoying conditional open borders with Georgia (Italy, Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Sweden, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Croatia), or from countries that do not enjoy open borders with Georgia, or if their 14-day travel history includes countries other than the 5 listed above, will be asked to complete a 14-day quarantine period at their own expense.

• What approach applies to Georgian citizens holding resident permits in EU member states (besides the 5 countries above)?

They will be asked to complete a mandatory 14-day quarantine period.

• Are citizens of EU member states enjoying border reopening with Georgia entitled to enter the country by land?

Land border checkpoints remain closed.

            Testing

• What types/methods of testing are performed at the airport?

PCR testing is performed at the airport.

• In what cases is PCR testing required at the airport?

PCR testing at the airport applies citizens/residents of the 5 EU member states above who express consent to testing in advance (in the application).

• How soon are testing results revealed?

PCR test results are in within 24 hours. In the meantime, self-isolation is recommended.

• How are test results delivered?

Information about test results is sent to travelers via e-mail within 24 hours. In case of positive results, telephone communication will be carried out by NCDC, and infected persons will be transported to a relevant medical facility.

• How long does it take to take samples for PCR testing?

Samples for PCR testing are taken within 5-10 minutes per person.

• Is it a paid test?

PCR tests at the airport are financed by the state only for citizens/residents of the 5 countries enjoying open borders with Georgia without reservation.

         Quarantine

• When is quarantine mandatory?
  

• Quarantine is mandatory for Georgian citizens and citizens of EU member states that enjoy conditional border reopening with Georgia.
• Quarantine is mandatory citizens/permanent residents of the 5 EU member states above who enter Georgia from countries not enjoying open borders with Georgia or those with a history of traveling to countries other than said 5 countries within a 14-day period.

• Who covers quarantine-related expenses?

The state in the case of Georgian citizens and citizens of EU member states cover expenses on their own.

• Is it possible to go into self-isolation?

Self-isolation is possible in the following cases:

Based on a given person’s health condition confirmed by a written document

If requested by diplomats and international missions (ensuring supervision over compliance with rules)

• Procedures

Persons going into self-isolation fill in a relevant form and indicate their address

Compliance of the indicated address with healthcare recommendations is verified by the Emergency Situations Coordination and Urgent Assistance Center LEPL.

• Can visitors choose a quarantine hotel?
  

No, they cannot.

• How are visitors transported to the quarantine hotel? Is it mandatory to leave the hotel after the expiration of the quarantine period?

The state provides transport from the airport to the hotel. The hotel room must be vacated after the expiration of a 14-day period, provided that the follow-up PCR test is negative.

• How long is a mandatory quarantine period?

14 days after crossing the border.

• Are PCR tests performed before departure from the quarantine hotel? Who covers the cost?

Yes, PCR tests are mandatory before departure from the hotel. EU citizens cover the cost on their own, and the state covers expenses related to testing Georgian citizens.

• Why is quarantine mandatory for Georgian citizens?

• The state is doing everything to protect its citizens and minimize the spread of coronavirus. Notably, most confirmed cases in Georgia have been imported.
• The difference in quarantine-related treatment between Georgian citizens and tourists is based on a potentially higher frequency of social contact with the population.

• Can citizens of the 5 EU member states above fill in the form at Georgia’s airport?

Yes, they can.

•  In what cases can Georgian citizens travel abroad?

• Georgian citizens are allowed to travel to countries opening borders with reservation, based on the regulations adopted by the host country, namely undertaking a visit of the category defined by the host country and completion of testing and/or a 14-day quarantine period in line with the regulations enforced by the host country.
• After traveling to any country—including Germany, France, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia—Georgian citizens are required to complete a 14-day quarantine period upon their return to Georgia.
• Importantly, regulations enforced in one country or another will be reviewed every other week, so citizens are advised to inquire into these regulations before buying tickets and traveling.
• If the category of a visit by Georgian citizens is not in compliance with the regulations applicable to Georgian citizens in the host country, they may be prohibited from leaving the country.
• The Government of Georgia continues active cooperation with partner EU member states. Based on the relevant recommendation, the rules for entering Georgia and for Georgian citizens entering various EU states will be reviewed jointly once every other week.

Source: The Government of Georgia