Regulations for Crossing Georgian Border amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Georgian Foreign Ministry (MFA) has published regulations for crossing the Georgian Border in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At this stage, the state border of Georgia is open to 5 countries (Germany, France, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) out of 27 EU member states, on the condition that upon arrival to Georgia, citizens of this country submit a PCR test result taken within the last 72 hours, or undergo PCR testing at their own expense in a laboratory located at the airport (in effect from September 15).

Citizens / persons with permanent residence permits of the above 5 countries may come to Georgia for all types of visits only by air, in case of departure from the listed 5 countries.

Before crossing the Georgian border, they must fill in a special electronic form available on the website https://registration.gov.ge/pub/form/8_protocol_for_arrivals_in_georgia/tk6157/, which was created by the Government of Georgia. The completed form must provide a 14-day travel history prior to entering Georgia, as well as the location of stay in Georgia, contact information, etc.

The abovementioned persons shall undergo thermal screening at border points, and at temperatures above 37 degrees, they shall be required to undergo PCR testing.

Citizens of EU states putting Georgia on the so-called Green List (except for the above listed 5 countries) or imposing various restrictions, may enter Georgia under a mandatory 8-day quarantine (in effect from September 15, 2020), the costs of which shall be covered by themselves. This means that the quarantined person will be tested on the 8th day, and in case of a negative answer, will leave the quarantine on the 9th day and will have to repeat the PCR test on the 12th day (in effect from September 15, 2020).

If a citizen / permanent resident of the above 5 countries arrives by air from any EU country with which Georgia reopens the border under the agreed conditions, or from countries with which Georgia does not reopen the border, as well as has a travel history for the last 14 days in the countries other than the abovementioned 5 countries, he/she shall be subject to a mandatory 8-day quarantine (in effect from September 15, 2020) at his/her own expense.

With regard to other EU member states that have not reopened the border with Georgia, the current regime shall be maintained.

Business visits

It’s worth mentioning that business visits from all over the world shall be implemented without delay, filling in an appropriate form in advance and in agreement with the relevant sector agency, at https://registration.gov.ge/pub/form/7_protocol_for_arrivals_in_georgia/kcjcpx/. Guests arriving in Georgia on a business visit shall be liable to undergo PCR testing at their own expense at a customs checkpoint / border crossing point when entering Georgia or in the nearest customs control zone and undergo PCR testing at their own expense once per 72 hours for the next 8 days (if, as a result of the first PCR testing, immunoglobulin “G” is found in a person, he / she shall be exempted from further tests) or go into a mandatory 8-day quarantine (in effect from September 15, 2020), also at his/her own expense. This shall not apply to the citizens / residence permit holders of the 5 EU member states with whom Georgia unconditionally reopens its borders.

The Government of Georgia continues to actively cooperate with the EU member states and partner countries, and in accordance with the recommendation, the conditions for the entry into Georgia, as well as entry of Georgian citizens into those countries shall be jointly reviewed every two weeks.

Other issues related to border crossing

• An e-questionnaire shall be filled in only by those citizens of Georgia who hold a permanent residence permit of the above 5 countries or are dual citizens.
• An e-questionnaire shall not be filled in by citizens / persons holding a residence permit of any EU country with whom the border is reopen under a certain condition, since they are required to go into a mandatory 8-day quarantine (in effect from September 15, 2020).
• There is no need to conduct a preliminary PCR test before leaving for Georgia. A conclusion with laboratory tests carried out abroad shall not be accepted as a substitute for the PCR test necessary in Georgia and / or the mandatory 8-day quarantine (in effect from September 15, 2020).
• Citizens / persons holding a residence permit from EU member states: Italy, Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Sweden, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, and Iceland shall have to go into a 8-day quarantine (in effect from September 15, 2020) at their own expense if they enter Georgia.
• With regard to European countries that are not members of the European Union, the state border of Georgia shall not reopen, with the exception of business visits.
• Citizens of Germany, France, Estonia, Lietuva and Latvia, entering from EU member states with which Georgia reopens the state border under a respective condition, shall be subject to a mandatory 8-day quarantine (in effect from September 15, 2020) at their own expense.
• Citizens of Germany, France, Estonia, Lietuva and Latvia, entering from EU member states with which Georgia does not reopen the state border, shall be subject to a mandatory 8-day quarantine (in effect from September 15, 2020) at their own expense.
• Citizens of Germany, France, Estonia, Lietuva and Latvia who come from non-EU countries and countries of other continents shall be subject to a mandatory 8-day quarantine (in effect from September 15, 2020) at their own expense.
• Georgian citizens coming from the EU and other countries shall be subject to a mandatory 8-day quarantine (in effect from September 15, 2020). An exception shall be the citizens of Georgia who hold a document confirming permanent residence in France, Germany, Estonia, Latvia or Lietuva, or at the same time have the status of a citizen of these countries.

Like the citizens of these countries, Georgian citizens with a permanent residence permit of the above 5 countries must fill in a special form before crossing the Georgian border, providing their travel history for the last 14 days before entering Georgia, as well as the location of stay, contact information, etc.

With their consent, they shall undergo PCR testing at the airport.

The abovementioned persons shall be subject to thermal screening at border points, and at temperatures above 37 degrees, they shall undergo a PCR test.

If a Georgian citizen with a permanent residence permit of the above 5 countries arrives by air from an EU country with which Georgia reopens the state border under a respective condition (Italy, Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Sweden, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, and Iceland) or from countries with which Georgia does not reopen the state border, as well as has a history of travelling to countries other than the five mentioned countries for the last 14 days, then a citizen of Georgia shall be subject to a mandatory 8-day quarantine (in effect from September 15, 2020) at state expense.

• A citizen of Georgia who has a document certifying a residence permit in the EU member states (other than the 5 countries listed above) shall be subject to a mandatory 8-day quarantine (in effect from September 15, 2020).
• Citizens of an EU member state for which Georgia reopens the state border, shall have the right to enter the country across the land border in accordance with the decree. Upon entry, they shall be quarantined at their own expense.

Testing

• PCR testing shall be carried out at airports.
• A citizen/person with a residence permit of 5 EU countries shall be subject to PCR testing at airports if he / she has expressed his / her will to be tested in advance (in the application).
• The result of the PCR test shall be known within a maximum of 24 hours. Meanwhile, self-isolation is recommended until the test result is obtained.
• A person shall receive information about the test results by e-mail within a maximum of 24 hours. In case of a positive result, the NCDC shall also connect an infected person by phone and shall take him/her to an appropriate medical facility.
• Sampling procedure for PCR testing of one person varies within 5-10 minutes.
• Passengers shall undergo PCR testing at airports with their consent.
• Guests arriving in Georgia on a business visit shall be liable to undergo PCR testing at their own expense at a customs checkpoint / border crossing point when entering Georgia, or in the nearest customs control zone and undergo PCR testing at their own expense once per 72 hours for the next 8 days (if, as a result of the first PCR testing, immunoglobulin “G” is found in a person, he / she shall be exempted from further tests) or go into a mandatory 8-day quarantine (in effect from September 15, 2020), also at his/her own expense. This shall not apply to the citizens / residence permit holders of the 5 EU member states with whom Georgia unconditionally reopens its borders.

Quarantine

• Quarantine shall be obligatory for citizens of Georgia and citizens of EU states, with whom Georgia reopens the state border under a certain condition.  

The quarantine shall also apply to citizens / persons with a permanent residence permit from the abovementioned 5 EU countries who enter Georgia from countries with pandemic shutting Georgian borders or have had a history of traveling to countries other than these 5 countries during the last 14 days.

• In the case of Georgian citizens, the quarantine costs shall be covered by the state, while in the case of EU citizens, the quarantine costs shall be covered by themselves.
• Self-isolation is possible:
  • depending on the state of health of a person, which is confirmed by a medical reference;
  • at the request of diplomats and international missions (who monitor compliance with the rules themselves).
  • Procedures:
    • for self-isolation, a person fills in an appropriate form, where he / she indicates the address;
    • compliance of the address indicated in the completed form with the healthcare recommendations shall be determined by the LEPL Emergency Situations Coordination and Urgent Assistance Centre.
• A visitor may not select a quarantine hotel.
• Transportation from the airport to a hotel shall be provided by the state. The hotel shall be left after the 8-day isolation period (in effect from September 15, 2020) is complete, in case of a negative result confirmed by a PCR test.
• A person must stay in the quarantine zone for 8 days (in effect from September 15, 2020) after crossing the border.
• Before leaving a quarantine hotel, a person shall undergo PCR testing.

PCR testing is required before leaving a hotel. In the case of EU citizens, the test fee shall be paid by the citizen himself/herself, and in the case of Georgian citizens - by the state.

• Quarantine is mandatory for the citizens of Georgia, since the state tries to take care of its citizens as much as possible and minimize the spread of the coronavirus.

It should be noted that according to the existing experience, most of the cases reported in Georgia were imported.

The difference between placing/non-placing Georgian citizens and tourists under quarantine is due to the potentially higher frequency of social contacts with the population.

• Citizens of abovementioned 5 EU member states may fill in a questionnaire at the airport of Georgia.

Departure of a citizen of Georgia from the country

• A citizen of Georgia may travel to countries that have reopened their borders under certain conditions in accordance with the rules established by a host country. A citizen of Georgia may make a visit which falls under the categories set by a host country and undergo testing and / or a 14-day self-isolation or quarantine in accordance with the rules of the host country.

When returning to Georgia after traveling to any country, including Germany, France, Estonia, Lietuva and Latvia, a Georgian citizen must undergo a mandatory 8-day quarantine (in effect from September 15, 2020).

It should be noted that the rules imposed by countries are constantly being reviewed, so a citizen must have a close look at the rules of a host country before purchasing an air ticket and departing.

If, prior to the departure of a citizen of Georgia, it is established that the category of his / her visit does not comply with the rules established by the country of destination for citizens of Georgia, such a person may be denied exit from the country.

By Ana Dumbadze 

Source: MFA Georgia