Georgia’s Foreign Ministry Holds Informative Meeting over Visa Liberalization
TBILISI - Georgia’s Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze, his deputy Vakhtang Makharoblidze and the Head of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) held an information meeting on March 10th with the representatives of business, trade, tourism, education, and culture concerning Georgia-European Union (EU) visa liberalization.
The minister once again offered his congratulations on this remarkable progress and restated that from March 28th Georgian citizens who hold biometric passports will be able to enter the Schengen Area, which includes 22 EU member states (excluding Ireland, the United Kingdom, Croatia, Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria) in addition to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, for 90 days within any 180-day period for vacation, business, or any other purpose except work.
Janelidze also said that 26 diplomatic missions and consular offices serve Georgians in EU/Schengen countries, whose staff have undergone extensive trainings and will serve Georgians 24 hours a day.
“While preparing to visit Europe, it is necessary that the rules are observed. It is mandatory to purchase a return ticket and provide information about the purpose of visit and place of stay. And for long-term stays, for example for work or study, a visa is still required,” the minister said.
The legislation lifting visa-requirements for Georgia was published in the Official Journal of the EU on March 8th. According to Regulation Amendment 539/2001, Georgia has been put on the list of countries able to enjoy visa-free travel within the EU.
The regulation will enter into force 20 days after its publication, which means that from March 28, Georgians will enjoy the benefits of visa-free travel with the EU/Schengen countries.
#Georgia’s FM @JanelidzeMkh met with #Geo’s civil society & different associations, regarding the #visafree regime with the #EU pic.twitter.com/e1SGzNZIJ1
— MFA of Georgia (@MFAgovge) March 10, 2017
By Thea Morrison