Georgia Border Rules Change: Mandatory Health Insurance for Tourists From 2026

Georgia is officially introducing mandatory health and accident insurance for foreign tourists, effective January 1, 2026. The requirement will not be postponed.

The regulation is set out in Government Decree No. 602, signed on December 26, 2025. It approves the “Rules and Conditions for Mandatory Medical and Accident Insurance for Tourists Entering Georgia.”

Who Must Have Insurance

Starting January 1, 2026, all foreign tourists entering Georgia will be required to carry a valid health and accident insurance policy.

The insurance policy must:

• Be valid for the entire duration of stay, including arrival and departure dates
• Have a minimum coverage of 30,000 GEL
• Be issued by either a Georgian or foreign insurance company
• Be available in paper or electronic form
• Be written in Georgian or English

What the Insurance Policy Must Include

The policy must clearly state the following information:

• Insurance contract parties
• Territory where coverage applies
• Object of insurance
• Start and end dates of coverage
• Covered insurance risks
• Coverage limits and compensation amounts
• Insurance premium amount, payment location, and payment terms

Who Is Considered a Tourist

Under Georgia’s Law on Tourism, a tourist is defined as a visitor traveling for business, leisure, or other personal reasons, staying overnight for up to one year.

This definition does not include individuals employed by a Georgian resident company. Employment must be officially confirmed and registered through the Ministry of Labor’s portal.

Who Is Exempt

The insurance requirement does not apply to:

• Holders of diplomatic or official passports or visas
• Individuals entering Georgia under international treaties or agreements
• Drivers engaged in international freight or passenger transportation

Important Clarifications

The law has been adopted, but additional official explanations are expected from the authorities responsible for enforcement, including the Ministry of Health, Border Police, and Ministry of Economy.

Informally, it has been stated that Georgia residence permit holders (temporary or permanent) will not be required to obtain insurance upon entry. However, this exemption has not yet been clearly formalized in publicly available regulations.

It also remains unclear whether insurance coverage will be checked upon exit from Georgia, even though the policy must cover the full stay.

Who Is Not Affected

Foreign nationals who entered Georgia before January 1, 2026 are not required to obtain insurance retroactively.

The requirement applies only to those crossing Georgia’s borders by land, sea, or air on or after January 1, 2026.

Holders of Georgian residence permits will not be required to present mandatory insurance when entering the country.