Mandatory Travel Insurance for Georgia: Complete Guide 2026
Travel insurance is now mandatory to enter Georgia. Here is what you need to know.
Since January 1, 2026, every foreign tourist entering Georgia is legally required to hold health and accident insurance covering their entire stay, with minimum coverage of 30,000 GEL. This is a binding entry requirement under Georgian law, not a recommendation, and it applies regardless of nationality or visa-free status.
Key Facts
Mandatory since January 1, 2026, under Government Resolution No. 602
Legal basis is Article 12 of Georgia's Law "On Tourism"
Minimum coverage required is 30,000 GEL, approximately 11,000 USD or 9,500 EUR
Must cover both illness and accidents, not one or the other
Must remain valid for the entire trip, from arrival date to departure date
Accepted in Georgian or English, as a physical document or electronic policy
Can be issued by a Georgian or foreign licensed insurer
Legal and Official Basis
The requirement is grounded in two official sources, not industry guidance or third-party advice.
Article 12 of the Law of Georgia "On Tourism" establishes the general obligation for tourists visiting Georgia to carry health and accident insurance.
Government Resolution No. 602, "On the Approval of the Rules and Conditions for Mandatory Health and Accident Insurance for Tourists Entering Georgia," sets out the specific implementation details, including coverage minimums, accepted languages, documentation format, and enforcement authority. The resolution was published on the Legislative Herald of Georgia (Matsne) and took effect January 1, 2026.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia has also communicated this requirement through its consular information platform, Geoconsul, as part of its entry-requirements guidance for foreign visitors.
What This Means For You
Tourists and Short-Term Visitors
If you are entering Georgia for tourism, you need a policy that meets the 30,000 GEL minimum and covers your full trip before you arrive. This applies whether you are from a visa-free country or one that requires a visa. The insurance requirement is separate from visa status.
Business Travelers
Business trips are treated the same as tourism for this requirement unless you hold a diplomatic, official, or service passport, or fall under a specific bilateral agreement. A standard business travel policy needs to explicitly meet the 30,000 GEL threshold and accident-plus-illness coverage. Many generic international business policies do not automatically satisfy both conditions, so check the wording before you fly.
Travel Agencies and Tour Operators
If you are booking group travel or independent itineraries to Georgia, insurance verification should now sit alongside passport and visa checks in your pre-departure process. Clients arriving without compliant coverage risk delays or complications at the border, which becomes an operator's problem as much as the traveler's.
Long-Term Residents and Frequent Visitors
The mandatory insurance rule targets tourists entering the country. It is not the same as the insurance requirements tied to residence permits, which follow separate rules. If you are relocating or hold a residence permit, your insurance obligations are governed by different regulations, not Resolution No. 602.
Exceptions and Edge Cases
The resolution excludes the following from the mandatory insurance requirement.
Holders of diplomatic or special visas
Holders of diplomatic, official, or service passports
Accredited staff of diplomatic missions, consular offices, and international organizations, and their accredited family members
Individuals entering under international treaties or agreements to which Georgia is a party
Drivers engaged in international freight or passenger transport
If none of these apply to you, you fall under the standard tourist requirement. There is no general exemption based on nationality, length of stay, or purpose of visit beyond the categories above.
Compliant vs Non-Compliant Policy at a Glance
RequirementCompliant PolicyNon-Compliant PolicyCoverage amount30,000 GEL or moreBelow 30,000 GELRisk coverageIllness and accidentsIllness only, or accidents onlyDurationFull stay, arrival to departurePartial trip coverage, or gapsLanguageGeorgian or EnglishOther languages without translationFormatPhysical or electronic, verifiableInformal proof, screenshots without policy dataIssuerLicensed Georgian or foreign insurerUnlicensed or unverifiable provider
Frequently Asked Questions
Is travel insurance really required to enter Georgia, or is it just recommended?
It is a legal requirement, not a recommendation. Since January 1, 2026, foreign tourists must hold a compliant policy under Government Resolution No. 602, and border authorities are permitted to request proof.
How much insurance coverage do I need to visit Georgia?
Your policy must provide at least 30,000 GEL in coverage, equivalent to roughly 11,000 USD or 9,500 EUR, and must cover both illness and accidents for the full length of your stay.
Who checks for travel insurance at the Georgian border?
Officers of the Patrol Police Department, under Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs, are authorized to request proof of insurance at border checkpoints. Enforcement is still being rolled out unevenly across entry points.
Am I exempt from mandatory travel insurance if I have visa-free access to Georgia?
No. Visa-free access and the insurance requirement are separate rules. Unless you fall under a specific exemption such as diplomatic status, treaty-based entry, or international transport driving, you need compliant insurance regardless of your visa situation.
Can I buy compliant travel insurance after I arrive in Georgia?
The safest approach is to arrange insurance before departure, since border checks apply on entry. Arriving without proof of coverage risks delays or complications at passport control.
Does my existing international travel insurance already meet Georgia's requirements?
Not automatically. Many international policies do not explicitly meet the 30,000 GEL minimum or do not clearly cover both illness and accidents. Check your policy documents against these specific criteria, or choose a policy built for Georgia's exact legal requirements.
Sources
Legislative Herald of Georgia (Matsne) — Government Resolution No. 602
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia — Geoconsul
Last updated: July 4, 2026
Get Compliant Coverage
Planning a trip to Georgia or advising travelers who are? Georgian Insurance offers policies structured specifically around the 30,000 GEL minimum, full-stay validity, and dual illness-and-accident coverage required under Resolution No. 602, so there is no guesswork matching a generic policy to Georgia's legal criteria.