Since 1 January 2026, travel insurance for Georgia is mandatory: a tourist cannot enter without a health policy. This is required by Georgia’s Law on Tourism and Government Resolution No. 602. Below: which policy works, who actually checks it and where to get one.
The short version
- Insurance is required for every foreign tourist, including visa-free visitors.
- Coverage must be at least 30,000 GEL (about $11,000) for medical treatment and accidents.
- The policy must cover your whole trip, including the days you arrive and leave.
- It must be in English or Georgian, on paper or electronic.
- It can be issued by a Georgian or a foreign insurance company.
- Without insurance you risk a 300 GEL fine, and the airline may refuse to board you.
Which travel insurance works for Georgia
According to Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the policy must show:
- who is insured and who the insurer is;
- the covered territory — it must include Georgia;
- start and end dates;
- the insured risks;
- the coverage amount;
- the price of the policy.
A standard travel insurance policy almost always qualifies. If it covers $30,000 or €30,000, that is well above 30,000 GEL, so the amount is fine. Just make sure you have it in English.
Heading to Gudauri or Bakuriani to ski, or planning to hike in the mountains? Check that your policy includes sports and adventure activities — basic plans often exclude injuries on the slopes.
One more thing: standard travel policies, including Georgian ones, usually do not cover Abkhazia or the Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia).
Who checks your insurance and how
Most often it is the airline — at check-in or right at the boarding gate. Some travellers have been refused boarding for a flight to Georgia without insurance and had to buy a policy on their phone on the spot.
At passport control in Tbilisi and Kutaisi airports not everyone is asked, and at land borders (for example from Armenia) checks are still rare. But the law is the same for everyone, so keep the policy handy: on your phone, as a downloaded file in case there is no internet, and ideally a printout too.
You cannot buy insurance at the border or the airport — sort it out before you fly.
Where to get travel insurance for Georgia
At home, before your trip
International travel insurers such as Heymondo, SafetyWing (monthly subscription, handy for long trips) or World Nomads issue an English certificate straight away. Such a policy can also cover luggage and trip cancellation — up to you.
A Georgian policy online
Georgian insurers sell policies designed specifically for the entry requirement. You can buy them from anywhere in the world, and the policy arrives by email in English and Georgian. It is usually cheaper — a few lari a day — but it only works in Georgia and only covers medical treatment and accidents, with no luggage or cancellation cover.
FAQ
Do children need insurance?
Yes. The rule applies to every tourist, and there is no separate exemption for children.
Does credit card travel insurance count?
It can, if you can download a policy in English showing the coverage amount, dates and Georgia as part of the covered territory. A line saying “your card includes insurance” will not be enough at check-in.
I decided to stay longer in Georgia. What about my insurance?
The policy has to cover your whole stay, so extend it or buy a new one for the extra days. Georgian insurers also sell policies for several months.
Do I need insurance if I have a Georgian residence permit?
No. Georgian citizens and foreigners with a residence permit are not considered tourists, so the rule does not apply to them.
Who else is exempt?
Holders of diplomatic, official and service passports and visas, staff of embassies and international organisations with their families, and drivers working on international freight and passenger routes.
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