From 1 January 2026, Georgia will require all foreign visitors to hold valid travel insurance for the entire duration of their stay, the Belarusian embassy in Tbilisi has warned. The requirement applies to tourists, business travellers and those transiting the country.
Georgia travel insurance requirements from January 2026
Under the new rule, arriving foreign nationals must present a medical insurance policy and accident insurance that cover the period from their arrival to their departure. The policy must be issued in English or Georgian and may be held in electronic or paper form. Embassy officials advise travellers to carry both a PDF copy on a smartphone and a printed version where possible.
Policies may be purchased from Georgian or foreign insurers before travel. When buying a policy, travellers should confirm it specifically covers travel within Georgia and meets the minimum benefit levels set out by local authorities. The embassy highlighted that accepted coverage should include medical protection of at least 30,000 lari, roughly €10,000.
Some sources provide a more detailed breakdown of the expected minimum limits. These indicate at least $5,000 in emergency outpatient care and at least $30,000 for hospitalisation and intensive treatment. The insurance should also cover accidents, medical evacuation and repatriation of remains where necessary.
Before purchasing, travellers should check with their insurer that the policy complies with Georgian requirements from 1 January 2026 and explicitly covers emergency care and medical evacuation. It is not sufficient for a policy to be valid generally; it must operate on Georgian territory and meet the numeric coverage thresholds described above.
The Belarusian embassy recommends that travellers verify the language of the document and the insurer’s confirmation in writing. This reduces the risk of disputes at border control points. In the absence of an acceptable policy, travellers may be refused entry at air or land border crossings.
Practical steps for travellers include: buy a policy before departure; confirm territorial and benefit coverage; request a written confirmation from the insurer that the policy meets Georgia’s 2026 requirements; and store the document both digitally and in print. These precautions will help avoid delays or denial of entry.
Officials emphasise that the rule applies to all foreign nationals without exception. The announcement from the embassy mirrors reporting by local outlets and travel platforms, which have begun notifying clients and readers about the upcoming change.
Travellers from Belarus and other countries planning trips to Georgia after the start of 2026 should take immediate steps to secure compliant insurance. Failure to do so could result in turned-away passengers and disrupted itineraries. The embassy’s guidance aims to give visitors time to prepare before the rule comes into force.
For further details, potential visitors should consult their insurer and the Belarusian embassy in Tbilisi, as well as official Georgian sources. The original reporting on this change was carried by av.by.
Key Takeaways:
- Georgia will require valid travel insurance for all foreign visitors from 1 January 2026.
- Policies must cover medical costs (minimum 30,000 lari) and include accident, evacuation and repatriation.
- Documents must be in English or Georgian; electronic and paper copies are acceptable and should be retained.
- Border officials may deny entry without compliant insurance, so travellers should confirm coverage before departure.
