Insurance Requirement Checker for Georgia
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Based on government regulation No. 602 of 26 December 2025 (matsne.gov.ge) and the Law of Georgia on Tourism. Currency figures other than lari are approximate. Rules change, so verify at geoconsul.gov.ge before you travel. Last verified September 2026.
Health and accident insurance has been mandatory for tourists entering Georgia since 1 January 2026, under government regulation No. 602. Check whether it applies to you and what your policy needs to show.
Travel insurance is mandatory for Georgia. Since January 1, 2026, every foreign tourist needs health and accident coverage with a minimum benefit of 30,000 GEL (roughly $11,000). The requirement comes from government regulation No. 602 and is checked before boarding, not at the border. Use the checker above to see exactly what you need.
Doesn’t matter how long you’re allowed to stay visa-free either; whether that’s a year or a few weeks, the insurance requirement doesn’t scale down for shorter trips. A handful of categories are exempt, diplomats and a few others, and we’ll get to exactly who further down.
Georgia’s Travel Insurance Requirement
The insurance requirement and your visa are two completely separate things. Being visa-free for a year doesn’t change what you need to buy, and a shorter stay doesn’t reduce the minimum either.
The rule comes from Government Regulation No. 602, under Article 12 of the Law of Georgia on Tourism, in effect since January 1, 2026. Your policy needs to show all of the following:
- Both medical treatment and accident cover
- Cover running from your arrival date to your departure date, both days included
- Wording in English or Georgian, printed or on your phone; either is fine
- Your name, the insurer, the policy period, and Georgia listed as covered territory
- A stated benefit limit that clears the minimum
One thing worth knowing. Some official guidance references a 5,000 GEL sub-limit specifically for outpatient care within the total. If your policy lists outpatient treatment separately, check that figure too, not just the headline number.
Also worth keeping in mind that clearing the entry threshold doesn’t mean every activity is covered. A policy can satisfy the requirement at the border and still exclude skiing, high-altitude hiking, or adventure sports. We cover that further down.
Where and When Your Travel Insurance Gets Checked in Georgia
Travel insurance for Georgia gets checked at airline check-in or at the boarding gate, before you even get on the plane. Some airlines have been asking for proof of cover and refusing boarding without it.
There’s no way to buy a policy at Tbilisi airport or at any land crossing, and airlines have refused boarding over it. Sort it out before you leave. If you’re still figuring out how you’re getting here, our direct flights to and from Tbilisi guide covers every route, airline, and price.
Who Is Exempt from Georgia’s Travel Insurance Requirement
The requirement covers foreign tourists, so a few categories fall outside it completely:
- Holders of diplomatic, official, service, or special passports
- Accredited employees of diplomatic missions and their families
- People whose entry is governed by international treaties
- Drivers engaged in international road freight and passenger transport
Georgian residence permit holders are a grey area. The regulation targets tourists, and if you live here, you’re not travelling as one, so most readings say you’re exempt. The exemption list just doesn’t name residence permit holders explicitly, and no official guidance has closed that gap. Nobody has reported being stopped over it. Having your residence permit out at check-in is the simplest way to deal with it.
Activities Your Travel Insurance Needs to Cover in Georgia
The 30,000 GEL entry requirement is a baseline, and a standard travel insurance policy for Georgia can clear it while still excluding the activity that actually puts you at risk here.
If you’re skiing or snowboarding in Gudauri or Bakuriani, you need winter sports cover added to your policy. It’s not included by default, and most insurers charge extra for it.
For hiking and trekking, Svaneti, Tusheti and the Kazbegi area go well above 2,000 metres. A lot of policies cap trekking at a stated altitude or exclude mountain rescue. If something goes wrong in a remote valley, evacuation is expensive, so read that part of the policy carefully.
Rafting, paragliding, mountaineering and horse riding are outside standard cover on most policies too.
Two things also worth checking before you buy. Most travel insurance policies for Georgia exclude incidents involving alcohol. And Abkhazia and South Ossetia are both part of Georgia, occupied by Russia, and most policies exclude them, so check the wording before you go.
How Much Is Travel Insurance for Georgia
Prices vary a lot depending on where you’re buying from, how long you’re staying, and what you’re doing while you’re here.
For a standard one to two week trip, expect to pay $20 to $60 for an international single-trip policy from home. A basic policy that just clears the 30,000 GEL requirement sits at the lower end; add winter sports or adventure cover and you’re closer to $60 or above.
For longer stays, monthly subscription plans work out cheaper and are popular with digital nomads and people spending a few months in the country.
Georgian insurers also offer policies that meet the requirement and tend to be cheaper per day than international options. The catch is that buying online as a foreign visitor with a non-Georgian card isn’t always straightforward, so check the checkout flow before you count on it.
Whatever you buy, make sure the policy documents are in English or Georgian, show Georgia as covered territory, and show a benefit limit that clears 30,000 GEL. A cheaper policy that doesn’t show those things clearly creates problems at check-in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is travel insurance mandatory for a Georgia visa?
The insurance requirement and your visa are two separate things. Visa-free entry doesn’t get you out of buying insurance, and the requirement applies regardless of how long you’re allowed to stay.
How much travel insurance is required for Georgia?
The minimum is 30,000 GEL. That works out to roughly $11,000, €9,500, or £8,300 depending on your currency. The checker above calculates it in your currency automatically.
Do UK citizens need travel insurance for Georgia?
Yes, the requirement applies to all foreign tourists including UK citizens. UK visitors are visa-free for up to one year but still need to meet the insurance requirement before flying.
Do US citizens need travel insurance for Georgia?
Yes, same rule applies. US citizens are visa-free for up to one year and still need cover meeting the 30,000 GEL minimum before departure.
Do European citizens need travel insurance for Georgia?
Yes, EU and European citizens are generally visa-free for Georgia but the insurance requirement applies regardless. Make sure your policy is in English or Georgian and shows Georgia as covered territory.
What insurance coverage is required in Georgia?
Medical treatment and accident cover, both included, with a minimum benefit limit of 30,000 GEL. The policy needs to cover your full stay and be worded in English or Georgian.
Which travel insurance is best for Georgia?
Any policy that clears 30,000 GEL, covers both medical treatment and accidents, runs for your full stay, and names Georgia as covered territory meets the requirement. Beyond that it depends on your activities and stay length.
Do Gulf citizens need travel insurance for Georgia?
Yes, citizens of Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman are all visa-free for Georgia and all subject to the same insurance requirement. The checker above shows the 30,000 GEL minimum in your local currency.
Can I buy travel insurance at Tbilisi airport?
No. There’s no counter or kiosk at the airport or at any land crossing. Insurance is checked at check-in or boarding before departure, so you need to buy it before you fly.
