Travel insurance for Georgia in 2026: what the new rule requires, and what a good policy covers

By Prof. Giorgi Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD · 15/10/2026

Short answer: yes. Since 1 January 2026 every foreign visitor to Georgia must hold health and accident insurance for the whole stay, with cover of at least 30,000 GEL (about €9,500). The policy can be checked at the border. This page explains what the rule says, what it does not say, what a good policy for Georgia actually needs to cover, and what to do if you fall ill or have an accident.

Medically reviewed by Prof. Giorgi Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD. Last checked against the official sources on 16 October 2026; we update this page whenever the rule or its enforcement changes and record every change in the log at the end.

What the rule says

The requirement comes from Article 12 of the Law of Georgia on Tourism and Government Resolution No. 602 of 26 December 2025, which set the details and the start date. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Embassy in Tbilisi summarise it as follows:

• Who: all foreign citizens entering Georgia as visitors, whatever their nationality or the length of the visit.
• What: health and accident insurance that is valid in Georgia.
• How much: a minimum sum insured of 30,000 GEL.
• How long: the entire stay, including the day of arrival and the day of departure.
• Language: the policy document should be in Georgian or English.
• Checks: Patrol Police officers at border crossings may ask to see it.

The Georgian texts are on the official legal register, matsne.gov.ge; the Resolution has not been published in English.

What the rule does not say (yet)

Three questions come up constantly, and the honest answer to each is “not confirmed”:

• Is there a fine for travellers without insurance? Some insurance sellers quote a 300 GEL fine. Our reading of the published texts, and that of at least one other analyst, finds no penalty for an individual traveller: the fines in the Law on Tourism (500 to 6,000 GEL) apply to tourism businesses. We have asked the Ministry for a written clarification and will update this page when we have it. Until then, assume you may be refused entry rather than fined.
• Are residents, transit passengers or children exempt? The Resolution does not list exemptions in a form we can confirm. If you hold a Georgian residence permit, carry proof of your local insurance.
• Is it enforced at every crossing? Reports since January 2026 are mixed: airport checks appear occasional, land-border checks more frequent. Do not plan around not being checked.

A doctor’s checklist for a policy that actually works in Georgia

Meeting the 30,000 GEL minimum is easy; almost any travel policy does. Having a policy that helps you at 3 a.m. in Mestia is a different question. Check these points before you buy:

1. Emergency treatment and hospitalisation, with direct billing or a guaranteed reimbursement process. Private clinics in Tbilisi and Batumi will treat you first and ask for payment or a guarantee of payment; a policy that pays only on return home means paying several thousand lari upfront.
2. Medical evacuation and repatriation. Serious cases in the mountains are moved to Tbilisi by road or helicopter; a serious injury abroad may need an air ambulance home. These are the expensive items. Check the evacuation limit separately from the medical limit.
3. Mountain and winter activities. Skiing in Gudauri, Bakuriani or Goderdzi, trekking in Svaneti or Tusheti, and horse riding are excluded by many standard policies or sold as an add-on. If your trip includes them, buy the add-on.
4. Altitude. Most visitors never exceed 2,500 metres. Gergeti Trinity Church (2,170 m) and the Abano Pass (2,850 m) are fine for a healthy adult. If you have a heart or lung condition, discuss the itinerary with your own doctor and make sure the policy does not exclude pre-existing conditions you will be travelling with.
5. A 24-hour assistance line that answers in English, with a Georgian partner network. Ask the insurer which hospitals in Georgia it works with.
6. Dental and pharmacy cover if you want them; they are often capped or excluded.

Two common misunderstandings: the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC/GHIC) is not valid in Georgia, and credit-card travel insurance often has low medical limits and excludes winter sports. Read the certificate, not the brochure.

If something happens

• In an emergency call 112 (free, English-speaking operators available).
• For anything that is not an emergency, call your insurer’s assistance line before you go to a clinic; most policies require it and it is how they arrange direct payment.
• Keep every document: the clinic’s invoice (ask for it in English), the medical report, prescriptions and pharmacy receipts, and the police report if an accident was involved.
• Pharmacies are everywhere and well stocked; many medicines that need a prescription elsewhere are sold over the counter, but bring a supply of anything you take regularly, with its original packaging.

Buying it

Any insurer whose policy meets the conditions above is acceptable; the rule does not require a Georgian insurer. If you arrive without a policy, Georgian companies sell compliant short-term cover online within minutes, and some have desks at Tbilisi and Kutaisi airports. GTour does not sell or earn commission on insurance; where that ever changes, this page will say so.

Sources

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, consular service: entry rules for foreign citizens — geoconsul.gov.ge
• US Embassy in Georgia: “Georgia to require insurance for all tourists starting 1/1/2026”
• Law of Georgia on Tourism, Article 12; Government Resolution No. 602 of 26 December 2025 — matsne.gov.ge (Georgian)

Change log

• 16 October 2026 — page published. Fine for travellers marked as unconfirmed; clarification requested from the Ministry.