Georgia introduces mandatory insurance requirement for incoming tourists
A law requiring foreign tourists entering Georgia to have medical insurance has come into force. The relevant decree has been published on the website of the Legislative Herald of Georgia.
According to the tourism law, which took effect on January 1, 2026, all foreign tourists entering Georgia are required to have medical insurance and coverage against accidents for the entire duration of their stay in the country. The minimum insurance coverage must be no less than 30,000 lari (approximately $11,100). The insurance policy that tourists are required to present upon entry into Georgia may be provided either in printed or electronic form and must be issued in Georgian or English.
The law does not apply to holders of diplomatic passports, nor to drivers engaged in international passenger and cargo transportation. Although the law obliges tourists to have insurance, it does not provide penalties for the absence of an insurance policy.
In December 2023, the Parliament of Georgia adopted the tourism law, under which mandatory health and accident insurance for incoming tourists was initially scheduled to come into force on June 1, 2024. However, the authorities later concluded that this provision required an additional preparatory period, and in June 2024 the parliament adopted amendments postponing the introduction of mandatory insurance until January 1, 2026.
