Entry to Georgia is allowed to all persons fleeing the war in Ukraine.

At the moment, entry is possible for persons who do not have a valid travel document (biometric passport) as well. If you are travelling with children, it is recommended that you have at least your child’s birth certificate with you. If possible, please consult with the Patrol Police Department, phone (032) 241-42-42.

For more information, please check the consular web page .

Chatbot to help Ukrainians around the world from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

The chatbot can simultaneously serve several users and provide advice on the most common questions, namely:

• rules of entry to a foreign country;
• registration of temporary protection;
• social security;
• return to Ukraine;
• consular services.

You can get help through the chatbot at the link .

In addition to the chatbot, citizens can also contact the call center at +38 (044) 224-57-20.

You can enter Georgia with any of the following documents:

• A biometric passport.
• Ukrainian ID. According to the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service (DPSU), the citizens of Ukraine who can leave Ukraine with an internal passport are currently only those evacuating from occupied territories or territories where hostilities are taking place, the list of which is approved in accordance with the Order of the Ministry on Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine of December 22, 2022 No. 309 . Citizens from other territories must have a biometric passport to travel abroad.
• Children under the age of 16 traveling with their parents must have a birth certificate. Children have the right to cross the border with one parent (without the official permission of the other parent). If the child is traveling with acquaintances or relatives, she/he needs to have a travel permit from one of the parents, certified by a notary.

In order to prove family/marital status, birth certificates and a marriage certificate are required.

The telephone number of the DPSU hotline ("Trust" Service) is 1598. You can use it for questions of a consultative nature within the competence of the State Border Service of Ukraine.

For more information about the documents with which you can cross the border, and about the categories of citizens who are allowed to travel outside Ukraine, see here .

Ukrainian citizens holding passports can enter in Georgia without visas, for a maximum period 2 years. Ukrainian nationals who do not hold passports, are allowed to cross Georgian borders after they are registered by the Georgian authorities and with the purpose of requesting temporary protected status. In this case, if possible, please consult with the Patrol Police Department, phone (032) 241-42-42.

After crossing the border, every Ukrainian is free to choose the city of residence in Georgia.

Governmental and non-governmental organizations can provide humanitarian and basic material assistance based on the place of residence. Please follow the link to see the mapping of the available services .

You can get to the capital of Georgia by train, bus or taxi.

Fees for the Tbilisi’s public transportation, have been waived for all Ukrainians.

You can also travel by airplane, bus, car or train to different countries.

Georgia has extended the period of visa-free stay for Ukrainians. This is stated in the amendments to Resolution No. 255 dated June 5, 2015.

Now the visa-free stay of Ukrainians in Georgia has been extended to two years, that is, until February 2024. Previously, this period was a year, after which it was necessary to cross the border and re-enter Georgia.

If you wish to remain in Georgia longer than two years, you can submit an application to obtain a Georgian residence permit 40 calendar days prior to the expiration of one full year since your entry into Georgia.

For more information, check the consular web page .

In the event that an unaccompanied child crosses the border, the competent authority, in cooperation with the police, shall coordinate the next steps. Government officials consider a child as “unaccompanied” if they are “alone” when they arrive at the border without lawful status.

In such cases, please, contact Child Helpline: 111.

Migration Department operating within the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia is responsible for identification, registration and referral of minors travelling alone.

Migration Department

• Address: 0182, 16 Gakhokidze Street, Tbilisi, Georgia
• hot line: Irregular Migration Issues (+995 32) 241 96 07;
• hot line: International Protection Issues (+995 32) 241 87 30
• E-mail: migration@mia.gov.ge

Citizens of any foreign countries, traveling to Georgia via any route (by air, land and sea) are no longer obliged to present either Covid-vaccination certificate or PCR-examination negative result report from June 15, 2022.

If you decide to reside in Georgia and obtain a Georgian residence permit, you will be subject to mandatory registration with the State Services Development Agency of Georgia (the “SSDA”) based on your place of residence within one month from entry into Georgia or if already on the territory of Georgia, within one month from the receipt of your residence permit.

If you are in need of international protection, you can address a border guard (if applying for asylum at the state border) or any state agency in Georgia (if applying for asylum within Georgia).

Forms of international protection in Georgia include:

• status of a person under temporary protection;
• refugee status;
• humanitarian status.

In order to extend the right to stay on the Georgian territory beyond 1 year, ukrainians may obtain: residence permit, long-term visa or temporary protected status. The status is valid for 1 year, but if the conditions remain unchanged, it can be extended for the same period for unlimited times. Check the State Commission on Migration Issues website for updates.

During the application period, as well as after obtaining a status, shelter seekers are provided with accommodation located in Martkopi Reception Center.

Residents of Ukraine have the same access to the labour market as Georgian citizens (except for civil servants). They can be employed on an employment contract or in the form of an agreement.

Citizens of Ukraine who arrived in Georgia between 1 February – 15 April 2022 are included in the state healthcare programmes.

According to the decision of the Government of Georgia, schoolchildren who are unable to continue their general education in Ukrainian schools and express a desire to continue their education in Georgia will be enrolled in schools in a simplified manner.

Shelter seekers receive relevant certificate and after obtaining temporary protected status- an identification card.

Obtaining refugee or humanitarian status does not restrict a person from travelling abroad. Also, a person can at any time withdraw the asylum application or apply for the cessation of the refugee or humanitarian statuses.

Relinquish temporary protection status:

Regardless of the country of residence, temporary protection must be waived. Your status will be revoked by the state body or institution where you issued the documents. However, citizens of Ukraine can re-obtain this status if they decide to return abroad.

Make sure your documents are valid:

Citizens who left Ukraine with a valid foreign passport will not face any difficulties. The expired document can be extended in diplomatic institutions for another five years - this decision was made by the Cabinet of Ministers, because it is not possible to issue biometrics abroad. You can also add a child's data to an adult's passport.

Ukrainians who have only an internal passport or who left Ukraine without documents should also contact the embassy or consulate. Employees of the institution will issue a special document - an identity card for returning to Ukraine (it is not necessary to pay the consular fee during martial law).

Cancel receiving cash assistance abroad:

When returning home, refugees cannot receive state benefits. If you do not notify the relevant institution about your departure from the country, it will be considered an offence. In such a case, a Ukrainian may be fined or even banned from entering the country.

By the way, it is not necessary to declare cash payments received abroad in Ukraine.

After crossing the border, every Ukrainian is free to choose the city of residence in Georgia.

Obtaining refugee or humanitarian status does not restrict a person from travelling abroad.

Georgia protects the rights of asylum-seekers and internationally protected persons.

Forms of international protection in Georgia include:

refugee status – granted to foreigners or stateless persons who are outside their country of origin, have a well-founded fear of persecution due to race, religion, nationality, social belonging or political affiliation, and are unable to or, owing to such fear, are unwilling to return to their country of origin or to avail themselves of the protection of their country of origin;

humanitarian status – granted to foreigners and stateless persons who do not meet the conditions for being granted the refugee status but where there is a real risk of grave harm upon return to the country of origin; and

status of a person under temporary protection – granted to people entering in mass who require international protection and cannot return to the country of origin due to indiscriminate violence, aggression, international or internal armed conflict, or mass violation of human rights.

If you are in need of international protection, you can address a border guard (if applying for asylum at the state border) or any state agency in Georgia (if applying for asylum within Georgia).

Persons seeking international protection in Georgia must submit an asylum application (together with the relevant supporting documents, if available) with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (the “MIA”), followed by an interview process.

Further information on international protection in Georgia is available here . Further information on how to apply for asylum in Georgia is available here .

“Seeking Asylum in Georgia” information leaflet, with useful contact information, is available here .

Information on free legal aid for asylum-seekers is available here .

Under a regular procedure, you can apply for Georgian citizenship if you: (a) have legally resided in Georgia for the last 10 consecutive years up to the date of applying for Georgian citizenship; (b) have a command of the Georgian language at an established level; (c) know the history of Georgia and the basic principles of law at an established level; and (d) are employed and/or own real estate, or operate a business, or own interest/shares in a company, in Georgia (this last requirement does not apply to persons having a refugee status).

Further information is available here .

The terms for consideration of an application for a residence permit may be different in each case.

Citizens of Ukraine can currently enter Georgia without a international passport.

Persons without a valid passport are advised to carry any other document confirming their identity. However, even in absence of such documents, Ukrainians might be allowed to enter. If possible, please consult with the Patrol Police Department, phone (032) 241-42-42.

In order to issue a foreign passport, you need to contact the Ukrainian Embassy .

A foreign passport is issued to a person who has reached the age of 16 on the basis of an application-questionnaire submitted by him personally. At the same time, the issuance of a foreign passport to a person who has been recognized by the court as having limited legal capacity or incapacity is carried out on the basis of an application-questionnaire of the guardian or other legal representative.

The following are attached to the application:

• previous passport to be exchanged (if the passport is not issued for the first time);
• internal passport in the form of a booklet (if available);
• or ID card (if available);
• a document confirming permanent residence or temporary stay abroad (if available);
• certificate of registration of the place of residence in Ukraine / certificate of registration of the place of residence of a temporarily displaced person (if available);
• a certificate of assignment of the registration number of the taxpayer's registration card (RNOKPP; if available).

In case of loss or theft of the previous passport, a document (report, certificate, etc.) issued by the competent authority of the state in which the passport was lost or stolen is attached to the application, confirming the fact of the owner's application regarding its loss or theft. Such a document is submitted without legalization and translation into Ukrainian.

In the case of issuing a passport in connection with a change in personal data (surname and/or first name), a document confirming such a change (marriage certificate, divorce certificate, court decision, etc.) is attached to the application. When issuing a foreign passport with a new surname and/or first name, the "domestic" passport (ID card) must be reissued.

In the event that the applicant has not previously been issued with an identity document, confirming Ukrainian citizenship and/or granting the right to leave Ukraine and enter Ukraine, a certificate of registration of the person as a citizen of Ukraine is provided (with the exception of cases when the person's parents at the time of his were citizens of Ukraine at birth).

You can register the birth of a child only at the consulate. There, the determination of his origin and the assignment of his surname, first name, and patronymic are carried out.

The application for registration must be submitted immediately, but no later than one month after the birth of the child, and in the case of a stillborn child - no later than three days.

The registration process takes place at the place of birth or at the place of residence of the child's parents or one of them (with a written application). At the same time, in case of illness, death of the parents or for other reasons it is impossible to register the birth - the application can be submitted by relatives or other persons authorized by the representative of the health care institution in which the child was born or is currently.

What is required for registration?

• a document from a medical institution about the birth of a child, passports certifying the identity of the parents;
• application (written or addressed orally) to enter information about the father.

Registration is free, and based on its results, parents are issued a birth certificate.

How to return to the homeland with a child born in the Georgia?

In order for Ukrainians to return home with a child born in the Georgia, they must have with them:

• a document certifying his identity;
• a child's birth certificate issued by a consular institution.

Is the status of a citizen of Ukraine preserved during the birth of a child in the Georgia?

A newborn Ukrainian in the Georgia retains the status of a citizen of Ukraine. Data on citizenship and nationality in the act record of birth and certificate are not filled in, which is why a corresponding entry is made in the column "For marks".

In addition, a person whose parents or one of his parents were citizens of Ukraine at the time of his birth is a citizen of Ukraine. The place of birth of the baby does not affect the possibility of him acquiring Ukrainian citizenship.

There are several steps involved in the process of body repatriation from abroad to Ukraine:

1. Notify the authorities.

The first step of body repatriation from abroad to Ukraine is to contact the local authorities in Georgia, so you can register the death. Ukrainian embassy should also be able to help you in the process of registering the death abroad.

2. Arrange the correct documents.

You’ll need to have all the right paperwork before you can repatriate your loved one home from abroad to Ukraine. If you are repatriating a body to Ukraine for burial or cremation, the documents you will need include:

• Death Certificate.
• Certificate or Affidavit from the local health authorities stating that the cause of death of the individual to be shipped to Ukraine was not a communicable disease or infections.
• A Document about the absence of any excessive objects inside the casket or urn with the ashes.
• The Certificate of Cremation issued be the Funeral home or Cremation office.

All the mentioned documents should be authenticated, legalized and translated into Ukrainian by the certified translator. The originals of abovementioned documents and notarized translations, must accompany the casket containing the deceased, or urn with ashes, to Ukraine.

The passport of the deceased person should be sent to the Embassy of Ukraine along with a notarized and authenticated copy of the Certificate of Death, and a translation from Georgian to Ukrainian. The Embassy is to make correspondent procedures with the passport and can forward it back if it is required to accompany the casket containing the deceased, or urn with ashes, to Ukraine.

The Embassy is to be informed of the date, time, and the place of delivery of the casket containing the deceased, or urn with ashes, to Ukraine. Only the next of kin relatives of the deceased, or persons correspondingly authorized by them, can receive the casket or urn.

3. Transport the deceased to Ukraine.

The casket containing the body, or urn with ashes, must be sealed by the Funeral Home. There are no strict requirements with respect to the urn with ashes; however, the body should be transported in a metal casket, made of zinc-plated steel or tinplate not more than 0,4 thick.

For the air cargo transportation, it is necessary to specify a cemetery in Ukraine as well as Ukrainian Funeral Home which will take care of the casket, or the urn with ashes, in Ukraine. Both are a subject of private choice by the relatives or friends of the deceased person. Source .

There are numerous shops that offer such services. Look for photo studio & copy centers as they can provide you with this.

You can translate your documents at any translation agency in your city. Search for «დოკუმენტების თარგმნა» on Google.

We are not aware of the promotion of mobile operators in Georgia, which would distribute free cards to Ukrainian refugees or provide benefits for mobile communications.

There are three providers in the Georgia: Magticom (Magti), Geocell (Silknet) and Beeline. Magti is definitely the market leader and offers the best coverage, especially in more remote areas (however, in places like Mestia, where service is notoriously spotty, don’t get your hopes up too much either). Many get Beeline SIM cards and seem totally content with them in the majority of cases.

If you opt for a regular SIM – there’s normally one or two offices of each carrier in almost every town, and, of course, a ton in the capital. If you are up for a tourist SIM – Tbilisi and Kutaisi airports are waiting for you. Instructions on activation are normally printed in English, so that shouldn't be a problem.

If you are buying a regular SIM card at the office, with any carrier you might choose, the only required document will be the passport. After they scan it, you have to sign a contract (all in Georgian), and then are good to go. Shouldn't take more than 5 minutes.