EXPLAINER: What you should know about the new law requiring health insurance for tourists entering Georgia

The Government of Georgia has published the decree N 602, specifying the requirements for the health insurance travellers will need to enter Georgia starting from January 1, 2026.

We went through the decree and other relevant acts to answer the possible questions expats might have.

Who is required to have insurance

According to the decree, “tourists who enter Georgia” must have one.

A tourist, per the Georgia’s law “On tourism”, is a foreigner who spends at least one night in Georgia and not more than a year. Those coming to the country for official employment are exempt from the new law.

What kind of insurance is needed

The decree says insurance policy should be issued by a Georgian or a foreign company. The document can be provided to the relevant authorities in electronic form, too. It can be either in English or Georgian. The policy must be valid for the whole stay of the tourist in Georgia and cover medical and emergency expenditures of at least 30 000 GEL. The border police has a right to check the insurance. Bear in mind that insurance must be valid for no more than a year.

It is also specified what kind of details the policy must have. Per the decree it is a “document confirming mandatory health insurance and accident insurance (mandatory insurance contract, document, electronic document), which specifies the following data: parties to the insurance, covered territory, subject of insurance, start and end date of insurance, insured risks, amount of insurance coverage (limits), amount of insurance premium, place and term of its payment”.

Exceptions

The decree does not apply to those officially employed in Georgian companies, as well as the diplomats & representatives of the international organizations and their immediate family members. Truck drivers are also exempt.

Other questions

In no certain manner does the decree specify whether those with Georgian residency permit need to have said insurance.

It is also unclear whether tourists already in Georgia need one. The decree concerns “tourists who will enter Georgia”, but bear in mind that the border police may interpret the new law in a different manner.