Health insurance is now an entry condition for tourists — what hosts should tell guests before they fly

The requirement rests on Article 12 of the Law on Tourism and Government Decree No. 602 of 26 December 2025, according to a guide by the Tbilisi law firm Nomos. It applies to foreign tourists — people travelling for leisure, business or personal reasons who stay at least one night and no longer than a year. The policy must provide at least GEL 30,000 of cover, run from the day of entry to the day of departure, and may be issued in Georgian or English, on paper or electronically. Diplomats, staff of accredited missions and international organisations, and professional drivers on international routes are exempt.

Border officers are empowered to check that a visitor holds cover. Travel writer Emily Lush, who has been tracking travellers' reports this year, says airlines have been asking for proof at check-in and at the gate, that some passengers have been refused boarding, and that checks at land borders appear to be lighter. She also notes that there is nowhere to buy a policy at the airport or the border. Media reports put the fine for having no insurance at about GEL 300, but there is no official penalty schedule online, so treat that figure with caution.

The practical step is to put the requirement into booking confirmations, not just the website's small print: the minimum sum in lari, that cover must span the full stay, and that the document should be in English or Georgian. Guests on trekking, skiing or other active itineraries should check that their policy actually covers those activities. Long-stay guests and remote workers who come and go should check that each new entry is covered, since the policy must run for the whole of each stay.