Georgia has announced stricter visa regulations for specific nationalities, absorbing significant attention following their official introduction on April 17, 2025. The amendments particularly impact residents of the UAE and citizens from countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, and several others, even if they possess valid visas or residence permits from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations.

Upon arrival at Kutaisi International Airport for the Eid Al Adha holidays, a UAE resident, Muhammad, a 31-year-old senior product manager from Pakistan, faced unexpected complications.

He and a friend, who traveled on Wizz Air from Abu Dhabi, were initially allowed to board despite existing travel restrictions.

However, upon landing, they were confronted by law enforcement prior to reaching immigration control, where their passports were seized, and they were asked to wait.

Muhammad described the ordeal as distressing, stating, "We were escorted aside, our passports were taken, and our photos were clicked in front of the other passengers," and subsequently received rejection-of-entry documentation from an officer.

He stated that the treatment was humiliating, and both he and his companion were held in substandard conditions for over 12 hours without access to food or clean water.

The revisions to visa rules stem from an amendment of the Government Resolution from June 5, 2015, concerning the list of countries eligible for visa exemptions.

This updated regulation does not simplify but rather complicates entry procedures for specific nationalities, with a clear intent to combat illegal migration and reinforce border control.

A key alteration in the visa procedure denotes that residency in Gulf nations no longer automatically guarantees visa-free entry into Georgia.

Previously, nationals from designated countries could enter Georgia without a visa if they held valid GCC visas or residence permits; however, the recent changes stipulate that these documents must now have a minimum validity of one year from the date of entry to be recognized.

Travel agencies in the UAE have acknowledged the ramifications of the new policy, reporting instances where residents encountered difficulties at Georgian immigration.

Godly Babukutty from Epic Travel noted that while their customers had not faced significant issues, they recognized other residents' experiences and stressed the importance of having comprehensive travel documentation prepared prior to departure, including hotel confirmations and sufficient funds.

The restrictions specifically affect nationals from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ghana, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Yemen, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Morocco, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Individuals from these countries can only gain visa-free entry to Georgia if their Gulf-issued visas or residence permits meet the one-year validity requirement.

The Georgian government has asserted that these regulatory amendments are aimed at tightening entry controls, and clarified that misinterpretations implying that the changes facilitate travel are incorrect.

Official sources emphasize that the purpose of the amendments is to enhance border security and address migration concerns.