Visa-free travel regime to EU for Georgian citizens takes effect

Visa-free travel for Georgian citizens with the EU has already taken effect. Those having biometric passports will enjoy visa-free travel to Schengen zone countries for 90 days in a 180-day period. Visa-free travel implies free travel to 22 EU member countries, as well as 4 non-member countries and 4 Schengen-candidate states. Great Britain and Ireland are only exceptions as they maintain visa regime. 

Georgian PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili was the first person who made the historic visit to Greece today after activation of visa-free travel regime with EU together with students, scientists, journalists and representatives of the government. He took the flight to Athens from Tbilisi International Airport. “This is a big achievement, good possibility for Georgian citizens to better know about European Union and its values,” Kvirikashvili stated. 

The flight in direction of Budapest was carried out from Kutaisi Davit Aghmashenebeli International Airport. Georgian passengers arrived in Germany. 

Georgia is receiving congratulations from European leaders on the occasion of activation of visa liberalization for Georgia. Georgian flag is waving at the building of European Union. Both majority and oppositional politicians hail the day as historic and describe it as “return to European family.” 

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė has responded to Georgia’s visa liberalization taking effect with the EU and posted the following statement on his twitter account: ‘Open road to Europe for Georgian people! Georgia, travel safe! გილოცავთ!’ –reads her twitter post. It is noteworthy that the last world is written in Georgian alphabet meaning ‘congratulations’. 

Georgians won't need visa anymore for short trips to the EU thanks to a new regulation starting today, EU Council said on its twitter page. 

European Commissioner of European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn congratulated Georgia on activation of visa-free travel regime with Europe. “I sincerely congratulate Georgia and its citizens on possibility to travel to European countries without visas,” Hahn wrote on Twitter. 

Visa-free travel with the EU is not only privilege but responsibility for each Georgian citizen, - Georgia’s Parliamentary Speaker Irakli Kobakhidze declared at the press-conference. Kobakhidze congratulated the Georgian people on the historical day – March 28, when Georgia’s visa free travel with the EU took effect. “Our people have confirmed their devotedness to freedom and democratic principles and made a significant step to have an honored place in the European Union. Georgia has become a far more European country. This is a result of our people’s unity, patience and work,” Kobakhidze said.

Negotiations over Georgia-EU visa free travel were launched on June 4, 2012. On February 25, 2013 Georgia was given a visa liberalization action plan including benchmarks to be met by the Georgian side. In December 2015 the European Commission assessed Georgia’s actions positively and published a positive recommendation. Afterwards, the EU Parliament and Council of Europe approved Georgia’s visa liberalization.