Georgia has had a reputation for denying entry to Indian travellers despite having valid visas and deporting them from the airport. In fact, the Ministry of External Affairs had issued an advisory on this matter, which you can see it here.
So, during my recent trip to the Caucasus region, I was concerned about entering Georgia. In this post, I’ll share my experience with obtaining a visa and entering the country.
Applying for E-Visa
Georgia offers an e-visa option for Indian nationals. I visited their e-visa website to apply. The first page asked for country information and whether I held any visas, including a dropdown list of various countries. I selected that I had a Schengen visa. To my surprise, the next page showed that I was exempt from needing a visa!
Although the website doesn’t specifically list “Schengen,” it includes all Schengen countries. Since the Schengen visa is issued by a specific country, you should select that country from the list.
Given the negative reports I’d heard, this was unexpected. I emailed the Georgian embassy in India but received no response. When I followed up with a phone call, I confirmed that the exemption applied even if crossing by land.
This exemption isn’t limited to Schengen or US visas; similar exemptions apply to various other visas as well (the list is extensive). Note that the visa must be multiple-entry and valid.
What If You Are Not Exempt?
My friend, who was traveling with me, was not exempt. The e-visa application process for non-exempt individuals involves two steps. The first step requires providing personal and travel information, and paying a $20 fee. This is followed by a second step involving background verification, outsourced to a third party.
The second step is more complex. It requires providing the PAN and Aadhar number and allowing the portal to e-verify tax returns by providing login details. Additionally, you must upload various supporting documents, such as flight tickets, travel insurance, hotel reservations, a six-month bank statement, and a company NOC. Even if your US or Schengen visa has expired, you can upload it to strengthen your application. There is an additional payment for this verification process. As I did not go through this process, I might have not mentioned everything here.
My friend received the visa after five working days.
Some sources claim that Georgia has a high visa rejection rate for Indians (around 72%), though the origin of this data is unclear. This might be due to documentation issues or not meeting specific guidelines. The background verification process can be challenging for those without tax returns or sufficient bank balances, and many forums discuss visa rejections due to incomplete document submissions.
Immigration Experience at the Land Border
We crossed into Georgia from Armenia via the land border. Based on my experience, crossing by land tends to present more challenges compared to airports. This is partly because immigration officials encounter fewer Indian travellers at land borders, which can lead to increased scrutiny.
On the day of our crossing, the immigration queue was short. Most people ahead of us were locals or held strong passports, and their passports were stamped quickly.
There were two immigration counters. I went to one, and my friend went to the other. As soon as the immigration officer saw my Indian passport, her demeanour changed. She asked if this was my first visit to Georgia. When I confirmed it was, she then asked if my friend and I were traveling together. After I nodded, she said that the other officer would handle both of us.
The officer inquired about the purpose of our visit and our itinerary, which I provided. She requested our travel insurance, which we showed, and then asked for our hotel reservations, which she checked against our itinerary. Next, she wanted to know our source of funds. We mentioned that we had $1,000 in cash, and she asked to see it. She seemed satisfied after seeing Uncle Sam’s currency.
We had prepared for this and had additional documents like bank statements, income tax return acknowledgments, salary slips, and the company NOC, though these were not requested.
With the information we provided, along with multiple visas and stamps in my passport, the officer appeared convinced. However, she called the higher official for final approval before stamping our passports.
The entire process took about 10 minutes. The immigration officer behaved professionally, aiming to ensure we were legitimate travellers.
Exit at Tbilisi airport
The exit process at Tbilisi airport was straightforward. The immigration officer stamped our passports without asking any questions.
Why So Much Scrutiny for Indians?
Many people wonder why there’s increased scrutiny for Indian travellers. While there isn’t an official explanation, I can provide some insights based on available information.
- Misuse of E-Visa Policy: When Georgia introduced its e-visa policy, some Indian travellers overstayed their visas and used Georgia as a transit point for illegal migration to Europe. This misuse led to stricter entry measures for Indians. As a result, the e-visa process now includes a background verification step.
- Land Purchases by Indian Farmers: Indian farmers from a specific state purchased a significant amount of agricultural land in Georgia, which raised alarms among locals. This led to an increase in anti-India sentiment, and Georgia subsequently banned foreigners from buying agricultural land.
These issues may have contributed to heightened scrutiny of Indian travellers by Georgian immigration officials. It’s important to remember that having a visa does not guarantee entry into the country; the final decision rests with the immigration officer at the airport or land border.
While some may view this as racial bias, it’s worth noting that illegal migration is a serious concern today, and Georgia is taking stringent measures to address it.
My Advice
- Prepare Thoroughly: Ensure you have sufficient funds and all necessary documentation before applying for a visa. Incomplete applications can lead to rejection.
- Travel History: If possible, avoid making Georgia your first international destination. A strong travel history can improve your chances of entry.
- Strong Visas: Holding a strong visa, such as a US or Schengen visa, can be beneficial, but not mandatory.
- Airport vs. Land Border: The immigration process at airports is smoother compared to land borders. There are daily Indigo flights to Georgia, and airport officials are accustomed to Indian travellers.
- Carry Documentation: Bring all relevant documents, including travel insurance, during immigration checks.
- Cash: Carry enough cash (we had $1,000 each) to prove you have sufficient funds, as it’s often easier than showing credit or debit cards. Although carrying cash isn’t ideal, it can be helpful in these situations.
Is Georgia Worth the Hassle?
Absolutely. Georgia is a stunning country, one of the most beautiful places I’ve visited. We spent eight days there, which felt too short. The country may be small, but it offers European-style cities, historical monuments, snow-capped mountains, picturesque beaches, forests, breathtaking waterfalls, and excellent food.
How Are Georgians?
Despite some negative impressions I had from online content (e.g., Dr. Bro video), I found Georgians to be as friendly as any other people. We didn’t encounter any negative incidents. We used public transport and managed well despite language barriers. Based on my experience, claims that Georgians are grumpy or racist are unfounded.
Dinesh
Nice
aravindgj
Thanks