Refusal of Entry to Georgia: How a Foreigner Without a Residence Permit Can Protect Themselves

Georgia remains one of the most open countries in the region.

If you are a citizen of the CIS countries, the European Union, the United Kingdom, the USA, and a number of other countries, you can stay in Georgia for up to one year without a visa.

As of the publication date of this article:
● No special documents are required to enter;

● Insurance is not mandatory, although we strongly recommend obtaining it;

● Entry is possible directly with a passport.

This happens rarely, but such cases do exist.
The decision to refuse entry is made by the Border Police, but the grounds for refusal are usually based on the conclusion of the State Security Service of Georgia.
The reasons for refusal are not disclosed, and the decision is made individually.

Important:
Refusal to issue a residence permit does not automatically mean refusal of entry.
In our practice, there are many examples where a foreigner was denied a residence permit (sometimes multiple times) but entered the country again without any problems — and even without extra questions at the border.

If you have a business, job, children, or property in Georgia:

1. Do you work in Georgia?
● Employment contract
● Employer’s contact information
● Letter of employment / confirmation from workplace
● Information on registration in the register of foreign employees on the Ministry of Labor portal (Your employer is required to ensure such registration within 30 days from the date of the employment contract)


2. Are you an individual entrepreneur (IE)?
● Extract from the Public Register confirming registration as an IE
● Contracts with Georgian companies (to confirm active business activity) and contact details of their representatives
● Several tax declarations or access to the tax cabinet (login/password) (to confirm active business activity)


3. Do your children study at a Georgian school?
● Contract with the school (even if it is not an authorized educational institution)
● Certificate of enrollment from the administration and contact of a representative of the administration


4. Do you own property in Georgia?
● Extract from the Public Register confirming ownership
● Proof of utility payments


5. Any other confirmations?
● Health insurance
● Bank accounts
● Active life: participation in events, rental agreements, etc.


It is advisable to have the documents in Georgian (original or translation). Representatives of companies who can confirm your connection to Georgia should also be fluent in Georgian.

Explanations at the border are always stressful and unpleasant. That’s understandable.
But it is important to understand: entry into the country is a procedure based on the law, and in most cases, it is enough to have a clear history of residence and valid reasons for returning.

Tips from JUST Advisors:
● Stay calm and confident,
● Documents are not a formality, but support in case of questions,
● Know who to contact — the contacts of your employer, lawyer, or friends will be useful if needed.

We have been working with foreigners in Georgia since 2018.

JUST Advisors not only assists with business registration, residence permits, and tax issues but also helps in situations when a client fears being denied entry.

The question we hear most often: "Will they let me back in?"
Our answer: Most likely — yes.

Prepare for your trip to feel more confident.

Try to manage your emotions and think about what to do next:

1. Obtain the Decision on Refusal of Entry. The document with the grounds for refusal is necessary for future appeals.
2. Try to cross the Georgian border later — either at the same border checkpoint or another one. There are cases when refusals are of a "technical" nature — name matches, enforcement errors. In such cases, another attempt might be successful.
3. A refusal of entry can be appealed:
4. Within 10 days — to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. This can be done electronically, by sending a complaint to the official email or by submitting it physically through a representative in Georgia.

Appeal to the Ministry of Internal Affairs is a mandatory pre-trial stage.

After receiving a refusal from the Ministry — file a lawsuit in court. The deadline for filing a court complaint is 1 month. The state fee is 100 GEL.

The decision of the first instance court can be appealed in the appellate court (state fee 150 GEL) and in the cassation court (state fee 200 GEL).