What documents do I need to move to Georgia as a Russia citizen?

Typical pathway: Visa Free

Last verified: August 5, 2026

Valid Russian international passport (загранпаспорт) (before) — Source: https://www.geoconsul.gov.ge/en
Machine-readable Russian international travel passport is the only entry document needed for visa-free entry; internal Russian passports are not accepted. Georgian practice expects validity covering the full intended stay, and official guidance advises validity of at least 3 months beyond planned departure (6 months is the safer margin recommended by many missions). Border officers have discretion where expiry is near.
Health and accident insurance policy (min. 30,000 GEL coverage) (before) — Source: https://www.geoconsul.gov.ge/en/entering-georgia
Under the Law of Georgia 'On Tourism', since 1 January 2026 every tourist entering Georgia must hold a valid health and accident insurance policy, presented in paper or electronic form, in Georgian or English, issued by a Georgian or foreign insurer, with coverage of no less than 30,000 GEL and valid for the entire stay. Buy before departure; enforcement details and exemption categories should be verified on geoconsul.gov.ge as the rule is new.
Proof of sufficient funds for the stay (before) — Source: Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia (geoconsul.gov.ge)
Border officers may request evidence of financial means: bank statements, a card with available balance, or a salary confirmation letter. Georgia publishes no fixed daily minimum, so the exact amount is at officer discretion — verify with the Consular Department of the MFA if travelling for an extended visa-free stay.
Proof of accommodation for arrival (hotel booking, lease, or notarized invitation) (before) — Source: https://china.mfa.gov.ge/en/important-information
Georgian embassies advise holding accommodation details at border checkpoints: a hotel reservation, a lease agreement, or — if staying with a host — a notarized invitation letter on the MFA form. One document type is sufficient; this is separate from the later address-registration lease used for residency.
Onward or return travel ticket (before) — Source: Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia (geoconsul.gov.ge)
Not a formal legal requirement for visa-free Russian nationals, but border officers frequently ask about departure plans; any confirmation of onward travel (flight, bus, or train booking) satisfies the question. Russian citizens should note that Russia–Georgia land crossings operate under special conditions, so route choice should be checked in advance.
Photocopies and digital scans of passport and insurance policy (before)
Keep paper photocopies plus cloud-stored scans of the passport bio-data page, insurance policy and accommodation confirmation, stored separately from the originals. This is a practical safeguard, not a legal entry requirement.
Apostilled Russian civil-status documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate) (before) — Source: https://sda.gov.ge/en/products/migration-residence-permits/
Obtain apostilles from the Russian ZAGS/Ministry of Justice before leaving Russia if a family-based residence permit, family address registration, school enrolment or later citizenship application is possible. Georgian authorities require foreign-issued documents to be apostilled and translated into Georgian; certifications generally must not be older than six months at submission.
Apostilled Russian educational diplomas and qualification certificates (before) — Source: https://sda.gov.ge/en/products/migration-residence-permits/
Needed only if a study-based or work-based residence permit, professional licensing, or recognition of Russian qualifications is planned. Apostille in Russia first — it is difficult to arrange from Georgia. Georgian translation will be required at submission.
Apostilled and notarized power of attorney (optional, for representation) (before) — Source: National Agency of Public Registry of Georgia (napr.gov.ge)
If a representative will register a company, an Individual Entrepreneur, or property on your behalf, the PoA must be notarized in Russia, apostilled and translated into Georgian; a PoA notarized inside Georgia is also possible once you are in the country.
Entry stamp / border-crossing record in passport (during) — Source: https://www.geoconsul.gov.ge/en
The visa-free permission is granted automatically at the border, and the entry stamp is the proof of the legal-stay start date. Russian citizens currently receive up to one year (365 days) of visa-free stay; entry and exit dates are tracked automatically, and overstay leads to fines and possible entry bans. Confirm the exact allowed duration on the MFA visa-free list before travel, as some sources cite different periods.
Rental agreement in the tenant's own name (during) — Source: National Agency of Public Registry of Georgia (napr.gov.ge)
A written lease naming you as tenant is the practical foundation for address registration, bank onboarding and later residence-permit applications, and is stronger evidence than an informal arrangement. Keep the landlord's ownership extract details available.
Georgian taxpayer identification number (personal TIN) from the Revenue Service (during) — Source: https://rs.ge
Foreign individuals who are not running a registered business are assigned a 9-digit TIN manually by the Revenue Service; registration can be done through the Revenue Service portal with video verification that must be completed from inside Georgia. Needed for tax filings, property purchase and some account openings.
Georgian bank account opening file (passport plus source-of-funds evidence) (during) — Source: National Bank of Georgia (nbg.gov.ge)
Georgian banks apply enhanced due diligence to Russian citizens: expect to supply the international passport, a local address, and documentation of income/source of funds (employment contract, invoices, prior bank statements). Exact documentation varies by bank — confirm directly with the chosen bank, as this is a commercial rather than a state requirement.
Individual Entrepreneur (IE) registration certificate with Entrepreneurs Registry (during) — Source: National Agency of Public Registry / Public Service Hall (psh.gov.ge)
Foreign nationals may register as an Individual Entrepreneur at the Public Service Hall via the National Agency of Public Registry using a valid international passport and a Georgian registration address; registration typically completes within one business day, followed by mandatory tax registration at rs.ge. Important: rules reported as effective from 1 March 2026 may require foreigners performing paid activity to hold a work/residence permit or D1 visa — verify current status with the Public Registry before relying on visa-free status alone.
Small Business Status confirmation from the Revenue Service (after) — Source: https://rs.ge
A separate application filed after IE registration to obtain the reduced turnover tax rate; approval depends on the business activity, as some activity types (including certain consulting work) are excluded. Filed with the Revenue Service of Georgia.
Residence permit application form and supporting package (Public Service Hall) (after) — Source: https://sda.gov.ge/en/products/migration-residence-permits/
First-time residence permit applications must be filed from inside Georgia at a Public Service Hall / Public Service Development Agency, on the official form, with documents in Georgian (or accepted in another language at the Agency's discretion) and copies certified as prescribed by law. Grounds include work, study, family reunification, investment and property ownership, each with its own document list.
Biometric photograph of the applicant for the residence file (after) — Source: https://sda.gov.ge/en/products/migration-residence-permits/
A recent colour photo (commonly 3x4 cm) is part of the residence permit package, and the applicant normally attends the Public Service Hall in person to be photographed for the card. This is distinct from the passport photocopies also submitted with the application.
Evidence of legal income or bank balance for the residence permit (after) — Source: https://matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/2483468
Georgian regulation accepts an employment or business-activity document (labour contract or similar); where legal income is not confirmed that way, funds in the applicant's personal bank account may count, and the amount must be at least double the minimum subsistence level for average consumers, scaled to the permit duration. Work-permit applicants face additional thresholds, including an employer turnover requirement of 50,000 GEL per foreign employee (35,000 GEL for educational/medical institutions).
Georgian residence card and address registration (after) — Source: https://sda.gov.ge/en/products/migration-residence-permits/
After a residence permit is granted, the holder must apply for a residence card at a Public Service Development Agency office, Public Service Hall branch or Community Centre within 30 days and register a living address; the card is the identity document certifying identity, citizenship and place of residence in Georgia.
Residence permit renewal or permanent residence file (after) — Source: https://sda.gov.ge/en/products/migration-residence-permits/
Temporary permits are issued for 6-12 months initially and can be extended; renewals are normally submitted within a fixed window before expiry (roughly 40-90 days beforehand) and, unlike first applications, may be filed from abroad online. Permanent residence generally becomes available after several consecutive years on a temporary permit, or under a simplified property-based route. Confirm current renewal windows and qualifying periods with the Public Service Development Agency, as these rules have changed repeatedly.

Not legal advice. Based on cached research — verify with official sources before making decisions.

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