Government of Georgia government.gov.ge |
On Interagency Coordination Council’s Decision, Georgia Opens Borders Unconditionally to 5 Countries
2020-07-08 • As you know, the European Union, on June 30, included Georgia on the list of safe countries and issued a recommendation on the possible reopening of borders to these countries. Based on said recommendation, the Government is holding bilateral negotiations on opening borders with relevant EU member states. • Notably, based on the epidemiological situation in the world and Europe, some EU member states have, at this point, opted against opening borders to foreign citizens, including from the EU. And a 14-day quarantine at one's own expense is still mandatory upon arrival in a number of countries. • Georgia is also monitoring the global picture and takes cautious steps to protect the health of its citizens.
1) Germany • As for other countries, in making this decision, the council considered the fact that several countries have opened their borders, among others, to states not listed by the EU as safe countries. • The citizens/residents of the 5 countries above can only use direct flights to Georgia for any type of visit.
• With their consent, or in case thermal screening on the border reveals a temperature higher than 370, a PCR test will be performed at the airport.
• All persons arriving in Georgia will, throughout their stay, maintain proactive communication with and receive care from a special call center group.
• Besides the 5 countries above, work on relevant procedures continue with the countries that have unconditionally opened their borders to Georgia. • At this point, the following countries have not opened their borders to Georgia: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Norway, Malta, Finland, Switzerland, Czechia, Slovakia, and Hungary. Notably, a joint commission with Hungary has been established to work on the issue of movement reopening.
• Notably, the recommendations and the list of safe countries published by the EU will be reviewed every other week. • Importantly, to encourage economic activities in Georgia, business trip from all countries will be allowed without reservation, based on a completed special form and coordination with relevant sectoral agencies. Business visitors to Georgia are obligated to complete a PCR test for COVID-19 at their own expense every 72 hours, or complete a mandatory 14-day quarantine, also at their own expense. Of course, that does not apply to the citizens/residents of the 5 countries enjoying unconditional border reopening with Georgia. • Relevant e-forms mandatory for the citizens of the EU member states listed above, also for business visitors from any country, will be available on the Georgian Government's special website www.StopCoV.ge.
• In addition, negotiations are underway with international airlines to resume air travel and regular flights with the 5 EU member states who have unconditionally reopened their borders to Georgia. In particular, an agreement has been reached with Lufthansa to carry out 2 flights a week to Munich starting in August. We are also negotiating with Air Baltic and Air France.
Warsaw on July 13 • The flights above will not cost Georgian citizens more than 200 euro. • In addition, Georgian Airways, formerly Airzena, is carrying out commercial charter flights to the following capitals: Vienna, Amsterdam, and Tel Aviv.
• Also, the presently applicable regulations will remain enforced on Georgia's land borders. • The Government of Georgia continues active cooperation with partner EU member states. Based on the relevant recommendation, the rules for entering Georgia and for Georgian citizens entering various EU states will be reviewed jointly once every other week.
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