C1 — Within the Ordinary Visa Framework
The visa for coming to Georgia for tourist purposes is the C1 ordinary visa. Under subparagraph „ga“ of Article 7 of the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens, this category is intended for persons coming to Georgia for tourist purposes. Georgian visas are divided into categories — diplomatic, special, ordinary, immigration and transit — and may be short-term or long-term; C1 is the tourist form of the ordinary visa.
Precision matters: the tourist C1 is a national category of Georgia. Comparison with the visas of the Schengen area is appropriate by contrast only — Schengen is a different system with its own rules, and the conditions of the Georgian C1 are determined by law not through Schengen but through Georgia's own norms.
The Application Procedure and Deadlines
Under Article 8 of the law, to obtain a Georgian visa the alien fills in a visa application of the form established by a normative act of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For the issuance of an electronic visa the application is filled in on the ministry's special website. The circumstances to be confirmed and the documents to be attached are determined by a decree of the Government of Georgia. Where necessary, the issuing organ may invite the applicant for an interview, and in cases provided by legislation the submission of an invitation is required.
The deadlines are set by law: a decision on a short-term Georgian visa is taken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a diplomatic representation or a consular post within 10 calendar days of the submission of the application; a short-term electronic visa is issued no later than 5 working days. Where further verification is needed, the period may be extended by 30 calendar days. The law also allows reduction: in cases determined by government decree the decision period may be shortened to 5 working days or less.
The Visa-Free Regime — the Alternative to a Tourist Visa
Many tourist visits require no visa at all. Under Article 10 of the law, an alien who does not need a short-term visa to enter Georgia enters and stays for no more than 90 calendar days in any 180-day period. It is separately provided that citizens of certain countries may stay visa-free for a full 1 year — the list of such countries is determined by a government decree.
The law also provides: an alien holding a visa or residence permit of a specified country may enter visa-free for the period and conditions envisaged by that decree; and a holder of a Georgian residence permit enters visa-free for the entire period of validity of the permit. Air transit passengers crossing Georgia without an intermediate landing need no visa for transit, and with a re-landing their stay must not exceed 10 days.
What Distinguishes the C1 From Other Categories
Ordinary category C also covers other subcategories — persons visiting relatives, participants in scholarly and business events, humanitarian purposes — each with its own documentary profile. In the case of the tourist C1 the decision rests on the tourist character of the purpose, so when planning a trip the selection of the correct category for the precise purpose is important from the outset.
If you plan a longer stay, or entry for study or work, the C1 is not the right instrument — the law defines other categories for those purposes.
Before Applying — Practical Steps
Preparation of the application begins with three questions: whether your citizenship falls under the visa-free regime and for what period — 90 calendar days in a 180-day period or a full 1 year; whether you have the documentation required, the list of which is determined by a government decree; and whether the visa-free limit has been exhausted in the current 180-day period.
This check at once removes the risk of the application being returned for a wrong category or incomplete documentation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below we answer the questions most frequently raised about the tourist visa.
What is the C1 visa?
The tourist subcategory of the ordinary visa — for persons coming to Georgia for tourist purposes.
How quickly is the visa issued?
A short-term decision — within 10 calendar days, an electronic visa — no later than 5 working days; with verification the period grows by 30 calendar days.
Is visa-free arrival possible?
Yes, if your country is under the visa-free regime — up to 90 calendar days in any 180-day period; under a separate list — for a full 1 year.
Is the C1 the same as a Schengen visa?
No — the C1 is a national category of Georgia; Schengen is a different system and may be compared by contrast only.
Where do I find the list of required documents?
The documents to be attached to the application are determined by a decree of the Government of Georgia.
How We Help on Legal.ge
The Legal.ge team will check your visa-free status and periods, help you choose the correct category and prepare the C1 application with the documentation envisaged by the government decree.
Contact us on Legal.ge — a correctly chosen category removes the risk of the application being returned.