Do Georgians Need a Visa for Russia? No: Entry Rules
Short answer: Georgian citizens can enter Russia without a visa with a passport and stay up to 90 days per calendar year. Since October 2024 the visa-free regime also covers work and study.
Source: the Russian Foreign Ministry’s official conditions of entry by country. Entry rules can change at short notice, so check that page again just before you travel.
Which document to travel with
The documents accepted are the passport (ordinary, diplomatic or service), the seaman’s book and the certificate for return to Georgia. The Georgian ID card is not on the list.
Visas for Georgian citizens were abolished by Presidential Decree No. 335 of 10 May 2023. At first the exemption excluded work, study and stays over 90 days; Decree No. 873 of 10 October 2024 removed those exclusions, so the general rules now apply.
How long you can stay
The Russian Foreign Ministry list sets no specific limit for Georgian citizens, so the general rule of Article 5 of the Federal Law on the legal status of foreign citizens applies: a visa-free foreigner can stay up to 90 days in total per calendar year, and no more than 90 days in a row. This rule replaced the old “90 days in any 180” on 5 February 2025.
Staying longer, working or studying requires the corresponding permit (work patent, work or study permit, or residence permit). Overstaying, even by a day, puts a foreigner on the Russian register of persons under control, which restricts access to services and can lead to an entry ban.
Migration card and registration
Except for Belarusians, visitors fill in a migration card at passport control and keep it until they leave Russia.
Registration at your address is required within 7 working days, as for most foreigners. Hotels register their guests automatically; if you stay with friends or family, they have to do it.
Fingerprinting and a photo at the migration office are only required for those who come to work or stay longer than 90 days, not for a short visit.
The RuID app
Filling in the arrival notice in the RuID app at least 72 hours before entering Russia is recommended. It is still part of an official experiment (running until the end of 2027) and, so far, not having it has not been a reason to refuse entry to a visitor. More details: RuID app and arrival notice.
Getting there
Direct flights between Russia and Georgia resumed in May 2023. By road, the crossing is Upper Lars, between Kazbegi and Vladikavkaz. More on flights: flying to Russia.
Russian embassy and consulates in Georgia
Georgia and Russia have no diplomatic relations. Russia is represented by an Interests Section at the Embassy of Switzerland in Tbilisi, which also has a consular department.
Official websites as listed by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Before you travel from Georgia
RuID arrival notice. Recommended at least 72 hours before entering Russia (still an official experiment). How RuID works
Medical insurance. Not checked at the border for a visit, but private healthcare in Russia is expensive. Policies valid in Russia
Money. Visa and Mastercard cards issued outside Russia don’t work there: bring cash, or see how foreigners get a MIR card.
After you arrive
At the border you show your document and receive the migration card. Step by step: arriving at a Russian airport.
Registration details: registration of foreigners in Russia.
FAQ
Do Georgians need a visa for Russia?
No. Georgian citizens can enter Russia without a visa with a passport and stay up to 90 days per calendar year, under Presidential Decree No. 335 of 2023 as amended in October 2024.
How long can Georgians stay in Russia?
Up to 90 days in total per calendar year, and no more than 90 days in a row, under the general rule for visa-free foreigners in force since 5 February 2025.
Can Georgians enter Russia with an ID card?
No. The accepted documents are the passport, the seaman’s book and the certificate for return to Georgia.
When do Georgians have to register in Russia?
Within 7 working days of arrival. Hotels register their guests automatically.
Can Georgians work or study in Russia without a visa?
Yes, since October 2024 the visa-free regime also covers work and study, with the permits required for any visa-free foreigner, such as a work patent.
Is there a Russian embassy in Georgia?
No. Since 2009 Russia has been represented by an Interests Section at the Embassy of Switzerland in Tbilisi, which handles consular matters.
Different passport? Check visa requirements for every nationality.