Do you need travel medical insurance to enter Georgia and where to get it?

In practice, airport staff may ask to see an insurance policy, but reports suggest they generally check only that one exists rather than reviewing coverage details. Separate accident insurance remains a personal choice.

Medical insurance must be obtained before entering Georgia — not having valid insurance can be grounds for being denied entry into the country.

Reportedly there's a new mandatory rule that the insurance must cover the entire duration of your stay in Georgia, not just part of the trip.

You can buy insurance directly from a Georgian insurance company for about 2 GEL per day (requires a non-Russian card for online payment). If booking through a travel agency, the agent can also arrange the insurance for you.

If you plan to live in Georgia long-term rather than just enter, consider a local Georgian insurance policy or an annual plan — this is a separate product from entry-required travel insurance. When choosing a Russian insurer, look for one that has its own assistance network in Georgia and offers direct billing to the clinic, rather than a reimbursement model where you pay out of pocket first and claim later — the latter can be unreliable in practice.

Travel insurance must be arranged before arriving in Georgia — you cannot purchase it upon entry. A key requirement is that the policy must include accident coverage.

An extended policy is worth considering only if you have chronic conditions or plan risky activities. For a healthy traveler, a basic package is sufficient — there's no need to overpay.

Regarding pre-existing conditions: the burden of proof typically falls on the insurance company to show a condition existed before the policy started, not on the insured. Always read the specific policy terms carefully.

Disputes with insurers over reimbursements in Georgia do happen but are not the norm. Most standard covered cases are processed without issues for the patient, especially for emergency care.