Georgia’s new travel medical insurance rule (2026): everything visitors must know
From January 1, 2026 every foreign citizen entering Georgia needs valid travel medical insurance. Minimum coverage, who is exempt, and how to buy it in minutes.
Georgia introduced a rule that changes planning for every visitor: from January 1, 2026, all foreign citizens entering the country must hold valid travel medical insurance covering their entire stay. Border officers may ask for proof at airports and land crossings alike, including Sadakhlo on the Armenian border.
The minimum coverage is defined precisely: at least $5,000 for outpatient emergency treatment and at least $30,000 for hospital (inpatient) care. A policy below these thresholds does not satisfy the requirement, so check the numbers before you buy from a generic travel-insurance site.
The rule applies to every foreign citizen regardless of age — children and elderly passengers included. This catches out families most often: the driver has insurance, the car has insurance, but the kids in the back seat do not, and the whole vehicle is turned back at the checkpoint.
What does a compliant policy actually give you beyond the stamp of approval? Emergency doctor visits, urgent hospitalisation, emergency transportation — real protection in a country where you are not covered by your home health system. A twisted ankle on a Kazbegi trail or food poisoning in Batumi stops being a financial event.
Pricing is age- and duration-based. For a typical adult traveller a short trip costs only a few dollars — dramatically less than a single uninsured visit to a clinic. Policies for a whole year exist for frequent travellers.
You can buy a compliant policy at georgianappa.com in about three minutes: enter each traveller's details and trip dates, pay by card, and every insured person receives their certificate by email — ready to show at the border. If you are also driving, add the car APPA in the same checkout and cross with both documents ready.