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EN
Official Journal of the European Union
25.2.2011
AGREEMENT
between the European Union and Georgia on the facilitation of the issuance of visas
THE EUROPEAN UNION, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Union’,
and
GEORGIA,
hereinafter referred to as ‘the Parties’,
DESIRING to facilitate people-to-people contacts as an important condition for a steady development of economic,
humanitarian, cultural, scientific and other ties, by facilitating the issuing of visas to citizens of Georgia,
REAFFIRMING the intention to establish a visa-free travel regime for their citizens as a long-term goal, provided that all
the conditions for well-managed and secure mobility are fullfilled,
BEARING IN MIND that, as from 1 June 2006, all citizens of the Union are exempted from the visa requirement when
travelling to Georgia for a period of time not exceeding 90 days or transiting through the territory of Georgia,
RECOGNISING that if Georgia reintroduces visa requirements for the citizens of the Union or certain categories of them,
the same facilitations granted under this Agreement to the citizens of Georgia would automatically, on the basis of
reciprocity, apply to the citizens of the Union concerned,
BEARING IN MIND that these visa requirements can only be reintroduced for all citizens of the Union or certain
categories of citizens of the Union,
RECOGNISING that visa facilitation should not lead to illegal migration and paying special attention to security and
readmission,
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the Protocol on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of
freedom, security and justice and the Protocol on the Schengen acquis integrated into the framework of the European
Union, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and
confirming that the provisions of this Agreement do not apply to the United Kingdom and Ireland,
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the Protocol on the position of Denmark annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to
the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and confirming that the provisions of this Agreement do not apply
to Denmark,
HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
Article 1
Article 2
Purpose and scope of application
General clause
1. The
purpose
of
this
Agreement
is
to
facilitate
the
issuance 1. The
visa
facilitations
provided
in
this
Agreement
shall
of visas for an intended stay of no more than 90 days per
apply to citizens of Georgia only in so far as they are not
period of 180 days to the citizens of Georgia.
exempted from the visa requirement by the laws and regulations
of the Union or the Member States, this Agreement or other
international agreements.
2. If
Georgia
reintroduces
the
visa
requirement
for
the
citizens of all Member States or certain categories of citizens
2. The national law of Georgia or of the Member States or
of all Member States, the same facilitations granted under this
Union law shall apply to issues not covered by this Agreement,
Agreement to the citizens of Georgia would automatically, on
such as the refusal to issue a visa, recognition of travel
the basis of reciprocity, apply to the citizens of the Union
documents, proof of sufficient means of subsistence and the
concerned.
refusal of entry and expulsion measures.

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EN
25.2.2011 Official
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European
Union L
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Article 3
the territory of the Member States to participate in the
aforementioned events, accompanied by a copy of the
Definitions
official invitation;
For the purpose of this Agreement:
(c) for pupils, students, post-graduate persons and accom
(a) ‘Member State’ shall mean any Member State of the Union,
panying teachers who undertake trips for the purposes of
with the exception of Denmark, Ireland and the United
study or educational training, including in the framework
Kingdom;
of exchange programmes as well as other school-related
activities:
(b) ‘citizen of the Union’ shall mean a national of a Member
State as defined in point (a);
— a written request or a certificate of enrolment from the
host university, college or school or student cards or
certificates of the courses to be attended;
(c) ‘citizen of Georgia’ shall mean a person who holds the
citizenship of Georgia in accordance with its national legis
lation;
(d) for persons travelling for medical reasons and necessary
accompanying persons:
(d) ‘visa’ shall mean an authorisation issued by a Member State
with a view to transiting through or an intended stay in the
— an official document of the medical institution
territory of Member States of a duration of no more than
confirming necessity of medical care in this institution,
90 days in any 180-day period from the date of first entry
the necessity of being accompanied and proof of
into the territory of the Member States;
sufficient financial means to pay for the medical
treatment;
(e) ‘legally residing person’ shall mean a citizen of Georgia
authorised or entitled to stay for more than 90 days in
(e) for journalists and accredited persons accompanying them
the territory of a Member State, on the basis of Union or
in a professional capacity:
national legislation.
— a certificate or other document issued by a professional
Article 4
organisation proving that the person concerned is a
qualified journalist or accompanying person in a profes
Documentary evidence regarding the purpose of the
sional capacity and a document issued by his/her
journey
employer stating that the purpose of the journey is to
1. For
the
following
categories
of
citizens
of
Georgia,
the
carry out journalistic work or assist in such work;
following documents are sufficient for justifying the purpose
of the journey to the other Party:
(f) for participants in international sport events and persons
accompanying them in a professional capacity:
(a) for close relatives – spouse, children (including adopted),
parents (including custodians), grandparents, grandchildren
– who are visiting citizens of Georgia legally residing in the
territory of the Member States:
— a written request from the host organisation, competent
authorities, national sport federations or national
Olympic committees of the Member States;
— a written request from the host person;
(g) for business people and representatives of business organi
sations:
(b) for members of official delegations who, following an
official invitation to Georgia, shall participate in meetings,
consultations, negotiations or exchange programmes, as
well as in events held in the territory of the Member
— a written request from the host legal person or
States by intergovernmental organisations:
company, organisation or an office or a branch of
such legal person or company, state or local authorities
of the Member States or organising committees or trade
and industrial exhibitions, conferences and symposia
— a letter issued by a Georgian authority confirming that
held in the territories of the Member States, endorsed
the applicant is a member of a delegation travelling to
by the State Chamber of Registration of Georgia;

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Official Journal of the European Union
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(h) for members of the professions participating in inter
journey, number of entries and where relevant the name of
national exhibitions, conferences, symposia, seminars or
the spouse and children accompanying the invited person;
other similar events held on the territory of the Member
States:
(b) for the inviting person: name, surname and address;
— a written request from the host organisation confirming
that the person concerned is participating in the event;
(c) for the inviting legal person, company or organisation: full
(i) for representatives of civil society organisations when
name and address, and:
undertaking trips for the purposes of educational training,
seminars, conferences, including in the framework of
exchange programmes:
— if the request is issued by an organisation or authority,
the name and position of the person who signs the
— a written request issued by the host organisation, a
request,
confirmation that the person is representing the civil
society organisation and the certificate on establishment
of such organisation from the relevant register issued
by a state authority in accordance with the national
— if the inviting person is a legal person or company or an
legislation;
office or a branch of such legal person or company
established in the territory of a Member State, the regis
tration number as required by the national law of the
(j) for persons participating in scientific, cultural or artistic
Member State concerned.
activities, including university and other exchange
programmes:
3. For
the
categories
of
persons
mentioned
in
paragraph
1
of
this Article, all categories of visas are issued according to the
— a written request from the host organisation to
simplified procedure without requiring any other justification,
participate in the activities;
invitation or validation concerning the purpose of the journey,
provided for by the legislation of the Member States.
(k) for drivers conducting international cargos and passenger
transportation services to the territories of the Member
States in vehicles registered in Georgia:
Article 5
Issuance of multiple-entry visas
— a written request from the national company or
1. Diplomatic
missions
and
consular
services
of
the
Member
association of carriers of Georgia providing for inter
States shall issue multiple-entry visas with the term of validity
national road transportation, stating the purpose,
of up to 5 years to the following categories of citizens:
duration and frequency of the trips;
(l) for participants of the official exchange programmes
(a) spouses, children (including adopted) who are under the age
organised by twin cities:
of 21 or are dependent, or parents visiting citizens of
Georgia legally residing in the territory of the Member
States with the term of validity limited to the duration of
— a written request of the Head of Administration/Mayor
the validity of their authorisation for legal residence;
of these cities or municipal authorities;
(m) for visiting military and civil burial grounds:
(b) members of national and regional governments and of
Constitutional and Supreme courts if they are not
exempted from the visa requirement by this Agreement,
— an official document confirming the existence and pres
in the exercise of their duties, with a term of validity
ervation of the grave as well as family or other rela
limited to their term of office if this is less than 5 years;
tionship between the applicant and the buried.
2. The
written
request
mentioned
in
paragraph
1
of
this (c) permanent members of official delegations who, following
Article shall include the following items:
an official invitation addressed to Georgia, are to participate
regularly in meetings, consultations, negotiations or
exchange programmes, as well as in events held in the
(a) for the invited person: name and surname, date of birth,
territory of the Member States by intergovernmental organi
sex, citizenship, passport number, time and purpose of the
sations.

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2. Diplomatic
missions
and
consular
services
of
the
Member of a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 5 years to the
States shall issue multiple-entry visas with the term of validity
categories of persons referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article,
of up to 1 year to the following categories of persons, provided
provided that during the previous 2 years they made use of the
that during the previous year they have obtained at least one
1-year multiple-entry visas in accordance with the laws on entry
visa, have made use of it in accordance with the laws on entry
and stay of the host Member State and that the reasons for
and stay of the visited Member State and that there are reasons
requesting a multiple-entry visa are still valid.
for requesting a multiple-entry visa:
4. The total period of stay of persons referred to in
(a) members of official delegations who, following an official
paragraphs 1 to 3 of this Article shall not exceed 90 days
invitation, are to participate regularly in meetings, consul
per period of 180 days in the territory of the Member States.
tations, negotiations or exchange programmes, as well as in
events held in the territory of the Member States by inter
governmental organisations;
Article 6
Fees for processing visa applications
(b) representatives of civil society organisations travelling
regularly to Member States for the purposes of educational
1. The
fee
for
processing
visa
applications
of
citizens
of
training, seminars, conferences, including in the framework
Georgia shall amount to EUR 35.
of exchange programmes;
The aforementioned amount may be reviewed in accordance
(c) members of the professions participating in international
with the procedure provided for in Article 14(4).
exhibitions, conferences, symposia, seminars or other
similar events who regularly travel to the Member States;
If Georgia reintroduces the visa requirement for all citizens of
the Union, the visa fee to be charged by Georgia shall not
(d) persons participating in scientific, cultural or artistic
exceed EUR 35 or the amount agreed if the fee is reviewed
activities, including university and other exchange
in accordance with the procedure provided for in Article 14(4).
programmes, who regularly travel to Member States;
2. When
Member
States
cooperate
with
an
external
service
(e) students and post-graduate persons who regularly travel for
provider, an additional service may be charged. The service fee
the purposes of study or educational training, including in
shall be proportionate to the costs incurred by the external
the framework of exchange programmes;
service provider while performing his tasks and shall not
exceed EUR 30. The Member State(s) concerned shall
maintain the possibility for all applicants to lodge their appli
(f) participants in official exchange programmes organised by
cations directly at its/their consulates.
twin cities or municipal authorities;
3. The
fees
for
processing
the
visa
application
are
waived
for
(g) persons needing to visit regularly for medical reasons and
the following categories of citizens:
necessary accompanying persons;
(a) pensioners;
(h) journalists and accredited persons accompanying them in a
professional capacity;
(b) children below the age of 12;
(i) business people and representatives of business organi
sations who regularly travel to Member States;
(c) members of national and regional governments and of
Constitutional and Supreme courts, in case they are not
(j) participants in international sports events and persons
exempted from the visa requirement by this Agreement;
accompanying them in a professional capacity;
(d) disabled persons and the persons accompanying them, if
(k) drivers conducting international cargo and passenger trans
necessary;
portation services to the territories of the Member States in
vehicles registered in Georgia.
(e) close relatives – spouse, children (including adopted),
parents (including custodians), grandparents or grand
3. Diplomatic
missions
and
consular
services
of
the
Member
children – who are visiting citizens of Georgia legally
States shall issue multiple-entry visas with the term of validity
residing in the territory of the Member States;

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(f) members of official delegations who, following an official
identity documents entitling them to cross the border issued by
invitation addressed to Georgia, are to participate in
diplomatic missions or consular posts of the Member States or
meetings, consultations, negotiations or exchange
of Georgia without any visa or other authorisation.
programmes, as well as in events held in the territory of
the Member States by intergovernmental organisations;
Article 9
(g) pupils, students, post-graduate students and accompanying
Extension of visas in exceptional circumstances
teachers who undertake trips for the purposes of study or
The period of validity and/or duration of stay of an issued visa
educational training, including exchange programmes as
of a citizen of Georgia shall be extended when the competent
well as other school-related activities;
authority of a Member State considers that the visa holder has
provided proof of force majeure or humanitarian reasons
preventing him from leaving the territory of the Member
(h) journalists and accredited persons accompanying them in a
States before expiry of the period of validity of or the
professional capacity;
duration of stay authorised by the visa. Such an extension
shall be granted free of charge.
(i) participants in international sport events and persons
accompanying them in a professional capacity;
Article 10
Diplomatic passports
(j) representatives of civil society organisations when under
taking trips for the purposes of educational training,
1. Citizens
of
Georgia
who
are
holders
of
valid
diplomatic
seminars, conferences, including in the framework of
passports may enter, leave and transit through the territories of
exchange programmes;
the Member States without visas.
(k) persons participating in scientific, cultural or artistic
2. Persons
mentioned
in
paragraph
1
of
this
Article
may
stay
activities, including university and other exchange
in the territories of Member States for a period not exceeding
programmes;
90 days per period of 180 days.
(l) persons who have presented documents proving the
Article 11
necessity of their travel on humanitarian grounds,
including to receive urgent medical treatment and the
Territorial validity of visas
person accompanying such person, or to attend a funeral
Subject to the national rules and regulations concerning
of a close relative or to visit a seriously ill close relative.
national security of the Member States and subject to Union
regulations on visas with limited territorial validity, the citizens
of Georgia shall be entitled to travel within the territory of the
Article 7
Member States on equal basis with the citizens of the Union.
Duration of the visa application procedure
1. Diplomatic
missions
and
consular
services
of
the
Member
Article 12
States shall take a decision upon the request to issue a visa
within 10 calendar days starting from the date of the receipt
Joint Committee for management of the Agreement
of the application and documents required for issuing visas.
1. The
Parties
shall
set
up
a
Joint
Committee
of
experts
(hereinafter referred to as ‘the Committee’), composed of repre
sentatives of the Union and of Georgia. The Union shall be
2. The
period
of
time
for
taking
a
decision
on
a
visa
appli
represented by the Commission, assisted by experts from the
cation may be extended up to 30 calendar days in individual
Member States.
cases, notably when further review of the application is needed.
2. The
Committee
shall,
in
particular,
have
the
following
3. The
period
of
time
for
taking
a
decision
on
a
visa
appli
tasks:
cation may be reduced to 2 working days or less in urgent
cases.
(a) monitoring the implementation of this Agreement;
Article 8
Departure in case of lost or stolen documents
(b) suggesting amendments or additions to this Agreement;
Citizens of the Union and of Georgia who have lost their
identity documents, or from whom these documents have
been stolen while staying in the territory of Georgia or of the
(c) settling disputes arising out of the interpretation or appli
Member States, may leave that territory on the basis of valid
cation of the provisions in this Agreement.

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3. The
Committee
shall
meet
whenever
necessary
at
the 3. This
Agreement
is
concluded
for
an
indefinite
period
of
request of one of the Parties and at least once a year.
time, unless terminated in accordance with paragraph 6 of this
Article.
4. The
Committee
shall
establish
its
rules
of
procedure.
4. This
Agreement
may
be
amended
by
written
agreement
of
Article 13
the Parties. Amendments shall enter into force after the Parties
have notified each other of the completion of their internal
Connection of this Agreement with bilateral agreements
procedures necessary for this purpose.
between Member States and Georgia
As from its entry into force, this Agreement shall take
precedence over provisions of any bilateral or multilateral
5. Each
Party
may
suspend
in
whole
or
in
part
this
agreements or arrangements concluded between individual
Agreement for reasons of public order, protection of national
Member States and Georgia, in so far as the provisions of the
security or protection of public health. The decision on
latter agreements or arrangements cover issues dealt with by
suspension shall be notified to the other Party not later than
this Agreement.
48 hours before its entry into force. The Party that has
suspended the application of this Agreement shall immediately
inform the other Party once the reasons for the suspension no
Article 14
longer apply.
Final clauses
1. This
Agreement
shall
be
ratified
or
approved
by
the 6. Each Party may terminate this Agreement by giving
Parties in accordance with their respective procedures and
written notice to the other Party. This Agreement shall cease
shall enter into force on the first day of the second month
to be in force 90 days after the date of such notification.
following the date on which the last Party notifies the other
that the procedures referred to above have been completed.
Done at Brussels, on 17 June 2010, in duplicate in the
2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1 of this Article,
Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish,
this Agreement shall only enter into force on the date of the
French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian,
entry into force of the Agreement between the European Union
Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian,
and Georgia on readmission if this date is after the date
Spanish, Swedish and Georgian languages, each of these texts
provided for in paragraph 1 of this Article.
being equally authentic.

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За Европейския съюз
Por la Unión Europea
Za Evropskou unii
For Den Europiske Union
Für die Europische Union
Euroopa Liidu nimel
Για την Ευρωπακ νωση
For the European Union
Pour l'Union européenne
Per l'Unione europea
Eiropas Savienības vārdā –
Europos Sjungos vardu
Az Európai Unió részérl
Gall-Unjoni Ewropea
Voor de Europese Unie
W imieniu Unii Europejskiej
Pela Unio Europeia
Pentru Uniunea European
Za Európsku úniu
Za Evropsko unijo
Euroopan unionin puolesta
Fr Europeiska unionen
За Грузия
Por Georgia
Za Gruzii
For Georgien
Für Georgien
Gruusia nimel
Για τη Γεωργα
For Georgia
Pour la Géorgie
Per la Georgia
Gruzijas vārdā –
Gruzijos vardu
Grúzia részérl
Gall-Georja
Voor Georgi
W imieniu Gruzji
Pela Geórgia
Pentru Georgia
Za Gruzínsko
Za Gruzijo
Georgian puolesta
Fr Georgien

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ANNEX
PROTOCOL TO THE AGREEMENT ON THE MEMBER STATES THAT DO NOT FULLY APPLY THE
SCHENGEN ACQUIS
Those Member States which are bound by the Schengen acquis but which do not yet issue Schengen visas, while awaiting
the relevant decision of the Council to that end, shall issue national visas the validity of which is limited to their own
territory.
In accordance with Decision No 582/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 intro
ducing a simplified regime for the control of persons at the external borders based on the unilateral recognition by
Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania of certain documents as equivalent to their national visas for the purposes of transit
through their territories ( 1 ) harmonised measures have been taken in order to simplify the transit of holders of Schengen
visa and Schengen residence permits through the territory of the Member States that do not fully apply the Schengen
acquis yet.
( 1 ) OJ L 161, 20.6.2008, p. 30.
JOINT DECLARATION ON ARTICLE 10 ON DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS
The Union may invoke a partial suspension of the Agreement and in particular of Article 10 thereof, in
accordance with the procedure set up by Article 14(5) of the Agreement, if the implementation of
Article 10 is abused by the other Party or leads to a threat to public security.
In case of suspension of implementation of Article 10, both Parties shall initiate consultations within the
framework of the Joint Committee set up by the Agreement with a view to solve the problems that lead to
the suspension.
As a priority, both Parties declare their commitment to ensure a high level of document security for
diplomatic passports, in particular by integrating biometric identifiers. For the Union this will be ensured
in compliance with the requirements set out in Council Regulation (EC) No 2252/2004 of 13 December
2004 on standards for security features and biometrics in passports and travel documents issued by Member
States ( 1 ).
( 1 ) OJ L 385, 29.12.2004, p. 1.

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JOINT DECLARATION ON THE HARMONISATION OF INFORMATION ON PROCEDURES FOR ISSUING
SHORT-STAY VISAS AND DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED WHEN APPLYING FOR SHORT-STAY VISAS
Recognising the importance of transparency for visa applicants, the Parties to the Agreement consider the
possibility of applying the following measures:
— to draw up general information for the applicants on the procedures and conditions for applying for
visas, the visas and on the validity of issued visas,
— the Union will draw up a list of minimum requirements in order to ensure that Georgian applicants are
given coherent and uniform basic information and are required to submit, in principle, the same
supporting documents.
The information mentioned above is to be disseminated widely (on the information board of consulates, in
leaflets, on websites, etc.).
JOINT DECLARATION CONCERNING DENMARK
The Parties take note that the Agreement does not apply to the procedures for issuing visas by the
diplomatic missions and consular services of Denmark.
In such circumstances, it is desirable that the authorities of Denmark and of Georgia conclude, without
delay, a bilateral agreement on the facilitation of the issuance of short-stay visas in similar terms as the
Agreement between the European Union and Georgia.
JOINT DECLARATION CONCERNING THE UNITED KINGDOM AND IRELAND
The Parties take note that the Agreement does not apply to the territory of the United Kingdom and of
Ireland.
In such circumstances, it is desirable that the authorities of the United Kingdom, Ireland and Georgia
conclude bilateral agreements on the facilitation of the issuance of visas.

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JOINT DECLARATION CONCERNING SWITZERLAND, ICELAND, LIECHTENSTEIN AND NORWAY
The Parties take note of the close relationship between the Union and Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein
and Norway, particularly by virtue of the Agreements of 18 May 1999 and 26 October 2004 concerning
the association of these countries with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen
acquis.
In such circumstances, it is desirable that the authorities of Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway
and Georgia conclude, without delay, bilateral agreements on the facilitation of the issuance of short-stay
visas in similar terms as the Agreement between the Union and Georgia.
EUROPEAN UNION DECLARATION ON FACILITATIONS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS
The Union took note of the suggestion of Georgia to give a wider definition to the notion of family
members that should benefit from visa facilitation as well as of the importance that Georgia attaches to the
simplification of movement of this category of persons.
In order to ease the mobility of an extended number of persons which have family links (in particular sisters
and brothers and their children) with Georgian citizens legally residing in the territories of Member States,
the European Union invites the Member States’ consular offices to make full use of the existing possibilities
in the acquis for facilitating the issuance of visas to this category of persons, including, in particular, the
simplification of documentary evidence requested for the applicants, exemptions from handling fees and,
where appropriate, the issuing of multiple entry visas.
EUROPEAN UNION DECLARATION ON THE SUSPENSION OF THE VISA FACILITATION AGREEMENT
In case Georgia, in violation of Article 1(2) of the Agreement, reintroduces the visa requirement for the
citizens of one or more Member States of the Union or certain categories of such citizens, the Union will
suspend the application of the Agreement.

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JOINT DECLARATION ON COOPERATION ON TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
The Parties agree that the Joint Committee established pursuant to Article 12 of the Agreement, when
monitoring the implementation of the Agreement, should evaluate the impact of the level of security of the
respective travel documents on the functioning of the Agreement. To that end, the Parties agree to regularly
inform each other about the measures taken for avoiding the proliferation of travel documents, developing
the technical aspects of travel document security as well as regarding the personalisation process of the
issuance of travel documents.

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