Security level:

The risk related to terrorist acts and organized crime in the country is low. The risk of street crime against foreigners, mainly for the purpose of robbery, increases during the summer tourist season, which is why it is necessary to exercise increased vigilance, especially in crowded places (public transport, tourist sites). Drivers of vehicles and trucks should not leave them unattended, especially at border crossings and rest areas where thefts of personal and transport documents and personal belongings have been recorded.

Patrol police have a very good reputation. If you are the victim of a criminal act or other violation requiring law enforcement intervention, you may contact the Patrol Police at the single emergency number 112.

Healthcare:

According to the current legislation, most of the medicines are dispensed on prescription and only against a prescription issued by a Georgian doctor. The Embassy recommends that travellers taking specific medications (blood pressure, diabetes, anti-allergy, etc.) stock up on these in the quantities required, but not exceeding the permitted 10 standard packs of a particular type of medication, before entering Georgia.

Customs requirements:

Customs requirements for Georgia can be downloaded from HERE.

Completion of customs declaration

The traveller must complete a customs declaration in Georgian, English or Russian in the following cases:

• carrying goods for commercial purposes;
• the presence of weapons, explosives, narcotic and psychotropic substances, antiques and works of art, medicines, plants, animals, high-frequency radio-electronic devices (does not apply to a personal mobile phone);
• when travelling with a pet animal (veterinary passport also required);
• when carrying cash in excess of GEL 30,000 or its equivalent in foreign currency, travellers cheques or securities.

On 1 September 2014, a new law on ‘Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursors and Drug Treatment’ . The Ministry of the Interior has also distributed in this regard the law on ‘New Psychoactive Substances’, in force since 1 May 2014, and Decree #22 of the Minister of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia dated January 22, 2014. on the adoption of a list of pharmaceutical products containing narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, precursors and certain psychoactive substances and the rules for their legal transfer.

According to the new law, ‘An individual may import into the territory of Georgia narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances for individual use for 31 days (except for ‘narcotic substances strictly prohibited for free distribution’ under List 1 of Annex 1 of the Law on ‘Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursors and Narcological Assistance’).

The law specifies the documents that must accompany all controlled drugs or psychotropic substances when they are imported into Georgia:

• customs declaration by an individual (the declaration is available at Georgian BCPs in English, Russian and Georgian);
• a copy of the prescription with an English translation certified by an authorised agency under the rules laid down by the legislation of the country from which the individual comes (country of departure). The recipe must contain the following information:
• Natural person — first name, last name, surname, gender and age;
• Diagnosis;
• Brand and generic names of the narcotic and/or psychotropic substance;
• Drug form;
• Number of tablets, ampoules, etc;
• Method of administration and duration of treatment;
• A certificate of the medical practitioner who issued the prescription, with an English translation certified according to the rules laid down by the legislation of the country from which the individual comes (country of departure);
• A document issued by the competent authority of the country of departure, signed and stamped by an authorised person (legalized/certified), certifying the authenticity of the prescription and certificate. The document must contain the following information:
• Name of the issuing authority;
• Legal address;
• Contact person;
• Contact phone;
• Country of destination;

The documents are presented to the customs authorities, who check their authenticity and the conformity of the information contained therein (comparing the quantity and type of narcotic and/or psychotropic substances with the actual quantity/type of items carried by the traveller). The documents should then be signed and stamped by the customs officer and returned to the individual. The documents must be kept during the stay in the country and may be requested for presentation (but not required) by the Georgian customs authorities when leaving the country.

Georgia's Ministry of Interior also recommends that the International Narcotics Control Board website be visited prior to travel:

http://incb.org/incb/en/psychotropic-substances/travellers_country_regulations.html,

where the competent Georgian authorities (State Agency for Control of Medical Activities) will post updated information on the mandatory documents when carrying narcotic substances.

Road traffic:

The Embassy recommends refraining from all travel to the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which are not controlled by the Georgian authorities. The situation in these regions is characterized by political instability, the continued presence of Russian Federation forces and high crime rates. Bulgaria does not recognise the unilaterally declared independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and does not have diplomatic or consular representations in the territory controlled by them to provide assistance and assistance to Bulgarian citizens if necessary.

In the event of a significant need to travel to Abkhazia and South Ossetia, entry into them from the Russian Federation or the Black Sea ports of Abkhazia is strongly discouraged. Georgian law prohibits such entries and upon subsequent entry into the territory of Georgia, violators may be criminally liable under Chapter 3221 of the Georgian Criminal Code, which provides for the imposition of a fine or imprisonment from two to four years. A ban on future travel to Georgia is also possible.

Georgian authorities allow entry into Abkhazia and South Ossetia from Georgian-controlled territory, but de facto authorities in both regions prevent such entry.

The only functioning BCP on the border between Georgia and the Russian Federation is the Lars BCP, which is open daily from 07:00 to 17:30. Due to the high mountainous terrain and weather conditions, the BCP is often closed, therefore it is recommended that those planning trips inform themselves about the situation in advance.

It is also recommended to avoid travelling in the areas close to the administrative border line with the two breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as in the Panki Gorge, located close to the border with Chechnya. The situation in these areas remains unpredictable, with a high risk of attacks, kidnappings and other criminal activities, as well as dangers related to the presence of unexploded mines and ammunition.

Practical advice:

If you are detained by the local authorities for any reason, require to get in touch with the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria. A consular officer will contact you as soon as possible.

When visiting Georgia, we advise you to conclude a health, tourist, travel or other insurance contract in advance.

It is not mandatory, but it is better to register at the Bulgarian Embassy in Tbilisi. This would facilitate getting in touch with you in case of emergency or if necessary.

Before you leave the Republic of Bulgaria or immediately after your arrival, write down the addresses and telephone numbers of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Georgia.

When contacting the administration of the hotels where you are staying, the tour operators arranging your visit, as well as local police authorities, it is appropriate to have this data available if necessary.

Detailed information and advice for air travellers, as well as the latest security requirements in this respect, can be obtained and read before departure and from Sofia Airport website.

Local currency:

Georgian Lari (GEL)

The exchange rate of the euro against the Georgian lari varies depending on developments in the world economy and the financial situation. EUR 1 = GEL 3.6 as of 03 March 2022.

All payment transactions on the territory of Georgia must be made in local currency — Georgian Lari. It is advisable to request currency exchange receipts from currency exchange bureaus, as well as cashier's checks or invoices for any goods or services paid for.

Others:

— Mountaineering and tourism

When incidents occur during outings in the high mountains of Georgia, given the geography, the response capabilities of institutions and rescue services may be limited or severely hampered.

When planning a trek, it is a good idea to seek assistance from local companies with competent guides and equipment. The Embassy also recommends that you inform yourself thoroughly about the route and weather conditions in the region before undertaking such trips, and that you stick to the marked routes and trails during the trip itself.

In some high mountain areas, GSM coverage may not be available or the connection may be very difficult. In the event of accidents, you should seek help immediately by calling the single emergency number 112 or by contacting local people — mountain shepherds or hut keepers — who usually have an established and reliable connection with the rescue services.

To enter and stay in Georgia, you must have a valid Bulgarian passport or identity card.

THE VALIDITY OF PASSPORTS AND IDENTITY CARDS OF BULGARIAN CITIZENS MUST BE AT LEAST 180 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF ENTRY INTO THE COUNTRY!

As of 8 June 2015, Bulgarian citizens, as well as foreigners who have the status of permanent residents in the Republic of Bulgaria, are exempted from the requirement to hold visas for entry and residence on the territory of the country for up to one full year. Bulgarian citizens who have legally entered and resided on the territory of Georgia as of 8 June 2015 are automatically granted the right of residence for up to one full year. 

Bulgarian citizens who wish to carry out employment and consulting activities for companies operating in Georgia, journalistic activities, entrepreneurial activities under the laws of the country, to study in Georgian educational institutions or to reside in Georgia for the purpose of family reunification, which requires residence in Georgia for a period longer than one year, could apply for a D visa. Obtaining this type of visa is a prerequisite for applying for a temporary residence permit.

A temporary residence permit entitles its holder to stay, visit and leave the country without a visa for the duration of its validity. You can only apply for a temporary residence permit on the territory of Georgia to the competent offices of the Ministry of Justice. Within 30 days of obtaining the permit, the foreign national must obtain a temporary residence card to legitimise his or her status with the authorities in the country.

For overstay of more than one full year, fines in the range of GEL 180 for overstay up to three months and GEL 360 for overstay more than three months are imposed.

Special requirements regarding passport control

Upon entry into Georgia, the border authorities are entitled to and may request from arriving foreign nationals additional information and/or documents concerning the purpose of the visit and the intention to leave the country in due time (invitation from a natural or legal person, hotel reservation, return air ticket), the availability of sufficient financial means of insurance for the duration of the stay, insurance (health and accident) valid for the territory of the country, and in the case of transit — permission to enter the next country. As a result of the check, the foreign national concerned may be refused access to the territory of Georgia.

An overseas passport with a valid visa (if required) or a valid identity card must be presented upon crossing. The stamp of the BCP should mark entry/exit. When crossing the Sarpi, Sadakhlo, Logodekhi and Red Bridge BCPs, the passport and vehicle are checked by a customs officer or border police officer of one of the two bordering countries (combined/simplified border control). If the passer-by is a foreign national and is driving a vehicle with foreign registration and no additional cargo, entry/exit procedures include registration of the vehicle in the Patrol Police computer system and date and stamping of the driver/owner's passport.

The validity of the sticker is 65 calendar days for vehicles entering through a land border and 90 calendar days for vehicles entering through a sea border.

Compulsory vaccinations are not required for citizens of EU member states for transit travel and tourist visits.

Certifications and legalizations

In order for a document issued by Georgia to be recognized in Bulgaria, and vice versa, for a Bulgarian document to be recognized in Georgia, it must be translated and ‘legalized’. The translation must be carried out by a translator who has a contract with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to carry out official translations.

In Bulgaria, the legalization of documents is carried out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice legalize Bulgarian public acts (documents) with a special ‘Apostille’ certificate.

It should be known that Georgia is a party to the Hague Convention (No 12) and also accepts (and performs) legalizations of documents with an ‘Apostille’.

Detailed information on the issuance of the Apostille certificate in the Republic of Bulgaria can be obtained from the Ministry of Justice, which is contained in the section ‘Public Services’ HERE.

In Georgia, an Apostille of a Georgian document intended for presentation in the Republic of Bulgaria is affixed at the Office of the City Population Registry (city of Tbilisi, 68 Abashidze St.). The service is performed as simple, fast and express. The opening hours are from 10:00 to 18:00.

In order to be recognized in Bulgaria, the Apostille document issued by Georgia must be translated into Bulgarian. The translation can be made in the Republic of Bulgaria by a translator who has a contract with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for official translations or by the translator of the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Georgia.

Civil status

The Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Georgia carries out a number of civil status activities as well as: recording in the Bulgarian registers of births, marriages and deaths of Bulgarian citizens occurring abroad.

Registration in Bulgaria of children of Bulgarian citizens born in Georgia is based on documents issued by local authorities. Bulgarian citizens residing in Georgia are obliged to provide or send to the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria, within six months after the local authority has drawn up a birth certificate for their child, a certified copy or extract of the document, together with an application stating their permanent address in Bulgaria.

After obtaining a Bulgarian birth certificate from the municipality, with an ID number entered in it, the parents apply for the child's passport. In this case, the municipality where the birth of the child is registered is the municipality of the mother's permanent address, and if she is not a Bulgarian citizen — the municipality of the father's permanent address.

Citizens of the Republic of Bulgaria who are in Georgia are obliged to provide or send to the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria a certified copy or extract of the document, together with an application stating their permanent address in Bulgaria, within six months after the civil marriage certificate has been drawn up by a local civil status authority. In this case, the municipality where the civil marriage contracted abroad is registered is the municipality of the permanent address of the spouse who is a Bulgarian citizen; if both spouses are Bulgarian citizens, it is the municipality of the permanent address of the husband.

A death of a Bulgarian citizen occurring in Georgia shall be registered with the municipality of the person's permanent address in the Republic of Bulgaria. For this purpose, the original death certificate or a certified copy of the document issued by a local civil status authority shall be submitted or sent within six months to the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Georgia, together with an application stating the permanent address of the deceased citizen in Bulgaria.

The Bulgarian citizens should be informed that the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Georgia does not finance or carry out the activities for the service and transportation of the deceased. In the event of a death, the relatives of the deceased Bulgarian citizen should contact a funeral home/agency in the country to learn about the service and transportation of the deceased abroad.

Fees

Customs tariffs and VAT

The following customs tariffs shall apply for the processing of a customs declaration for goods above the duty-free limits:

• Goods not exceeding GEL 3,000 — EUR 5 per declaration;
• Goods exceeding GEL 3,000 — EUR 60 per declaration;
• The customs tariff for goods above the limits varies between 5 and 12% of their customs value. The specific percentage applied depends on the type of goods;
• VAT in Georgia amounts to 18%.

1. SECTION ‘CERTIFICATION OF DOCUMENTS AND TRANSLATIONS’

The Consular Office's non-emergency reception hours are every working day from 10:30 to 12:30.
To request consular services, we recommend making an appointment in advance by calling +995 577 23 30 30 (from 14:00 to 16:00), email: [email protected]
Powers of attorney and declarations drawn up in Bulgarian may be certified at the Consular Office with the Embassy and are not subject to registration and will be effective in the Republic of Bulgaria.
A valid identity document (passport or identity card) and a copy of it must be presented at the time of certification.
The Consular Office cannot draw up notarial deeds or certify other private documents subject to registration (e.g. applications for claims, contracts for the transfer of vehicles, etc.).
IMPORTANT! When visiting the Consular Office, citizens should present or send to [email protected] in word format a correctly filled in document (power of attorney or declaration), and the signature should be affixed in front of the consul.
Samples of the most common certifications of powers of attorney and declarations can be found in the ‘FORMS’ section (https://www.mfa.bg/bg/uslugi-patuvania/konsulski-uslugi/formuliari).

PRICES IN EURO!
Type of service Regular
Next day Fast
Up to 8 working hours Express
Up to 4 working hours
Certification of signature on a private document/
certification of signature of an interpreter 15.00 22.50 30.00
Certification of the content of a private document which is not subject to registration
for the first page 30.00 45.00 60.00
for each subsequent page 15.00 22.50 30.00

Payment is made in cash in euro at the counter or via POS-terminal in Georgian Lari.

TRANSLATOR'S SIGNATURE CERTIFICATION
The Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria does not have staff translators, but at the Consular Office the signatures of the following translators from Georgian into Bulgarian can be certified:

TRANSLATORS
1. Mr. GUKAS NERSESOV, telephone: +995 593 158 453

2. MRS MILENA BALINSKA, telephone: +995 595 010 310, +995 555 101 910
3. 
   BULGARIAN IDENTITY DOCUMENTS SECTION

The Consular Office's non-emergency reception hours are every working day from 10:30 to 12:30. To request consular services, we recommend making an appointment in advance by calling +995 577 23 30 30 (from 14:00 to 16:00)

An application for the issuance/renewal of an identity card or passport of an adult Bulgarian citizen shall be submitted in person by the applicant, who shall present:
— a completed application form, which can be found HERE (the application form is attached)
— a valid identity document — original and copy;
— the invalid/expired identity document (where applicable);
The application is signed in front of the Consular Officer.

Upon application, the biometric data and the state fees due are collected in euro at a counter or via a POS-terminal in local currency.
When applying for a Bulgarian identity document for a minor (up to the age of 14) or a under-aged (from 14 to 18 years of age) Bulgarian citizens it is necessary:
— personal presence of the child and the parents or guardians / custodians;
— valid identity cards and/or passports of the parents or guardians / custodians — original and copy;
— Bulgarian birth certificate of the minor / under-aged person — original and copy;
— passport and/or (where applicable)— identity card of the minor  / under-aged — original and copy;
— completed passport application form, which can be downloaded HERE (the application form is attached)
The application is signed by the parents/guardians in front of the consular officer. Passport applications by under-aged persons shall be signed by them and countersigned by both parents/guardians.

The presence of both parents is not required when :
—the father is unknown / not registered in the birth certificate;
— the absent parent is deceased (certified by a copy of the Bulgarian death certificate);
— the absent parent is declared missing or absent under the Persons and Family Act (certified by a decision of a Bulgarian court);
— the absent parent has authorised by notarized power of attorney the other parent or a third, adult and competent person to sign/re-sign the application for a passport or Emergency Travel Document.
— the absent parent is deprived of parental rights (certified by a court decision).

Identity documents shall be obtained in person or by an authorised person whose details are entered on the form when the application is submitted, or, exceptionally, by an authorised person with a notarized express power of attorney.
The passports of minors and under-aged persons shall be obtained in person by the parent/guardian/custodian or by an authorised person whose details are entered in the application.
In case this is explicitly requested when submitting the application, the passport can also be obtained in person or by an authorized person at the Bulgarian Identity Documents Directorate of the Ministry of the Interior (48, Maria Louisa Blvd., 1202 Sofia).
When submitting the application, the applicant must notify the consular officer in advance of the desire for delivery via DHL by submitting an original payment order. As payment information in the payment order must be written:
BDS_Tbilisi_Your name.

DHL bank account details 1. For payment in EUR:
Beneficiary: DHL EXPRESS BULGARIA EOOD
Beneficiary’s IBAN No: BG40UNCR70001523563800
Beneficiary’s Bank: UniCredit Bulbank AD
BIC/SWIFT Code: UNCRBGSF
Beneficiary’s Bank Address: 7, Sveta Nedelya square, Sofia 1000, Bulgaria

2. For payment in BGN:
   Beneficiary: DHL EXPRESS BULGARIA EOOD
   Beneficiary’s IBAN No: BG94UNCR70001523563798
   Beneficiary’s Bank: UniCredit Bulbank AD
   BIC/SWIFT Code: UNCRBGSF
   Beneficiary’s Bank Address: 7, Sveta Nedelya square, Sofia 1000, Bulgaria

ATTENTION!
The passport should be returned to the nearest structural unit of the Ministry of Interior or diplomatic mission of the Republic of Bulgaria within 3 months after its expiry date.
ATTENTION!
According to Article 8, paragraph = 2 of the Bulgarian Identity Documents Act, in case of loss, theft, damage or destruction of a Bulgarian identity document, the person is obliged to declare this within three days to the nearest structural unit of the Ministry of Interior or to the diplomatic or consular missions of the Republic of Bulgaria abroad.

PROCEDURE AND CONDITIONS FOR ISSUANCE OF PROVISIONAL PASSPORTS Applicants shall be charged the applicable state fees and biometric data upon application.
Necessary prerequisites and documents for issuing an Emergency Travel Document to a child who was born in Georgia and is not registered in the population registers in the Republic of Bulgaria (no Bulgarian birth certificate with a unique civil number)
— a completed application for an Emergency Travel Document (on a form). The application is signed by the parents/guardians in front of the Consular Officer.
—personal presence of the child and parents or guardians;
— parents/guardians are obliged to prove their identity with valid identity cards or passports;
— original/duplicate of the child's birth certificate with a certified translation into Bulgarian.
The presence of both parents is not required when :
— he father is unknown / not registered in the birth certificate;
— the absent parent is deceased (certified by a copy of the Bulgarian death certificate);
— the absent parent is declared missing or absent under the Persons and Family Act (certified by a decision of a Bulgarian court);
— the absent parent has authorised by notarised power of attorney the other parent or a third, adult and competent person to sign the application for a passport or Emergency Travel Document.

Prerequisites and documents for the issuance of an Emergency Travel Document to a person over 18 years of age who does not possess identity documents (withdrawn, destroyed, lost, stolen, etc.).
— personal presence of the applicant;
— where applicable — invalid identity card, invalid passport or invalid Emergency Travel Document (expired or damaged) — original and copy;
— where applicable — report from local police authorities declaring identity card/passport/Emergency Travel Document lost, stolen, pawned, etc. — an original and a copy;
— a completed application for an Emergency Travel Document (template);
— a completed declaration under Article 17, paragraph 1 of the Regulations for the Issuance of Bulgarian Identity Documents (in a form) — in case of damaged, lost, stolen, destroyed, etc. identity card, passport or Emergency Travel Document;
The application shall be signed before the Consular Officer.

The fee payable is EUR 50 and is payable in cash in euros at the counter or via a POS terminal in local currency.
The Emergency Travel Document shall be obtained in person or, exceptionally, by an authorised person with an explicit notarized power of attorney or by a person whose details are entered in the application.
Upon acceptance of the application, it is possible to draw up an ‘Administrative Offence Act’ under Article 80 and/or Article 81 of the Bulgarian Identity Documents Act, and subsequently — a criminal decree and to impose an administrative fine.

II. There are no diplomatic missions of other countries accredited to the Republic of Bulgaria in Georgia. The Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Tbilisi is accredited for Georgia only.
Georgia is a party to the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents. A Treaty on Legal Assistance in Civil Matters between the Republic of Bulgaria and Georgia (signed in Sofia on 19 January 1995) has been signed and is in force. By virtue of Article 24 of this Treaty, official documents drawn up in the territory of one of the Contracting Parties shall be exempt from legalization or other similar formalities when produced in the territory of the other Party. In this case, as part of the legalization process, only a certified translation of the document is sufficient.