Schengen without a visa: what to know before you go

Georgian citizens with a biometric passport can travel to the Schengen area without a visa. That covers tourism, visiting relatives and short business trips, but not work.

The 90/180-day rule

In any 180 days you may spend up to 90 in the Schengen area. Days in all its countries add up: a week in Italy and a week in France make 14 days. The days you arrive and leave count too.

Which countries

Schengen covers most of Europe, including Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Greece, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Poland and Switzerland. Cyprus is not in Schengen, but Georgians travel there visa-free too, with its own 90/180 days. The UK and Ireland require a visa.

What the border may ask

Border guards may ask for the hotel booking, the return ticket, travel insurance and enough money on a card or in cash. Have them printed or on your phone. Our package has the flight both ways, the hotel and insurance together, and we send you all the documents at once.

Your passport

The passport must be valid for at least three months after you leave the Schengen area and must have been issued within the last ten years. A child needs their own biometric passport.

The new electronic system (EES)

The Schengen border now uses EES: on your first entry your fingerprints and photo are taken, and entries and exits are recorded electronically instead of stamped in the passport. The first time takes a few minutes, so get to the airport in good time.

ETIAS

Visa-free travellers will later need an online authorisation, ETIAS, for a small fee, before they travel. The EU announces when it starts: check the official site before you go to see whether it is needed yet.

Rules can change. Before you travel, check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia or the official EU site.