Georgia

Stay in Georgia: If you are a citizen of Ukraine, you can stay in Georgia for 1 year. In order to stay in Georgia for a longer period on legal grounds, you must choose within a year whether to apply for one of the forms of residence or to apply for asylum.

Applying for asylum

If you are in need of asylum (international protection), you have the right to apply to any state agency or to file a written request for asylum in Georgia at the state border, or at the International Protection Department of the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

When applying for asylum, you must provide any available travel documents, such as a passport. The Ministry keeps this document for the entire period of asylum consideration, even after granting status.

After applying for asylum, you will receive a Georgian identity card. You are not allowed to travel outside Georgia during the asylum procedure, except for exceptional life-saving reasons and if such permission is granted to you by the Migration Department.

After the asylum procedure, you will be granted refugee or humanitarian status, or you may be refused such status.

If you are granted refugee or humanitarian status, you may request a travel document that will replace your passport for travel abroad.

After receiving a travel document, individuals must comply with immigration regulations, such as obtaining a visa, if necessary, depending on their citizenship, when traveling abroad.

Note: Granting refugee or humanitarian status does not limit the right to travel abroad, except to the country of origin. A person may also withdraw their application for asylum or submit an application for termination of refugee or humanitarian status at any time. After submitting the request, the person’s passport and other identity documents are returned to him.

After withdrawing the application for international protection, the asylum seeker may re-submit an application for international protection if his application contains new circumstances that have become known to him after the withdrawal of the application for international protection, and the Ministry is obliged to provide the asylum seeker with access to a fair and effective asylum procedure.

The Department of Migration is the main state body responsible for asylum procedures and registration of asylum seekers.

Address: Georgia, Tbilisi, Mikheila Gahokidze St., 16
Reception hours: Monday – Friday / 9:00-18:00

More information on rights and obligations is available at Help UNHCR Georgia.

Please note that according to the current legislation of Georgia, all visitors entering the country for tourism purposes must have valid medical and accident insurance covering the entire period of their stay. The policy may be issued by a Georgian or foreign insurer, must meet the minimum coverage amount stipulated by law, and must be presented in Georgian or English in paper or electronic format upon entry.

This measure was introduced to align the entry conditions with internationally recognized travel standards and ensure adequate protection of visitors during their stay in Georgia. We recommend that all travelers obtain appropriate insurance before departure.

For specific questions regarding documentation and border requirements, please contact the Georgian Patrol Police or the relevant consular authorities in advance. Patrol Police Department Consultation: + (032) 241-42-42.

Whether you hold subsidiary protection or reside in Georgia under the visa-free regime, leaving the country whether temporarily or permanently and later seeking to return is subject to the full discretion of the border authorities. There is no automatic right of re-entry.

Additionally, those with subsidiary protection, departing for Ukraine, even for a short visit, results in the immediate termination of status, as per Georgia’s Law on International Protection. This also leads to the loss of any associated social allowances and healthcare benefits granted under subsidiary protection. To regain subsidiary protection, you must submit a subsequent application for international protection.

For individuals residing under the visa-free regime, there are no specific legal restrictions on returning, however, the final decision on entry rests with the border authorities. Additionally, leaving the country may impact eligibility for certain social and healthcare benefits.

If you are receiving 300 GEL in financial assistance for family living expenses and 45 GEL per person for livelihoods support and you leave Georgia, both forms of support will end. The 300 GEL for family living expenses will cease once all family members leave Georgia and the 45 GEL per person will stop once you cross the state border. In both cases, your eligibility for these payments will terminate and support will be discontinued starting from the following month. However, if you reside continuously in Georgia and your absence does not exceed three days, your access to healthcare benefits under the visa-free regime will remain unaffected. For more details on healthcare benefits, please contact the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Health, Labour, and Social Affairs of Georgia at 15 05.

If you are residing in Georgia under the visa-free regime and decide to leave permanently, you do not need to notify anyone unless you have specific legal obligations with any government entities.

However, if you hold subsidiary protection, you are required to inform the International Protection Issues Division at the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Upon notification, they will terminate your subsidiary potection and return your international passport promptly.

If you hold subsidiary protection in Georgia and decide to return to Ukraine permanently, you must visit the International Protection Issues Division at the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia in person. You will need to submit a statement requesting the termination of your subsidiary protection status and return your international passport. Unfortunately, this process cannot be completed online.

Yes, if you do not have an international passport, you can obtain a one-time return document or a new international passport from the Embassy of Ukraine in Georgia, which will allow you to return to Ukraine.

Documents that can be used to enter Ukraine:

• Biometric passport (passport for traveling abroad)
• Diplomatic or service passport
• Valid child’s travel document
• Crew member ID card/seaman ID card
• Certificate for return to Ukraine

A citizen of Ukraine cannot be denied entry to Ukraine; however, you do need identification documents to cross the border in a timely and efficient manner. Regarding requirements to enter Ukraine please consult the Embassy of Ukraine in Georgia.

If you are an unaccompanied child and you would like to return to Ukraine, you need the authorization of your legal guardian. You should talk to them first and not travel to Ukraine on your own.

Citizens of Ukraine cannot be denied entry to Ukraine under any circumstances. Children are subject to the same entry and exit control as adults. Please refer to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine for detailed information. Those crossing the border should have a passport or other document confirming their identity or at least a birth certificate. Children can cross the border with a birth certificate issued abroad.

In case there are no documents, in all countries apart from those where consular relations are ceased (i.e. Russian Federation), children would need to be assisted in obtaining a return certificate based on any documents that can confirm their connection to Ukraine and that they hold Ukrainian citizenship.  Consulates may issue a return certificate based on copies of documents.

If a child is entering alone or with a non-parent adult, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine shall contact local child protection services, unless they have information about parents awaiting the child. It is advised to inform the Border Guard post that the parent is expecting the child on the Ukrainian side of the border in advance.

Please note that a child should also meet the exit requirements of the host country – please contact your local Ukrainian consulate to ask for information and get the required documents for return. In some cases, a birth certificate cannot be used as a travel document.

Persons of other nationalities who lived in Ukraine before the war and want to return should enquire at the Embassy of Ukraine in Georgia whether and under which conditions they are allowed to return before starting to organize the return travel.

No, there is no support with tranportation to Ukraine provided in Georgia.

Yes, request your health records from the healthcare provider or clinic in Georgia where you received treatment. Collect these documents before leaving so they can be provided to medical professionals in Ukraine if necessary.

To support the Ukrainian community in Georgia, Ardi Insurance offers specially designed discounted health insurance packages. These plans provide the necessary coverage and greater financial security when receiving medical services.

Please check the page Help Georgia for updated information on employment in Georgia.

According to the decision of the Government of Georgia, as a result of the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, schoolchildren who are unable to continue their general education in Ukrainian schools and who have expressed a desire to continue their education in Georgia will be enrolled in schools under a simplified procedure.

Schoolchildren may be enrolled in the class in which they studied in general education institutions of Ukraine until February 24, 2022.

Psychological consultations for school-age children from Ukraine are available throughout Georgia.

Detailed information is available on the Ministry of Education hotline: +(995 32) 2 200 220.

If you need assistance in enrolling your children in school, please contact UNHCR’s partner organization – World Vision Georgia:

Tel.: (+995) 577045645
Address: 67b Zhiuli Shartava Str., Tbilisi, Georgia
Facebook page

World Vision Georgia Website

The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine advises collecting all the documents from the previous school where the child studied, including subjects taken, results of exams and evaluation system etc. If there are no documents, the child can pass a pre-evaluation exam and still enroll in a Ukrainian school. Please note that the child cannot be refused enrollment in a Ukrainian school even with incomplete documents or missed subjects. Read more about school enrollment on the website of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

Contact your bank in Georgia to discuss options for closing your account or continuing access from abroad. Ensure all obligations or arrangements are settled before departure.

Consult with the free Legal Aid Service at 14 85, or with a lawyer of your choice to clarify your tax obligations and finalize any outstanding matters before returning to Ukraine permanently.

Consult with the veterinary service or clinic in Georgia. Ensure your pet’s vaccination and health certificates are current and meet Ukraine’s re-entry requirements.