Business Customs
The development of personal rapport is an important part of business relationships in Georgia. Business meetings tend to be relatively relaxed affairs. Although tardiness does not necessarily reflect a lack of respect, foreign visitors should be punctual. Business lunches are less common than in the United States and Europe. Elaborate dinners -‐ known as “supras” -‐ are generally long affairs, at which numerous, informal, and impromptu toasts are often required of both the host and honored guests. Wine is an important part of Georgian culture and is a part of any dinner. Georgians take great pride in their reputation as gracious hosts.
Travel Advisory
U.S. State Department consular information sheet on Georgia.
Visa requirements
A passport is required with a minimum three months of validity for entry into Georgia. U.S. citizens visiting for 365 days or less do not need a visa, and this calendar could be reset by departing and re-entering Georgia. Armenian and Azerbaijani visas are no longer valid for transit through Georgia. For further information on visas, please contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.
U.S. companies that require travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States should go to the State Department Visa Website for information on the application process.
Currency
The official currency is the Georgian lari. Credit cards are accepted at almost all hotels, restaurants, and stores in Tbilisi, but some small stores or establishments still do not accept them. ATMs are available throughout Tbilisi and in other cities.
Telecommunications/Electronics
Georgia enjoys direct‐dial long distance service for international calls. The capacity and quality of landlines is limited but infrastructure is being improved continuously. Cellular phones are ubiquitous and relatively inexpensive. Internet access is available at hotels, restaurants, and cafes, and in parks in Tbilisi and some other towns. Subscriber Internet service is available through several local providers and is also moderately priced by regional standards. Fixed broadband internet and mobile internet are growing steadily.
The standard voltage in Georgia is 220 V and the frequency is 50 Hz. Accordingly, a voltage convertor is required for electric appliances that are used in the United States (120 V). As for plug types, there are two associated plug types, types C and F used in Georgia.
Transportation
The condition of most main roads in the country is good or average but remains poor in rural areas. Within the capital there are many new and inexpensive buses, taxis, and “marshrutka” minibuses. There is also a functioning subway system in Tbilisi. A cab ride from the airport to the center of Tbilisi should cost approximately $20, but nighttime might be more expensive.
Tbilisi International Airport is Georgia’s principal international airport handling 1,000‐1,200 passengers per hour (3 million passengers in 2022, which is 81% of pre-pandemic level), and is served by:
International flights
Aegean Airlines (Athens, Thessaloniki), Air Arabia (Sharjah), Air Astana (Almaty), Air France (Paris), Air Moldova (Chisinau), Arkia Israeli Airlines (Tel Aviv), Azerbaijan & Buta Airlines (Baku), Baltic Air (Riga),
Belavia (Minsk), China Southern Airlines (Urumqi), Condor (Frankfurt), Eurowings (Stuttgart), El Al (Tel Aviv), Fly Dubai & Emirates (Dubai), Fly Nas (Jeddah, Riyadh), Fly One (Chisinau, Yerevan), Georgian Airways (Amsterdam, Berlin, Larnaca, Milan, Moscow, Nice, Paris, Tel Aviv, Thessaloniki, Vienna), Geo Sky / Georgian Wings (Baku), Gulf Air (Bahrain), Kuwait Airways (Kuwait), IndiGo (Delhi), Israel Air (Tel Aviv), Lot Polish Airways (Warsaw), Lufthansa (Munich), Middles East Airlines (Beirut), Pegasus (Antalya, Ankara, Istanbul), Qatar Airways (Doha), Qeshm Air (Tehran), Red Wings (Sochi), Scat Air Company (Aktau), Sun Express (Antalya), Turkish Airlines (Istanbul), Uzbekistan Airlines (Tashkent), Varesh (TACV Cabo Verde) Airlines (Tehran)
Domestic flights
Geo Sky / Georgian Wings (Batumi)
A major rehabilitation and expansion of the Tbilisi and Batumi airports was carried out in 2016.
Kutaisi International Airport in western Georgia (approximately three hours’ drive from Tbilisi) offers budget flights to international destinations via the following airlines: Belavia (Minsk), Fly Arystan (Almaty, Atyrau, Astana (Nursultan Nazarbayev)), Red Wings (Moscow), Wizz Air (Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Budapest, Cologne, Copenhagen, Dortmund, Frankfurt, Gdansk, Hamburg, Katowice, Krakow, Larnaca, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Paris, Poznan, Prague, Riga, Rome, Tallinn, Thessaloniki, Vienna, Vilnius, Warsaw, Wroclaw), WizzAir Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi). Domestic flights are offered on AK Air (Vanilla Sky) to Ambrolauri, Batumi, and Mestia.
A recent addition to the pool of Georgian airports are Ambrolauri Airport in Racha and Telavi Airport in Kakheti (eastern Georgia), which are the initial stages will serve domestic flights only, with further plans for diversification.
Batumi Airport offers international connections via Air Astana (Almaty), Air Baltic (Riga), Arkia Israeli Airlines (Tel Aviv), Armenia Airways (Yerevan), Azerbaijan & Buta Airlines (Baku), Belavia (Minsk), El Al (Tel Aviv), Israel Air (Tel Aviv), Scat Air Company (Astana (Nursultan Nazarbayev)), Turkish Airlines (Istanbul), Varesh (TACV Cabo Verde) Airlines (Tehran). Batumi Airport offers domestic flights via AK Air (Vanilla Sky) to Natakhtari Domestic and Geo Sky / Georgian Wings to Tbilisi International Airport.
Georgia’s railroad system has improved substantially for passenger trains in recent years but remains relatively slow. The Tbilisi-Batumi passenger train has become a preferred mode of transportation for travelers to western Georgia, given the 4-hour travel time and comfortable wagons. Currently, about 90 percent of freight traffic travels on the main Trans‐Caucasus route from the Black Sea ports of Poti and Batumi through Tbilisi to Yerevan (Armenia) and Baku (Azerbaijan).
Language
The official language is Georgian and the most widely spoken language across the country. English and Russian are also used. Interpreters are widely available and are relatively inexpensive.
Health
Elderly travelers, travelers with chronic medical conditions, and travelers with young children are advised to purchase overseas medevac insurance and bring an adequate amount of medication for the duration of their stay. Some medication may not be registered in Georgia and thus will not be available even with a valid prescription.
Medical services in Georgia are in a state of transition with many positive changes over the past year. Private, well-equipped hospitals like American Hospital Tbilisi and MediClub in Tbilisi, and Medina in Batumi, are fully operational. These facilities have well-trained staff, practicing evidence-based medicine. Medical corporations EVEX and Geo-Hospitals have a network of hospitals and out-patient clinics in Tbilisi and other regions. Several facilities like New Hospital are inviting foreign specialists for consultation.
Tricare health insurance for active duty and retired U.S. military is accepted at some facilities. Cigna International is also accepted at some private clinics and hospitals. Travelers should check with their health insurance company to inquire about overseas coverage.
Although Georgia has a pediatric immunization program schedule of vaccinations, it differs from the one in the United States. Some American vaccines are not included in the Georgian vaccination plan (and vice versa). In addition, local vaccines are not FDA approved. Travelers are advised to check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the latest vaccine recommendations for travel to Georgia. Prevalent diseases include Hepatitis A and Rabies.
The U.S. Embassy maintains a list of English‐speaking physicians. Travelers may obtain further information on health matters from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s International Travelers’ Hotline at (404) 332‐4559.
Local Time, Business Hours and Holidays
Standard time zone for Georgia is: UTC/GMT + 3 hours during summer time and UTC/GMT + 4 during wintertime. Georgia does not observe daylight savings time. Although the business day runs from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., the best contact time is 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Business leaders and senior government officials tend to start work around 10:00 a.m., work into the night, and often break for a late working dinner.
Georgia has 14 national holidays – 2023 Holiday Calendar:
January 1 New Year’s Day
January 7 Christmas (Orthodox Church)
January 19 Epiphany (Orthodox Church)
March 3 Mother’s Day
March 8 International Women’s Day
April 9 Independence Restoration Day
April 14 Orthodox Good Friday
May 17 Orthodox Easter Monday (Recollection of Deceased)
May 9 Victory Day
May 12 St. Andrew’s Day
May 26 Independence Day
August 28 Assumption of the Virgin (Orthodox Church)
October 14 Svetiskovloba (Day of the Saint)
November 23 St. George’s Day
Temporary Entry of Materials or Personal Belongings
Travelers to Georgia must fill out a customs declaration upon arrival and present it to customs officials upon departure. Travelers must declare on the customs form all items of value, including currency; failure to do so may result in fines or other penalties. If your customs form is lost or stolen, please report the loss to the police to obtain a certificate to show to customs officials upon departure.
Georgia’s customs authorities may enforce strict regulations on the temporary importation into or export from Georgia of items such as alcohol, tobacco, jewelry, religious materials, art or artifacts, antiquities, and business equipment. Only personal medications with a doctor’s prescription can be imported without the permission of the Georgian Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Affairs Department of Healthcare.
U.S. citizens may not import firearms into Georgia; however, hunting weapons may be brought into the country for a two‐week period based on valid Georgian hunting licenses. While there is no limit to the amount of currency that can be imported, travelers bringing more than 30,000 GEL (approximately $10,000) in cash are required to make a declaration. If more money is exported than was declared at the time of entry, the traveler is obligated to prove it was legally obtained. There are limits on the amount of exported Georgian currency.
The Department of Expertise and Evaluation under the Ministry of Culture and Sports must license any valuables being taken out of Georgia such as artwork, antiques, jewelry, paintings, etc. This license describes the object, assesses its value, and provides permission to export it from Georgia. The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia can provide more specific information on quantities of items that can be imported duty free, as well as duties for specific items. It is also advisable to contact the Embassy of Georgia in Washington, D.C. for specific information regarding customs requirements.