Are you an expat living in GCC country like Saudi Arabia and planning to visit Georgia the Country in Eastern Europe & Western Asia? Then, this article is for you.
In this blog, I will share with your how you can visit Georgia and the required documents you need to prepare & bring.
Why visit Georgia?
Georgia is located in Caucasus region between Eastern Europe & Western Asia. It may not be the first country you think when planning to visit in Europe, however, I am telling you it is worth visiting. This tiny & mighty nation has a lot to offer from magnificent landscape to a unique & diverse culture, tradition as well as folklore. The capital city of Georgia is Tbilisi, its cobblestone old town reflects a long complicated history with Persian and Russian rule. You can get around Georgia with relative ease, moreover, you will experience Europe in a budget friendly but still gets the feeling of a perfect balance of convenience & a sense of adventure. In addition, Georgia is well-known for its oldest and honey wine tradition so if you are a traveler and farming enthusiast, you will surely feel in love with this beautiful country.
If you are a Filipino or Expat living in Saudi Arabia or any GCC country with Residents ID or Iqama holders, you do not need a visa to travel to Georgia. “Visa-Free-Entry”. Yes you read it right, it’s free and visa on arrival will be provided only if you meet all below mentioned requirements.
Requirements for Expat travelling to Georgia from Saudi Arabia
- Passport– Should be Valid for 6 months on the date of travel
- Exit Re-entry Visa (200 SR)-Can be requested to your employer, (Ensure that you file a vacation leave first. Once approved, I suggest you request exit re-entry visa 15 to 20 days before your departure)
- Resident ID or Iqama for Expat Living in Saudi Arabia
- Return Flight-A copy of a confirmed flight ticket reservation to prove that you intend to return to Saudi Arabia after your visit.
- Translation of Iqama to English– since Iqama is written in Arabic Language, it is required to translate it in English, you can do it online then print or you can request to any certified office that provide services for the translation of Iqama to English. If you are in other GCC country and your resident ID is written in English then no need to translate it.
- Travel Health Insurance (ranging from 50 to 60 SR) – I availed travel insurance in Air Arabia upon booking my flight as additional which covers my whole trip. If you have travel insurance card provided by your employer, kindly check if it covers international travel otherwise request to a certified insurance company to provide this document.
- Proof of Accommodation– Print a copy of confirmed booking for hotel/hostel during your stay in Georgia. In my case, I stayed in Envoy Hostel (highly recommended especially for solo travelers, good location & offering tours in Georgia as well). I stayed in this Hotel for 8 days with affordable price (45 Sar only during that time), good value for money and like roof top by the way where you can relax and enjoy the view.
- Travel Itinerary– Print a copy of your itinerary of activity during your stay in Georgia. If you book a tour, your agency will provide for it otherwise if you are planning DIY, kindly create in excel or word copy of your activity and print it. In my case, I booked a tour in G7 Euro Travel.
- Sufficient Funds (Cash/Credit Card) to cover your whole travel expenses (should be in Cash (USD) (USD exchange rate has a very good rate with Georgian Lari), normally 50 USD per day is enough but better to have extra, if you have credit card visa bring it also for additional only in case immigration will ask, but usually cash is enough if you don’t have credit card)
If you can provide all of this, you are good to go, remember that this is for tourism visa only. This will allow you to stay in Georgia for 30 days (per entry). If it’s a multiple-entry visa document, meaning you can enter and depart Georgia multiple times within 120 days.
Note: This also applies to other expat like Indians & Pakistanis living in GCC countries. For more info, you can check if you are eligible for visa on arrival entry in Georgia Site.
In case you are coming from the Philippines, e-Visa is required.
Hope this tips & guidelines helps. Have you been to Georgia? please share your insights.
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