Russia expands visa-free regime for Georgian citizens

Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a decree expanding the visa-free regime for Georgian citizens. According to Russian media reports, the updated decree, published on the portal for legal acts, no longer includes previous exceptions that required a visa.

The changes mean that Georgian citizens can now enter Russia without a visa for purposes such as education, employment, or stays exceeding 90 days. This is a significant expansion of the previous visa-free conditions and allows for greater flexibility in long-term visits to the Russian Federation.

Russia introduced visas for Georgian citizens in December 2000, following increased tensions between the two countries. This decision came after the conflict in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as deteriorating diplomatic relations between Georgia and Russia. However, starting in 2023, Russia began lifting visa requirements for Georgian citizens in phases, culminating in the expanded visa-free regime recently announced in 2024.