If you are entering Georgia as a tourist, check the current entry insurance requirement before travelling. From 1 January 2026, tourists entering Georgia must hold valid health and accident insurance for the full period of their stay.
Insurance is only one part of being prepared. If you become ill or injured in Tbilisi, you may need to communicate with a Georgian doctor, understand records for an insurer, or arrange translation of medical papers for continuing treatment elsewhere.
Caucasus Translations provides medical-document translation and interpreting support in Tbilisi. We can also help with practical document handling, including clear scans, printing, collection arrangements where available, and courier or DHL dispatch when appropriate. For treatment-focused language support, see our medical document translation and interpreting service.
Is travel insurance mandatory for Georgia in 2026?
For tourists, yes. The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that from 1 January 2026, tourists entering Georgia must have health and accident insurance valid throughout their stay, including the arrival and departure dates.
The published requirement says the policy must provide at least GEL 30,000 of coverage. It must be issued in Georgian or English and may be presented in physical or electronic form. It should identify the parties to the insurance contract, the covered territory, the insured subject, the start and end dates, insured risks, coverage limits, and the premium or payment terms. Tourists must be able to present the policy at entry.
Read the current official notice before travel, because entry procedures and policy terms can change: Ministry of Foreign Affairs: mandatory insurance for tourists.
Who is exempt?
The MFA notice lists limited exemptions. They include holders of diplomatic and special visas; holders of diplomatic, official, service and special passports; accredited diplomatic and international-organisation personnel and their accredited family members; persons whose entry is envisaged by Georgia’s international treaties or agreements; and drivers carrying out international road freight or passenger transport.
Do not assume that a business trip, visa-free entry, a residence-related plan, or an invitation alone creates an exemption. If you believe an exemption applies to your case, confirm it with the relevant Georgian authority before travel.
Is the legal minimum enough for your trip?
GEL 30,000 is the stated minimum coverage amount, not a recommendation that every policy will meet every traveller’s needs. Read the policy schedule and exclusions. Depending on the cover, individual benefits may have separate limits or conditions for emergency outpatient treatment, hospital admission, ambulance transport, evacuation, repatriation, emergency dental treatment, sport or mountain activities, and planned treatment.
Check how pre-existing conditions, pregnancy, alcohol-related incidents, driving, hiking, skiing, and adventure activities are treated. Also check the claims process: some policies may require you to contact an assistance line or insurer before non-emergency treatment, and reimbursement arrangements are policy-specific.
Insurance providers and clinics: examples, not endorsements
There is no single best policy or medical provider for every traveller. Age, health, trip duration, activities, the insurer’s terms, and the hospital or clinic you choose can all matter. Providers advertise visitor-focused products, including ARDI Welcomer, Unison’s mandatory visitor insurance and TBC Insurance travel products. These are examples of advertised products, not recommendations by Caucasus Translations and not confirmation of any insurer network, direct-billing arrangement, medical quality, language availability, or current eligibility.
Before buying, read the provider’s current terms and confirm that the policy meets the official entry requirements and your own needs. Before attending a clinic, contact your insurer or assistance service if your policy requires pre-authorisation. For the official list of insurers, consult the State Insurance Supervision Service.
What to do if you are ill or injured in Georgia
For a life-threatening or urgent emergency, call 112. Georgia’s national emergency number operates for police, fire/rescue and emergency medical assistance. State your exact location, what has happened, the service you need, and your name. 112 is for emergencies rather than non-urgent medical advice, a clinic search, or an insurance enquiry.
Official 112 guidance is available at when to call 112 and its English FAQ. For a non-emergency medical concern, follow your insurer’s instructions, contact the medical provider you choose, and keep a record of appointments, invoices and reports.
Medical interpreting and document translation
Medical communication is not only about translating a diagnosis. A clinician may need a reliable account of symptoms, medicines, allergies, prior treatment and consent discussions. An interpreter can help parties communicate, but does not replace a doctor, insurer or legal adviser.
If you need a medical record, discharge summary, test result, prescription, referral, insurer correspondence or consent form translated, send us a clear scan, the target language and the recipient’s written requirements. We provide medical translation services and can arrange interpreting where the appointment and languages are confirmed in advance.
Do not assume every recipient requires a notarized or certified translation. The required form depends on the insurer, clinic, foreign doctor, university, authority or court receiving it. If a formal format is requested, our guide to certified and notarized translation in Georgia explains the distinction and why the recipient’s instruction matters.
Keep documents ready
- Save the policy and insurer’s assistance contact in a form you can access while travelling.
- Check that the insurance dates include both arrival and departure.
- Carry or securely store essential prescriptions, treatment summaries and allergy information where clinically appropriate.
- Keep invoices, reports and discharge documents if you may need to make an insurance claim or continue treatment elsewhere.
- Before ordering translation, ask the recipient which language and format it requires.
Need help with medical documents in Tbilisi?
Send a clear scan of the document, tell us the language needed and where it will be submitted. We can review the document-handling and translation steps before you send an original. For medical-treatment coordination, see our medical translation and interpreting information.
Frequently asked questions
Do tourists need health insurance to enter Georgia in 2026?
From 1 January 2026, the MFA notice requires tourists entering Georgia to hold valid health and accident insurance, subject to the listed exemptions.
What is the minimum required coverage?
The published minimum is GEL 30,000. Check the official notice and the policy wording before travel.
Can I show the policy on my phone?
Yes. The published rule allows a physical or electronic policy, provided it is in Georgian or English and contains the required information.
Should I call 112 if I need a doctor?
Call 112 for an urgent emergency. For non-emergency care, follow the insurer’s guidance or contact a medical provider directly.
Do all medical documents need a notarized translation?
No. Ask the receiving insurer, clinic, authority or foreign provider which translation format it requires before ordering.
Authoritative sources
Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: mandatory insurance for tourists; 112 emergency guidance; 112 FAQ.