Happy Independence Day to all our fellow Americans! If you happen to be in Tbilisi on Saturday night, watch for July 4th fireworks from Mtatsminda at 10:00 pm. The Embassy will be closed on Friday, July 3 to observe the holiday.
Voting: If you are eligible to vote, remember to register for your absentee ballot by August 1! Go to FVAP.gov for more info. Key links and FAQs are also available on our website here.
Here are our latest updates on travel:
LEAVING GEORGIA
Exit via Land or Sea: We received new information this week from the Government of Georgia that U.S. citizens may now exit Georgia via the Sarpi border crossing to Turkey, as well as ferries from Batumi. However, please keep in mind that U.S. citizens may be subject to health screening and/or quarantine regulations when entering another country. Always check each country’s current policies on entry or transit before making any travel plans, using that country’s online guidance or COVID-19 Country Specific Information updated by the U.S. Embassy in that country.
Flights: On July 2, the Government of Georgia announced that several airlines will carry out charter flights to/from Europe to bring Georgian nationals back to Georgia. However, no details are available yet. For now, the only confirmed flights in July are those listed below, operated by Georgian Airways:
- Tbilisi/Amsterdam – July 4, 6, 11, 18, 20, 25, 27
o All incoming flights from Amsterdam are full through July 25.
o Limited seats on outgoing flights are still available. Several options for direct connections to USA available.
o When checking-in for a flight from Tbilisi, you should ask for your luggage to be checked all the way to a final destination in the U.S., even though they will not be able to issue boarding passes to check passengers all the way to the final destination (you will need to obtain AMS-U.S. boarding passes in Amsterdam).
o U.S. citizens are permitted to transit ONLY to U.S., not to other Europe destinations
o You MUST have an onward, confirmed ticket to the U.S. (not elsewhere in Europe); you will not be allowed to leave the transit area for any reason.
- Tbilisi/Vienna – July 5, 12, 26
- Batumi/Tel Aviv – July 10, 23, 26, 30
- Tbilisi/Berlin – July 3
- Tbilisi/Paris – July 7 (full), 14, 21, 18
STAYING IN GEORGIA
(New) Foreign Citizens who overstay their 365 days in Georgia: The Georgian government announced earlier this week to extend the period of exit for foreigners until July 31. Anyone who was in the country legally on March 14, 2020, and was not able to leave the country, may remain until July 31, 2020, with no penalty.
COVID requirements and restrictions: Wearing a face covering in closed public areas and on all public transport including taxis is mandatory; violators are subject to a 20 GEL fine. Some exceptions will be made for children under 6, people with disabilities, or who have health problems that prevent them from wearing a face covering. Georgia has also banned gathering of more than 10 individuals including for weddings, funerals, and other social events, subject to fines up to 2,000 GEL on each individual. As always, wash your hands frequently and observe social distancing!
Embassy Operations: The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi continues to provide passport, citizenship and emergency services for U.S. citizens, and emergency visa appointments. Please check the expiration date on your U.S. passport and contact us if you need to renew it, have other questions, or would like to make an appointment.
ENTERING GEORGIA
With very limited exceptions, the entry ban for foreign citizens (including entry at the land borders or by ferry) is still in effect. This includes foreign citizens who are legal residents of Georgia, or have been living and working in Georgia, or own property or business (without special status).
TRAVEL TO THE UNITED STATES
Entering the U.S. U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents (green card holders) may enter the U.S. at any time, regardless of origin or flight route. Most visa holders may NOT enter the U.S. if they have been present (including transit) in the Schengen Area or other restricted countries within the last 14 days; otherwise, they may enter the U.S. For all travelers, international flights are currently only allowed to land at 15 specific airports in the U.S. which are set up to provide additional health screening for arriving passengers.
After arrival: Although there is no enforced quarantine for anyone entering the U.S., currently the CDC recommends that all travelers from countries with widespread, ongoing COVID-19 transmission arriving in the U.S. should Stay at Home for 14 days after arrival. This guidance is expected to change as the CDC reviews ongoing data.
For assistance anytime please contact us:
American Citizen Services
Consular Section
U.S. Embassy Tbilisi
AskConsulTbilisi@state.gov
https://ge.usembassy.gov
(+995 32) 227-7724 / after hours (+995 32) 227-7000