Georgia to Reintroduce Visa-Free Rules with Iran from Feb.15

Georgia will reintroduce 45-day visa-free travel rules for Iranian citizens starting from February 15, 2016, the Georgian Foreign Ministry said.

Georgia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Davit Jalagania notified about the decision Iran’s ambassador in Tbilisi, Abbas Talebifar, at a meeting on February 8.

Also on February 8 Georgia’s PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili and Iran’s President held a phone conversation and discussed cooperation, including lifting of visa rules for the Iranian citizens.

Georgia and Iran signed an agreement on 45-day visa-free travel rules in November, 2010 when then Foreign Minister of Iran visited Georgia.

The agreement went into force in late January, 2011, which contributed to increase in number of visits from Iran to Georgia from about 21,300 in 2010 to 60,000 and over 89,000 in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

Georgia unilaterally suspended the visa-free rules with Iran in July, 2013, which was followed by decline of visits from Iran to Georgia from 85,700 in 2013 to 47,900 and 25,200 in 2014 and 2015, respectively.