Georgia could ultimately lose its visa-free travel regime with the European Union, based on the European Commission’s 8th report on the Visa Suspension Mechanism.
The Commission states that Georgia has seen “significant regression in key requirements related to governance and the rule of law,” which underpin the visa liberalization framework. It notes that similar backsliding has occurred in visa policy alignment and in the fight against corruption.
“This situation represents a clear example of backtracking from the commitments undertaken during the visa liberalization process and undermines the mutual trust on which the visa-free regime is based,” the report says.
Given what it describes as the “systemic and deliberate nature” of this regression, the European Commission is considering measures under the updated visa suspension mechanism.
Under the first stage of the mechanism, visa-free travel could be suspended for holders of diplomatic, service, and official Georgian passports—individuals the Commission says bear primary responsibility for the failure to implement its recommendations. At the second stage, the suspension could be extended to the general population if the Georgian government fails to address the identified shortcomings. Ultimately, Georgia could be transferred to Annex I of the EU visa regulation, meaning its citizens would require visas to enter the Schengen area.
The report also reveals that on 14 July 2025, the European Commission sent a formal letter to the Georgian government, urging continued compliance with visa liberalization requirements and requesting detailed information on the implementation of recommendations outlined in the 7th report. According to the Commission, Georgia provided no evidence of substantial progress. In most cases, no corrective measures were taken, while in some areas the situation further deteriorated.
The Commission’s concerns are linked to several legislative acts adopted in Georgia, including the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, the Law on Family Values and the Protection of Minors, the Foreign Agents Registration Act, as well as amendments to the Law on Grants, the Law on Political Assemblies of Citizens, the Administrative Offences Code, the Law on Broadcasting, and the Criminal Code.
Based on the report, these laws and amendments restrict fundamental rights and freedoms and contradict Georgia’s European and international obligations. The Commission notes that instead of amending the legislation, the Georgian authorities have publicly defended it, citing national sovereignty and disregarding commitments made during the visa liberalization dialogue.
