The European Commission has suspended visa-free travel for holders of Georgian diplomatic, service and official passports entering the Schengen Area.
Under the decision, Georgian officials traveling for diplomatic or official purposes will now need to obtain a visa before entering Schengen countries. The measure is the first use of the European Union’s reinforced visa suspension mechanism, following approval by EU member states.
The Commission stated that the suspension was triggered by what it described as Georgia’s ‘deliberate and persisting violation’ of commitments made under the country’s visa-free regime, particularly in the areas of democracy and fundamental rights.
The Commission stated that actions taken by the Georgian authorities since October 2024, including measures against protesters, opposition politicians and independent media, have negatively affected the political and human rights environment in Georgia.
The statement also mentioned that Georgia has not aligned its policies with the EU’s visa policy which Brussels considers an essential condition for maintaining visa-free travel arrangements.
Alongside the suspension, the Commission issued new guidelines recommending stricter checks for Georgian nationals entering the EU.
Member states are advised to ensure that all Georgian travelers are screened against European and national security databases, including the Visa Information System and the Schengen Information System. Authorities are also encouraged to use the Entry/Exit System, which has been gradually introduced across EU external borders since October last year.
Officials emphasized that Georgian government representatives traveling for official purposes must use their diplomatic or service passports. Failure to do so could result in an entry ban.
When applying for a Schengen visa, holders of Georgian diplomatic, service or official passports may now face stricter screening procedures. Member states are encouraged to conduct interviews and request additional supporting documents and to refuse visa applications if there are doubts about the reliability of the information provided.
The suspension entered into force immediately and will remain in place for 12 months until 6 March 2027.
The Commission warned that if concerns related to governance and rule of law are not addressed by the Georgian authorities, the measure could be extended for up to 24 additional months. In such a case, the EU could also consider expanding the suspension to include all Georgian citizens, not only officials.
