From January 1, 2026, tourists without medical and accident insurance may not be allowed into Georgia. But insurance is needed not only at the border. For an expat, it replaces state medicine, which he does not have, and for a local resident, it helps where the state program pays only part of the bill: in routine treatment, at the dentist, in case of hail or flood from neighbors.

We'll tell you what the law requires, what policies usually cover, what additional bonuses they have, and how to choose insurance without extra expenses. We do not recommend specific companies: a list of all licensed insurers is on the website of the State Insurance Supervision Service.

For tourists: compulsory insurance from 2026

What the law requires

According to the Law on Tourism, every tourist who enters Georgia must have medical and accident insurance. Detailed rules were approved by the government by Resolution No. 602, they are valid from January 1, 2026.

The insured amount is not less than GEL 30,000.
The policy must be valid for the entire duration of the trip, from entry to exit. One policy can be issued for a maximum of one year.
The policy of both Georgian and foreign insurance companies is suitable.
The policy can be paper or electronic, in Georgian or English.
The patrol police have the right to check the policy at the border checkpoint. Without insurance, entry may be denied.

The law considers a tourist to be someone who comes for at least one night, not for work, and for no longer than a year. The rule does not apply, in particular, to holders of diplomatic and service passports and visas, accredited employees of embassies, consulates and international organizations and members of their families, people covered by international treaties, and drivers of international transport. If you live in Georgia with a residence permit, check the requirements in advance: we have not found any official explanations for this case.

On social networks they write about a fine for not having a policy, but the fine is not specified in the resolution. The main risk is denial of entry.

What does a travel policy usually cover?

Most policies for travel to Georgia only cover emergency care:

ambulance and emergency treatment - outpatient and in hospital;
emergency dentistry: to relieve acute pain or remove a tooth;
medications prescribed for emergency treatment;
repatriation of the body.

Medical evacuation to your home country is not included in all policies - if you need it, check it separately. Local travel policies are often valid only on the territory of Georgia, and within the total amount they have separate limits, for example, for a hospital. Some policies have a deductible - the amount you pay yourself - and age restrictions.

Typically not covered:

chronic illnesses and illnesses that existed before the trip, except those that were life-threatening;
injuries caused by alcohol or drug intoxication;
extreme sports, if it is not added to the policy;
planned and cosmetic treatment;
treatment that was not agreed upon with the insurance company;
events in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Mountains, skiing and sports

To ski in Gudauri or Bakuriani, you need an option for winter sports, and off-piste freeride is usually excluded. Rafting, paragliding and climbing must be specified when purchasing the policy. Many policies have a height limit, and it varies - check it if you're going to the mountains.

In the mountains, government rescuers respond to calls to 112, sometimes with a border police helicopter. But treatment, transportation and evacuation are not guaranteed to be free, so check whether the policy covers search and rescue. According to the Tourism Law, providers of risky tourism services, including mountain and ski guides, must have professional and/or civil liability insurance, and the list of such services is determined by the government. Before your hike, ask your guide if he has insurance.

If something happened

An ambulance is called by number 112. First aid, according to the Ministry of Health in 2022, is provided free of charge to both citizens and guests of the country. But treatment at the clinic is paid for by you or your insurance.

Call your insurance's 24-hour hotline before treatment or as soon as possible. Without a call, the company may refuse to pay.
In a partner clinic, the insurance company pays directly. In another clinic, you pay yourself and then apply for reimbursement - often 30 days are given for this.
Save your policy, passport, medical report, detailed invoice and receipts. In case of theft or accident, a police certificate is required.

For expats: medical insurance for a year

If you live in Georgia, the state medical program, as a rule, does not apply to you: citizens and people with special status receive it. Therefore, expats usually buy local annual health insurance. To issue category D visas, consulates also ask for health insurance for the duration of the visa.

Local policies are usually structured like this:

the family doctor is the basis of the policy; he refers to specialists;
emergency care - outpatient and in hospital;
planned treatment - within the limit and with partial payment on your part;
medicines - partially, the percentage depends on the tariff;
dentistry is emergency, and planned dentistry is usually only at expensive rates or at a discount.

What is important to check:

Waiting period.For some services, such as planned hospitalization or childbirth, the policy begins to be valid after 3–12 months or later.

What bonuses and additional services are there?

In addition to treatment, insurance companies often add:

24-hour hotline;
consultation with a family doctor via video;
annual examination or preventive package;
emergency vaccinations against rabies and tetanus;
discounts in clinics, pharmacies and partner laboratories;
an application through which you can quickly receive a refund;
family policies.

Each insurance company has its own set, so compare not only the price, but also what you will actually use.

To a local resident: why insurance if there is a state program

What does the state program provide?

The universal health care program is available to citizens of Georgia, as well as stateless persons with status in Georgia, refugees and holders of humanitarian status. According to the 2023 memo, she fully pays for appointments with a family doctor and emergency care from the approved list, and partially for planned operations and treatment of cancer. The program does not cover dentistry, medications are only for certain groups.

People with an income above GEL 40,000 per year cannot use the program, and most private health insurance holders are left with a limited package. From June 2026, those who have spent 6 months or more in a row abroad will have their registration with a family doctor suspended. This does not apply to emergency care, and after returning you can register again. Conditions are subject to change, so please check the Ministry of Health website for current conditions.

What does private insurance add?

In 2025, 785,361 people had private health insurance—about one in five Georgians. For many, it is paid for by the employer. A private policy provides a choice of clinics, planned treatment with a lower co-payment, partial payment for medications, and in expensive tariffs, even dentistry.

House and apartment

Home insurance typically covers fire, explosion, theft, hail, flood, burst pipes, and earthquake, often at an additional cost. Separately, you can insure liability to your neighbors if water from your apartment floods their repairs. Home policies almost always have a deductible, and in the event of a hail or storm, the insurer may ask for a weather certificate.

Car

-Foreign cars.From March 1, 2018, when entering Georgia in a car with foreign license plates, compulsory civil liability insurance is required. They buy it at the border or online.
-Georgian cars.Such insurance is not yet required for them. Its introduction has been discussed for a long time, and in September 2026 the bill was still only in the government’s plans for the autumn session. Currently, only about 8% of cars in the country are insured.
-CASCO- insurance of your car against damage - voluntary.

Travel abroad

For a Schengen visa, you need health insurance with coverage of at least 30,000 euros, which covers emergency treatment and medical repatriation. Buy it with a reserve for the days of departure and arrival.

For farmers

Since 2014, a state agricultural insurance program has been operating in Georgia. The state pays 70% of the cost of the policy, and the line of occupation pays 75%. The policy covers hail, flood and storm, and for citrus fruits it also covers autumn frosts. Spring frosts are not on the list of risks.

How to choose a policy

-Check the license.There are 19 licensed insurance companies operating in Georgia, their list is on the website of the State Insurance Supervision Service.
-Read the important conditions.Along with the contract, the insurance company is obliged to provide a separate sheet with the main conditions, and exceptions in it are highlighted in bold.
-Compare limits, deductible and waiting period, not just price.
-Check the dates.The policy must cover both the day of arrival and the day of departure.
-Inform about sports and chronic illnessupon purchase, not after injury.
-Save the hotline number and the PDF of the policy in your phone, and the printout in your documents.

If the insurance company refuses to pay, file a written claim: the company must respond within 30 days. The supervisory service accepts complaints against insurance companies, but disputes over payment are resolved by court or arbitration.

What to take on a trip along with insurance

The main tool in case of an insured event is the telephone: through it you call the hotline, send photos of documents and receipts. Let him not sit down at the most inopportune moment.

20,000 mAh power bank HOCO J101A - enough for several phone charges on a long trip. We described how to choose a capacity in the article about power banks for traveling around Georgia.
Thermal underwear set and thick raincoat - for mountains where the weather changes quickly.
Thermos ARDESTO 1 l - hot tea on the slope or on a long journey.

If the goods are in our warehouse, we will deliver them in Tbilisi in 2 hours - you will have time to get ready before leaving.

Briefly

From January 1, 2026, tourists need medical and accident insurance for the entire duration of the trip, with an insured amount of at least 30,000 GEL. Without it, entry may be denied.
A travel policy usually only covers emergency care. Chronic diseases, extreme sports and planned treatment are exceptions unless they are added separately.
An expat needs annual health insurance: the government program is designed for citizens.
For local residents, private insurance adds choice of clinics, routine care, medications and dentistry to the government plan.
Before purchasing, check the insurer's license, limits, deductible, waiting period and exclusions.

Categories

Insurance in Georgia: what tourists, expats and locals need and what they cover