The straightforward answer: yes, absolutely—not optionally but legally mandated as of January 1, 2026. Georgia enacted new Government Regulation No. 602 (“On approval of the rules and conditions of mandatory health and accident insurance for tourists entering Georgia”) requiring all foreign visitors to present valid medical and accident insurance meeting minimum coverage requirements at border crossings, airports, and land borders. This represents a material shift from the previous voluntary-recommendation framework to mandatory legal requirement enforced at entry points.
The Legal Requirement: What Changed January 1, 2026
Effective January 1, 2026, Georgia’s new mandatory insurance law requires all foreign citizens entering Georgia to hold health and accident insurance as a prerequisite for entry—previously optional but now universally enforced at all entry points (airports, land borders). The regulation applies regardless of nationality, visa-free status, or trip duration.
Specific coverage requirements:
- Minimum coverage: 30,000 GEL (approximately $11,000 USD) for medical treatment and hospitalization
- Alternative structure: Some sources specify minimum 5,000 GEL for emergency outpatient care + 30,000 GEL for inpatient care
- Coverage scope: Health insurance AND accident insurance (both required)
- Valid format: Digital (email, smartphone display) or printed policy in English or Georgian
- Duration: Must cover the entire stay (arrival through departure days)
What Georgia’s law covers:
✓ Emergency medical assistance (including ambulance services)
✓ Emergency outpatient treatment
✓ Emergency inpatient/hospital treatment
✓ Emergency dental services
✓ Medical evacuation
✓ Repatriation in case of death
✓ Accident insurance (death/permanent disability)
Verification process: Border agents may request proof of valid coverage at airport immigration or land border crossing. The policy must clearly show your personal details, coverage dates, and minimum coverage amounts.
Primary Insurance Options for Georgia 2026
Option 1: Georgian-Issued Mandatory Insurance
Aldagi Visitors Travel Insurance (Georgian insurer, specifically designed for Georgia compliance):
- Coverage: Up to 30,000 GEL (meets Georgian requirement)
- Includes: Emergency medical, dental, evacuation, repatriation, accident coverage
- Flexibility: Deductible or non-deductible options
- Duration: 3-365 days
- Activation: Effective upon crossing Georgian border (if purchased before entry)
- Support: 24/7 call center support
- Format: Digital policy by email or printed
- Cost: Not specified in research (typically budget-friendly for mandatory requirement)
- Advantage: Explicitly designed for Georgia’s legal requirement; issued by Georgian insurer recognized by authorities
GPI Holding Policy Tourist (Georgian insurer):
- Coverage: Up to 100,000 GEL (exceeds minimum requirement)
- Network: 100% cashless treatment at provider clinics throughout Georgia
- Duration: 3-365 days
- Includes: Emergency medical, dental, evacuation, repatriation
- Advantage: Extensive provider network (100% cashless treatment)
Option 2: International Travel Insurance with Georgian Coverage
SafetyWing Nomad Insurance (subscription-based, worldwide):
- Coverage: Emergency medical treatment, hospitalization, accident, evacuation, repatriation
- Structure: Monthly subscription (automatically renews)
- Duration: Month-to-month flexibility
- Advantage: Continuous coverage; useful for extended stays or multi-country travel
- Caveat: Subscription status must remain active and demonstrable to border authorities
AXA Schengen/European Travel Insurance (international carrier):
- Basic plan: €4.90/day (decreases with longer duration: €1.05/day at 180 days)
- Essential plan: €8.90/day
- Coverage: €30,000-€50,000 medical expenses, repatriation
- Advantage: Established international carrier; comprehensive coverage beyond Georgia minimum
World Nomads Epic Plan (adventure travel specialist):
- Hiking coverage: Includes glacier walking and ice climbing (up to 8,000m elevation)
- Trekking coverage: Covers high-altitude trekking (with altitude sickness inclusion)
- Includes: Emergency medical evacuation (can cost $100,000+), repatriation
- Advantage: Specifically designed for adventure activities (critical for Georgia hiking)
Special Consideration: Adventure Activities (Hiking/Trekking)
Critical gap in mandatory Georgian insurance: While Aldagi and GPI Holding policies satisfy Georgia’s legal entry requirement, many standard travel insurance policies explicitly exclude or limit coverage for adventure activities like hiking, trekking, and mountaineering.
Common adventure exclusions in standard policies:
- ❌ Hiking/trekking above certain altitudes (commonly 3,000m-4,000m without adventure rider)
- ❌ High-altitude mountaineering requiring ropes, guides, or technical equipment
- ❌ Skiing, mountaineering, extreme sports without specific adventure add-on
- ❌ High-altitude-related illness (altitude sickness, cerebral edema)
- ❌ Search and rescue operations in remote areas
Georgia-specific implications: Popular Georgia activities (Gergeti Church hike, Kazbegi glacier, Svaneti trekking, Omalo-Shatili 6-day trek) fall within standard hiking/trekking parameters that may not be covered by basic mandatory insurance.
Solutions:
- Purchase adventure rider: Add 5-10% premium for adventure/trekking coverage
- Use adventure-specialist insurance: World Nomads, SafetyWing, or similar include adventure activities
- Verify elevation limits: Confirm policy covers your intended activities (most Georgian hikes under 3,500m)
- Confirm evacuation coverage: Confirm emergency evacuation (helicopter rescue can cost $50,000-$150,000+)
Honest assessment: For Georgia’s most popular activities (day hikes to Gergeti Church, Kakheti wine region trekking, casual hiking), standard policies generally provide adequate coverage IF explicitly listed as “hiking” or “trekking” without adventurous restriction language. Extended multi-day mountaineering treks (Omalo-Shatili) warrant adventure-specialist insurance.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: Is Georgia Travel Insurance Worth It?
For short trips (3-7 days):
- Mandatory cost: 15-40 GEL (~$5-15) for basic mandatory coverage via Aldagi/GPI Holding
- Comprehensive cost: $20-50 international policy
- Medical emergency cost if uninsured: $500-$5,000+ for routine emergency room visit; $50,000-$200,000+ for medical evacuation from remote areas
- Verdict: Absolutely worth it; minimal cost relative to catastrophic risk
For extended stays (30+ days):
- Monthly mandatory coverage: ~50-100 GEL (~$18-37)
- Annual international policy: $130-350
- Multi-month trip cost: Using international policy significantly cheaper than monthly Georgian renewal
- Verdict: International annual policy provides better value
For adventure-heavy trips (multi-day trekking, mountaineering):
- Adventure rider cost: $15-50 additional premium
- Medical evacuation without coverage: $100,000-$500,000+
- Verdict: Non-negotiable investment
Recommended Insurance Selection by Traveler Profile
Budget travelers (3-7 day city trips):
→ Aldagi Visitors Insurance or GPI Policy Tourist
- Minimal cost (10-40 GEL / $4-15)
- Satisfies Georgia’s legal requirement
- Covers basic emergencies
- Cost: ~$30 for week
Adventure-focused travelers (hiking, trekking, mountaineering):
→ World Nomads Epic Plan or SafetyWing Nomad Insurance
- Covers trekking/mountaineering specifically
- Includes high-altitude activities
- Emergency evacuation (helicopter rescue if needed)
- Cost: $40-80 for week; cheaper for longer duration
Extended stays (2+ months):
→ Annual international travel insurance (AXA, World Nomads annual plans)
- Better per-day value
- Covers multiple trips
- More comprehensive than mandatory minimums
- Cost: $130-350/year
Luxury/business travelers:
→ Premium international carrier (AXA Essential, international carriers)
- Comprehensive medical ($50,000+)
- Family assistance
- Lost document support
- Higher service standards
- Cost: $50-100+/week
Critical Policy Verification Checklist
Before purchasing, verify your chosen policy:
Legal requirement compliance:
- Covers minimum 30,000 GEL medical + accident insurance
- Valid for entire Georgia stay duration
- Issued by recognized Georgian or foreign insurer
- Can be presented digitally or printed in English/Georgian
Coverage scope:
- Emergency medical treatment included
- Accident coverage included
- Evacuation/repatriation included
- Dental emergency covered
- Death repatriation covered
Adventure activities (if relevant):
- Hiking/trekking explicitly covered
- Altitude limits specified (confirm >3,000m if needed)
- Mountaineering coverage if attempted
- Emergency evacuation coverage
- Search and rescue costs included
Practical requirements:
- 24/7 support line available
- English-language customer service
- Claims process documented
- Provider network adequate or cashless treatment
Honest Assessment: Final Verdict
Travel insurance for Georgia in 2026 is non-optional—legally mandatory, not aspirational choice. Beyond legal requirement, insurance provides catastrophic risk protection: routine emergency room visits cost $500-$2,000; medical evacuation from mountains can exceed $100,000-$500,000+. The $30-50 weekly cost for basic mandatory coverage represents trivial insurance premium relative to potential medical expense exposure.
For adventure-focused travelers specifically: Standard mandatory insurance proves insufficient; adventure-specialist coverage ($15-50 additional) becomes essential investment, not optional add-on. Emergency evacuation from remote hiking locations routinely costs $50,000-$200,000+ without coverage.
Strategic recommendation: Purchase mandatory coverage before arrival (Aldagi or GPI if budget-focused), but simultaneously verify adventure-activity inclusion if trekking/mountaineering planned. Upgrade to adventure-specialist insurance ($40-80 total) if any multi-day hiking, mountaineering, or high-altitude activities constitute trip components—the modest premium differential eliminates catastrophic financial risk exposure.