In March 2026, the European Commission announced the temporary suspension of visa-free travel for holders of Georgian diplomatic, service, and official passports. Under the new rules, they will be required to obtain a visa to enter the Schengen Area for official visits.
This decision is the first application of the strengthened EU Visa Suspension Mechanism and was adopted after the approval by the Member States. According to the European Commission, the measure is a response to the Georgian authorities’ continued failure to comply with the commitments undertaken as part of the visa liberalization process, particularly in the areas of democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights.
The reason for this restriction is the set of actions taken by the Georgian authorities after October 2024, including the repression of protesters, opposition representatives, and independent media. According to the Commission, these actions are inconsistent with the principles on which the EU-Georgia visa-free regime is based.
The temporary measure will remain in force until 6 March 2027. If the concerns related to governance and the rule of law are not addressed effectively, the European Commission may extend the duration of the measure or even broaden the restrictions to apply to all Georgian citizens.
