The European Commission has announced the suspension of visa-free travel for Georgian holders of diplomatic, service, and official passports, requiring them to obtain a visa to
enter the Schengen area for official purposes. This marks the first use of the EU’s new reinforced Visa Suspension Mechanism, approved by Member States.
The decision comes in response to Georgia’s ongoing violations of commitments tied to its visa-free regime, particularly in the areas of democracy and fundamental rights.
“Visa liberalisation is intended to strengthen people-to-people connections and uphold shared values, including respect for human rights and democratic principles,” the Commission said. “The actions of Georgian authorities since October 2024, including crackdowns on protesters, opposition figures, and independent media, have breached several fundamental rights and international legal standards.”
Georgia has also failed to align with EU visa policies, a key requirement for maintaining visa-free access. The Commission noted that such conduct undermines the very principles on which visa liberalisation is based.
Implementation and guidelines
To ensure effective enforcement, the Commission has issued guidelines for EU consulates and border authorities. Georgian officials traveling to the EU must use their diplomatic or service passports, and failure to do so may result in an entry ban.
Member States are instructed to rigorously check Georgian travelers against national and European security databases, including the Visa Information System, Schengen Information System, and the EU Entry/Exit System, which was gradually rolled out starting October 2025.
When applying for a Schengen visa, holders of Georgian diplomatic, service, and official passports may face in-depth screening, including interviews and requests for supporting documentation. Visa applications may be refused if authorities have doubts about the applicant’s information.
Duration and next steps
The suspension is effective immediately and will remain in place for 12 months, until 6 March 2027. If Georgia does not address governance and rule-of-law concerns, the Commission may extend the suspension for up to 24 months, and could potentially apply it to all Georgian citizens.
The guidelines will be presented to Member States at the Council of the EU on 27 March during the ‘Visa Working Party’ meeting. The Commission will closely monitor implementation in cooperation with Member States.
Background
This move follows the suspension of the EU-Georgia Visa Facilitation Agreement, proposed by the Commission in December 2024 and adopted by the Council in January 2025, which is already enforced by 19 EU countries.
Under the revised visa suspension mechanism, which came into force in December 2025, the EU can more quickly respond to violations of visa-free travel rules, security risks, and backsliding on fundamental rights. The regulation reimposes visa requirements for Georgian officials for stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period, ensuring bilateral exemptions are no longer possible. Photo by Georgian patriot, Wikimedia commons.