EU visa liberalization with Georgia is just around the corner
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Last March 9th, the European Commission published a formal proposal aiming at adding Georgia to the list of countries that do not require a visa to enter the Schengen area. It is only a matter of months now before Council and Parliament sign the regulation into law and visa-free travel for Georgians becomes reality.
The adoption by the Commission of the fourth and last Georgian progress report on the Visa Liberalization Action Plan (VLAP), was received with great joy and happiness on the other side of the Black Sea. Many Georgian monuments were illuminated with the European flag on December 18th the day the report was signed, as a way to show the country’s appreciation for this next big step in EU-Georgian relations.
Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister at that time, declared “Today is a historic day for all Georgians. Today Georgia took a step forward on its path to European integration, a step which will define our future in the European family of nations." Here is what this is going to change for Georgians.
Lighter procedures, lighter costs & less time wasted
The visa liberalization initiative aims at facilitating exchanges between Georgia and the Schengen area. Only a fraction of those visa procedures will be removed though, namely the short-term visas, also called ‘category C visas’, which apply to stays under 90 days, within a 180 day period.
Until today, a Georgian national who wants to enter the Schengen area for less than three months must apply to this category C visa when travelling, for instance on vacations or for educational purposes. Employment or family reunification are not covered by this type of visa, even for short stays.
Conditions for obtaining these visas prove to be a heavy burden for Georgians in terms of time and money spent. Keti, currently trainee in Brussels, tells us about her experience: "Application needs to take place several months in advance, up to 4 in very touristic seasons, even though embassies tend to schedule your appointment around 2 weeks before departure. Which means that if you don’t want to take the risk of paying your flight while you still don’t have a visa, you pay exorbitant fees for booking them last minute.”
But that’s not it. The costs stack up fast, adding to the price of the visa itself, around 100 euros, the price of the official – and mandatory- translation of all documents, and the costs linked to the transfer of the applicant’s documents to the competent authority.
Indeed, because not all Schengen countries have a representation in Georgia, some of them delegate their services. Keti for example had to send her passport to Ankara “because there is no Belgian embassy in Georgia. And Category D visa applications are ‘outsourced’ to the Dutch embassy. I spent enormous amounts of time and money on postal services and overcharged phone calls.”
On top of that, the amount of documents that needs to be provided is also burdensome and discourages Georgians from travelling spontaneously to Europe: special travel insurance policy, evidence that you really are on vacations during the stated travel dates, proof of sufficient resources going from 3 to 5 thousand euros depending on your status…
Thus, visa liberalization is a very welcomed simplification as none of this will be required anymore. Georgians will be able to freely enter the Schengen area, under two conditions: having a biometric passport and being able to prove – as any tourist- that they have sufficient means for the duration of their stay. 
An important step forward for EU-Georgian relationship
One thing’s certain: Georgians are extremely happy with this EU decision. Positive reactions could be noticed from all kinds of actors concerned, ranging from the national government, to the social media, and expats; like Teona, also working in Brussels: “I think visa free travel has been the wish of every Georgian for his/her new year’s eve” she says. “The visa liberalization is considered as the recognition of Georgia’s democratic reforms and achievements. That makes us believe that we are on good track for further advancements.”
Indeed, visa liberalization was conditional to profound reforms revolving around four blocks: document security including biometrics, integrated border management, migration, asylum, public order and security; and external relations and fundamental rights.
“It is definitely seen as a huge break-through and important step”, Keti comments. Such liberalization will strengthen economic ties, particularly in the context of the current implementation of the Deep & Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) between the EU and Georgia. But cultural ties will also be fostered. “This is a great opportunity to for us to reveal all our cultural richness to Europe.” adds Teona. Visa liberalization is only the first step towards a closer bond of many more to come, the state having “engaged a 100% with the EU under the pain of all the complications with Russia”, according to Keti. “Further steps will include further market access for Georgian businesses and some more political and social approximations. Maybe even finding an innovative way to give Georgia more than a mere Eastern Partnership country status? ”
Only time will tell, but this first step is certainly heading towards the right direction of someday getting there.