How to apply for E-Visa for Georgia - step-by-step guide and tips - To travel is to live!

Georgia, a transcontinental (generally considered as Europe) country, is getting popular amongst world travelers. Unlike the other expensive European countries, you can feel the European charm in a relatively economical way. To visit Georgia, you must apply for a Visa depending on your nationality. You can check your country's eligibility using Georgia's current visa policy.

Although the e-visa application is easy, Georgia has recently rejected many e-visa applications. The MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) of Georgia rejected my and my father-in-law's visa application, and we had to reapply. The MFA, of course, gave us the reason for the same, which I will explain in the relevant step below under the heading - "rejection reason."

Good to know: You need not attach air tickets, and hotel reservations, etc. in the e-visa application. And, the visa validity is 90 days. So, you have the flexibility to plan your visit to Georgia.

Good to know: There is no provision to apply for an urgent e-visa for Georgia like you can get, for example, an urgent e-visa for Azerbaijan, Dubai, etc.

Steps to apply for e-visa for Georgia

1. Fill in the basic details

Once you are on the official electronic visa portal, start by filling up the basic details - your nationality, type of passport (ordinary, diplomatic, refugee, etc.), check the travel insurance box, the purpose of the visit, and the verification code.

That of course, is no rocket science. But, my over-confidence put me in the soup.

Rejection reason: Well, my e-visa got rejected because of that very first page. I mistakenly skipped to check the box stating that I have valid travel insurance. So, make sure to double-check that before going to the next page. Leaving the checkbox unticked is not very uncommon.

After clicking next, you will get the list of necessary documents as a pop-up. Keep your passport and photos (as per the given configurations), handy to upload.

2. Fill in the intended date of arrival in Georgia

The selection of the intended arrival date in Georgia would decide the starting date of e-visa validity. Please note that the visa is valid for 120 days. However, your stay in the country cannot exceed 30 days. So, you can travel to Georgia anytime for a maximum of 30 days which falls in the validity period of the e-visa.

Also, it is a multiple-entry visa meaning you can enter the borders of Georgia multiple times during the visa validity period.

Good to know: Apply for the e-visa at least 10-15 days before the departure date. So, in case your e-visa gets rejected, you will still have an option to reapply.

4. Read the terms and conditions carefully

Once you click continue, you will be redirected to the next page of the application, and tick whatever applies to you. In most cases, you will have to tick all the checkboxes.

5. Fill in the personal details carefully

Fill in the final page of the e-visa application. Scan your passport neatly, and save it in a single PDF. I used the Android application Cam Scanner to do the same. While uploading the photos, do note the configuration required (check the details in the photos below).

A smart way of doing that is using a mobile application called passport photo editor. The application edits your passport photo as per the requirements of different countries.

Good to know: Do put the email address that you have access to, as you will be getting all the notifications via email.

6. Verify and make the payment

After you click complete application, you will receive an email to verify your email address. You should complete the verification process within 1 hour of receiving the email, otherwise, the e-visa application will get canceled.

Moreover, pay within 5 hours after you perform e-mail verification.

In the email, click Approve, and pay the fee. To make the payment, ensure you have enabled online international transactions on your credit card.

6. Visit the link received in the email to complete the e-visa application

Once the email payment is made, you will get an email confirming the payment. In the same email, you will get a link that will direct you to complete the e-visa application through DuVerify (a software for embassies).

You are required to complete the final application within 24 hours of receiving the link.

7. Get ready for the real drill

Now, why do I call this step a drill? That is because you have to be ready with as many documents as possible in this step. Although many documents are optional, the more you provide, the better the chances for the MFA of Georgia to be satisfied that you intend to return to your home country.

Good to know: The DuVerify fee for a Georgia visa is $15 per applicant, which you will be asked to pay later.

At the time of writing this, I already have the e-visa for Georgia, so I won't be able to share the screenshots of the DuVerify form. However, I am providing some important pointers below.

1. The form will ask about the details of the people accompanying you. Do not skip that out of laziness. This step helps the MFA to scan the application as a group. So, this might or might not help. Irrespective, fill in all the details.

2. Upload the bank statement for the last 6 months. To save time here, choose to upload the bank statement that you receive from your bank via email rather than the one you download from the Netbanking platform. Please insert the password, if any, required to open the pdf. It is safe to do so.

3. Make sure the bank statement contains your name as mentioned in the passport. No spelling mistakes, please.

Rejection reason: My father-in-law uploaded his proprietory firm's bank account assuming that it is okay since that is his primary bank account, and thus has sufficient funds. His visa was, of course, rejected as the bank statement did not have his legal name (as per the passport). He then reapplied putting my spouse as his sponsor.

4. Although there are no limit values provided about the funds one must have in their bank account, I would still advise to keeping a decent average amount in the bank. If you are doubtful, do not hesitate to declare one of your parents or spouse, as your sponsor. In this case, you will need to upload the sponsor's bank statement and a document (passport, marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.) that establishes your relationship with the sponsor.

5. Although optional, upload the visas for the countries they ask for. Again, I guess it gives credibility that you are most likely visiting Georgia for tourism just like you have traveled to other countries. That is my guess!

6. Lastly, upload as many documents as you can. Again, these documents might act as supporting documents for your e-visa application.

7. Do upload your national ID like your Aadhar card and PAN card number even when it is optional. You might have a hard time uploading them but try for at least 4-5 times before you skip uploading them.

Good to know: The best part is that if you get stuck anywhere on this form, you can chat with DuVerify in the chat box on the bottom right of the page. The team will do its best to resolve your queries. For example, I tried uploading my Aadhar and PAN card numbers several times but failed. They then asked me to skip that part as it was optional. The team then suggested I upload as many documents as possible towards the end to keep my application strong.

8. Sit back and wait for the outcome

Once the payment of $15 is made to DuVerify, you will get a message saying that the authority shall let you know within 5 working days if your visa has been approved or rejected. You cannot count Saturdays and Sundays here.

That's about it. Do fill out the e-visa application yourself as the process is not that tricky. If you get it done by an agency, you end up paying around $50-$70.

Good to know: You never know what document may be asked for at the immigration counter of the country you are visiting. But, here are some documents that you should always carry (hard or soft copies) - all travel tickets whether plane or train, valid visa, passport, hotel booking confirmation, and travel insurance.

9. Register with your country's embassy in the country that you are visiting

Registering with your country's embassy or consulate before traveling to a foreign country is generally a good idea, especially if you are planning to travel to a destination having a higher risk level due to political instability, natural disasters, or other potential hazards.

While it's not always mandatory to register with your embassy before traveling, it is a precautionary measure that can provide you with added security and support while you are in a foreign country.

I hope this post helped you. I have tried to make it as comprehensive as possible. Do you have any questions about applying for e-visa for Georgia? Please leave a comment below and I'll try my best to help out.