The European Union has signed deals with Georgia, simplifying the visa
regime and readmission. Both documents will come into force on March
1, Trend cites an EU communique.
Talks between the EU and Georgia on the issue started in 2008. They
were concluded in the first half of 2010. An agreement was signed in
June. The European Parliament approved the deal in December 2010.
The new agreements will simplify issuing of short-term visas for
Georgian citizens. The visas will allow a 90-day stay and have a
180-day validity period. EU citizens were released from the need to be
issued visas when visiting Georgia in 2006.
The agreements also simplify the visa procedure for businessmen,
scientists, students, journalists and Georgians visiting their
relatives living in EU countries. Some categories of people will be
provided with multi-visit long-term visas. Diplomatic staff require no
visas.
According to the deal, visas will be issued within 10 days. The price
for visas dropped from 60 to 35 euros for all Georgian citizens.
Pensioners, children under 12, the disabled, scientists, students,
journalists and people visiting their Georgian relatives living in EU
countries are free from paying any visa charges.
National visas are still needed for Georgians visiting the UK and
Ireland, as they are not taking part in this agreement.
