Before you start

Travel/medical insurance (mandatory on entry from Jan 1, 2026, min GEL 30,000)
Passport

Step-by-step

1
Arrange insurance that meets the new entry rule
From January 1, 2026, all visitors must hold travel medical insurance with at least GEL 30,000 (~US$11,000) coverage to enter Georgia (Regulation No. 602). Nomad policies like SafetyWing (~US$56 per 4 weeks) meet this. For longer stays, local insurers GPI, ARDI and Aldagi offer annual private health plans for roughly GEL 500-900/year. Foreigners cannot use the public UHC system, so private cover is essential, not optional.
OnlineWho: All foreignersBefore arrivalSafetyWing ~US$56/4wks; local annual plan GEL 500-900
2
Register with an English-speaking private clinic
AMC (American Medical Centers) Tbilisi is the go-to English-first clinic (24/7 line 0322 500 020). Other strong options: the American Hospital Tbilisi (JCI-accredited), Ingorokva High Medical Technology Center, Evex clinics, New Hospitals, MediClubGeorgia and IMSS. Walk-ins are common; a GP consult runs GEL 50-70 and a specialist GEL 60-100 — often cheaper than the co-pay back home.
In personWho: AllSame-day appointments commonGP GEL 50-70; specialist GEL 60-100
3
Use pharmacies for quick, cheap care
Pharmacy chains GPC, PSP and Aversi are everywhere, many open 24 hours, and prescription rules are loose — pharmacists can advise and dispense a wide range of medication without a doctor's note. Most common drugs are inexpensive. Keep the name of your regular medication's active ingredient handy, as brand names differ.
In personWho: AllImmediateMost common medications GEL 5-30
4
Know the emergency number and consider dental tourism
Dial 112 for any emergency (ambulance, police, fire); operators speak English. Ambulances are dispatched free for genuine emergencies. As a bonus, Georgia is a value destination for dental and elective work — implants run roughly US$400-900 versus several times that in Western Europe or the US, which draws medical tourists to Tbilisi.
In personWho: AllImmediate (112)Emergency 112 free; dental implants ~US$400-900

Documents you’ll need

Travel/medical insurance certificate (min GEL 30,000 — mandatory entry from Jan 1, 2026)
Passport
List of current medications (active ingredients)

Things most newcomers don’t know

The Jan 1, 2026 mandatory-insurance rule is new and enforceable at the border — carry proof of a policy with at least GEL 30,000 cover or risk being refused entry.

Georgia introduced Regulation No. 602 to ensure visitors can pay for care, since they're not in the public system.

Source: Government of Georgia Reg. No. 602

Private care is high-quality and remarkably cheap — many nomads simply pay out of pocket for routine visits (GEL 50-70) and keep insurance only for emergencies and hospitalisation.

Low costs make catastrophic-only insurance plus cash for routine care a rational strategy.

Source: AMC Tbilisi

Pharmacies are a first line of care: loose prescription rules and 24-hour branches mean you can often resolve minor issues without a doctor.

Georgia's pharmacy regulation is far lighter than Western Europe's.

Common mistakes to avoid

Arriving without the now-mandatory entry insurance (Jan 1, 2026) — it can mean refused entry
Assuming Georgia's Universal Healthcare covers you — it explicitly does not cover foreigners
Not knowing the active ingredient of your medication — brand names differ and pharmacists work from the generic name
Relying on public ER quality for serious issues — use the private hospitals (American Hospital, Ingorokva) for anything major