The European Union has suspended visa-free travel in Europe for diplomats and officials from Georgia for at least a year over democratic backsliding and the crackdown on anti-government protesters.
In a statement, the European Commission disclosed that the decision 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, already enforced by 19 EU Member States.
The decision under the revised visa suspension mechanism reimposes the visa requirement for holders of diplomatic, service and official passports at EU level (for stays of up to 90 days in any 180 day period), while ensuring that bilateral visa exemptions for these groups are no longer possible.
The suspension takes the form of a Commission Implementing Regulation and received a positive opinion from Member States in February 2026, as per the comitology procedure.
The revised visa suspension mechanism, which entered into force in December 2025, provides the EU with stronger, faster tools to respond to abuses of visa-free travel, security risks, and fundamental rights backsliding.
Stating its reason, the European Commission said that it had suspended official travel “in response to Georgia’s deliberate and persisting violation of the commitments taken under its visa-free regime in key areas of democracy and fundamental rights.”
Those violations include a “crackdown on protesters, opposition politicians, and independent media,” which have “resulted in breaches of several fundamental rights and international legal standards.”
Protests and political unrest have rocked Georgia since the ruling Georgian Dream party halted talks on joining the EU in November 2024, despite it being a goal for many Georgians enshrined in the country’s constitution.
The move triggered waves of protests that have been met with mass arrests and police violence. It came after the longtime ruling party declared victory in a parliamentary election the opposition said was rigged. EU Foreign Policy Chief, Kaja Kallas said in a statement, “If a government attacks its own people, silences journalists, and curtails freedom, there are consequences.”
Georgia has also refused to align with the EU visa policy, which is an essential condition of maintaining visa-free travel. The Commission considers that the actions of Georgian authorities undermine the principles on which visa liberalisation is based.
Due to the visa suspension, Georgian Diplomats and officials are now required to be in possession of a visa when entering the Schengen area for official purposes.
Visa-free Travel Suspension To Last A Year
Moreover, the EU’s Executive branch said that visa-free travel would be suspended until March 6, 2027, but that this could be extended by a further two years if the Georgian authorities fail to address the governance and rule of law issues.
The Commission can also decide to extend the measure to all Georgian citizens. During this time, it is up to the Georgian authorities to redress the situation. “The Commission strongly encourages Georgian authorities to engage constructively in this process,” the statement said.
The commission also advised European governments to closely scrutinize all Georgian nationals entering Europe. It warned that officials and diplomats who try to cross with personal passports rather than official documents could face an entry ban.
In addition, the Commission adopted guidelines for Member States’ consulate authorities and border guards, to support Member States in an effective implementation of the decision to suspend visa-free travel.
The guidelines recommend heightened scrutiny of all Georgian nationals crossing the EU’s external borders: representatives of Georgian authorities have to use their diplomatic or service passport when travelling to the EU for official and diplomatic purposes. “The people of Georgia have our full support but there is no place for those representing repression in our union,” Kallas said.
The statement asserted that member states should also ensure that all Georgian nationals are checked against national and European databases, such as the Visa Information System, Schengen Information System, and other public databases. “The Entry/Exit System, which is being gradually rolled out in the EU since October last year, provides for an additional layer of security screening,” it noted.
In addition, the European Commission instructed that when holders of Georgian diplomatic, service, and official passports apply for a Schengen visa, member states are encouraged to carry out a thorough screening, conducting an interview and requesting supporting documents from these applicants.
It said that member states should refuse visas in case of any doubts about the reliability of the information provided by the applicants.
READ ALSO: Strait of Hormuz Closure Strands Oil Tankers, Threatens Energy Security
