EU Suspends Visa-Free Travel for Georgian Diplomats & Officials

Following a proposal from the Commission, the Council of the European Union has decided today, January 27, 2025, to partially suspend the visa facilitation agreement with Georgia, affecting diplomats and officials.

Under the partial suspension of the visa exemption agreement, Georgian diplomats and officials will no longer be eligible for visa-free travel to the EU. Instead, they will need to undergo the visa application procedures once the new rules enter into force, Schengen.News reports.

Once the visa requirements are introduced, in addition to being required to apply for a visa, Georgian diplomats and officials will also no longer be subject to facilitated rules. 

As explained in the decision of the Council, Georgian diplomats and officials will now have to undergo the regular application times, meaning that they will not benefit from shorter times. 

Moreover, this group of foreign nationals will also now be required to pay the full Schengen visa fee, and there is a possibility that they will also be asked to submit additional supporting documents.

These Persons Will Be Affected by EU Council’s Decision 
The visa facilitation agreement with Georgia will be suspended for three main categories. As explained by the EU Council, the following Georgian nationals will be affected by the decision: 

• Members of official Georgian delegations who participate in official meetings and events that are held within the territory of the EU by intergovernmental organisations. 
• Members of Georgian national and regional Governments and Parliaments and members of Georgia’s Constitutional Court and Supreme Court. 
• Holders of a Georgian diplomatic passport. 

On the other hand, Georgian nationals who hold ordinary passports will not be affected by this decision. Georgia’s ordinary passport holders will continue to benefit from the visa exemption agreement when travelling to the bloc for short stays. 

EU’s Decision Taken in Reaction to Repression 
The decision of the EU to suspend visa-free travel for Georgian diplomats and officials has been taken in reaction to the adoption of a law on transparency of foreign influence as well as a legislative package on family values and the protection of minors. 

The EU said that these legislations undermine the fundamental human rights of people who reside in Georgia. Moreover, the EY stressed that the actions that have been taken by Georgia breach the principles on which the visa exemption agreement was concluded.

Source: https://schengen.news/eu-suspends-visa-free-travel-for-georgian-diplomats-officials/