EU suspends visa-free travel for Georgian diplomatic passport holders

The European Commission has suspended visa-free travel for holders of Georgian diplomatic, service and official passports entering the Schengen Area.

Under the decision, Georgian officials traveling for diplomatic or official purposes will now need to obtain a visa before entering Schengen countries. The measure is the first use of the European Union’s reinforced visa suspension mechanism, following approval by EU member states.

The Commission stated that the suspension was triggered by what it described as Georgia’s ‘deliberate and persisting violation’ of commitments made under the country’s visa-free regime, particularly in the areas of democracy and fundamental rights.

The Commission stated that actions taken by the Georgian authorities since October 2024,  including measures against protesters, opposition politicians and independent media, have negatively affected the political and human rights environment in Georgia.

The statement also mentioned that Georgia has not aligned its policies with the EU’s visa policy which Brussels considers an essential condition for maintaining visa-free travel arrangements.

Alongside the suspension, the Commission issued new guidelines recommending stricter checks for Georgian nationals entering the EU.