EU visa-free travel begins for Georgian citizens

By Davit Kachkachishvili

TBILISI, Georgia (AA) - A visa-free travel deal for Georgian citizens entering Europe’s Schengen zone started Tuesday.

Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, along with ministers, students and reporters, traveled to the Greek capital Athens for the first time without a visa.

Before departing from Tbilisi International Airport, Kvirikashvili said: "As of today, visa-free travel for Georgian citizens to Schengen area officially started.

“This is a great success. Visa-free travel will provide Georgian citizens with an opportunity to get to know the EU better."

Kvirikashvili said after Athens, they will travel to Brussels.

"Full integration with the EU is our ultimate goal," he added.

Citizens of Georgia with biometric passports will be able to travel without a visa for business, tourism or family visits, for up to 90 days in the destination country.

The United Kingdom and Ireland will not be included in the deal as they are non-Schengen nations.

However, non-EU member countries Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are included.