So, I decided to plan my honeymoon in Georgia. I mean, I’d heard great things about the country – beautiful landscapes, delicious food, rich history. But let me tell you, dealing with their visa system was a nightmare I never saw coming, and I don’t want anyone else to go through this unprepared.
The first time I applied, I got rejected because I apparently entered my name incorrectly. Okay, fair enough, that was my bad. But here’s the kicker – their visa portal offers zero guidance on how they want names to be entered. No examples, no validation, nothing. Compare that to Azerbaijan, where they lay it all out for you, or the UK, with a full guide before you even start the application. Georgia’s portal? It just lets you mess up and then charges you to fix it.
On my second attempt, the rejection reason was so vague that I had no clue what needed fixing. So, I took my best guess and reapplied. Turns out, my guess was wrong. And still, no clarity from their end.
By the third try, I thought I had everything sorted. I submitted the same documents as my wife, whose application was approved. The bank statement was certified, unaltered, straight from the bank. But guess what? My rejection reason this time was that the bank statement was supposedly modified. It wasn’t. And here’s the kicker – my wife’s application was approved with the exact same statement.
Now, here’s where it gets really frustrating. The rejection email mentioned an appeal process that had to be done within 10 days using a form. But guess what? There was no form, no link, nothing on the portal. I emailed them, no reply. Called them, no answer. The appeal process exists on paper and nowhere else.
I’ve travelled to the UK, Turkey, Egypt, UAE – all with fewer documents, less drama, and got approved. But Georgia, a country that relies on tourism, is out here rejecting Indians on questionable grounds and keeping the fees. Their “Visit Georgia” marketing is a sham. The reality is a glitchy portal, no support, no appeal mechanism, and reasons for rejection that make no sense.
If you’re an Indian planning a trip to Georgia, do yourself a favor and head to Armenia instead. Visa on arrival, warm welcome, similar history and landscapes, and they actually want you there. Or try Azerbaijan – just their e-visa portal alone