Expat insurance and health insurance in Georgia

Georgia introduced a universal health cover programme (Universal Healthcare Programme) in 2013, funded by general tax revenue and administered by the public social service agency, with no contribution from the beneficiary. This programme covers, among other things, primary care and part of secondary care, a limited number of essential medicines, planned outpatient care, emergencies, certain surgical procedures, cancer treatment and childbirth. Its rollout has extended public cover to the entire resident population.

Despite this expansion, household out-of-pocket payments remain high: 58.76% of current health expenditure in 2023, according to the World Bank. This level is explained in particular by a limited covered-care basket, annual cover caps and co-payments that leave a significant share of specialist, medicine and dental care costs to the patient, whether a Georgian citizen or a foreign resident.

The private sector, concentrated in Tbilisi, remains the reference for expatriates: the main private hospital networks (Evex Hospitals, Georgia Healthcare Group) and facilities meeting international standards have developed in response to the limitations of the public system, at the patient’s or their international health insurer’s expense.

Notable change since 1 January 2026: every foreign visitor must now present, to enter Georgian territory, health and accident insurance valid for the length of the stay, written in English or Georgian, guaranteeing a minimum cover of 30,000 GEL (about 9,500 €), according to France Diplomatie.

• No visa required for a stay not exceeding 365 consecutive days, on presentation of a valid passport or national identity card valid for the entire intended length of stay.
• Mandatory health and accident insurance on entry, since 1 January 2026: every foreign visitor must present the border authorities with a policy written in English or Georgian guaranteeing a minimum cover of 30,000 GEL (about 9,500 €), failing which entry may be refused.
• No European Health Insurance Card: as Georgia is a member of neither the European Union nor the European Economic Area, the EHIC does not apply there, regardless of the length of stay.
• Stay of more than one year: according to France Diplomatie, this requires obtaining a long-stay visa, then a residence permit from the Public Service Development Agency.
• Affiliation with the universal health cover programme: reserved for Georgian citizens and residents; the terms of access for a foreign resident settled long-term are not uniformly detailed publicly and must be checked with the employer or local authorities.
• Seconded employee: in the absence of a France-Georgia agreement, staying on the French scheme is governed solely by French law (unilateral secondment), for a period of 3 years renewable once, without exemption from any contributions due in Georgia.

Outside cover by the universal health programme and outside private insurance, care is billed at the full rate by the facility, public or private, not uniformly disclosed publicly; the risk remains primarily financial, with no help from the French embassy for medical costs.

France and Georgia are not linked by any bilateral social security agreement: CLEISS classifies Georgia among the countries appearing neither on the list of states where EU regulations apply, nor on the list of states that have concluded a bilateral agreement with France. There is therefore neither a European Health Insurance Card, nor a form A1 or S1 enforceable against Georgian authorities, nor any direct reimbursement mechanism between the two systems.

• Temporary stay: no European or bilateral coordination applies; health/accident insurance covering at least 30,000 GEL has been required on entry since 1 January 2026, and CLEISS also recommends requesting reimbursement of unexpected care from your French fund on return, within the limits of French rates.
• Secondment from France: in the absence of an agreement, French law provides for unilateral secondment for 3 years, renewable once. The employee remains affiliated with the French scheme, with contributions paid in France, but without exemption from any contributions due in Georgia. Care received locally is reimbursed after the fact by the French fund, within the limits of French rates, on presentation of receipts and form S3125.
• Long-term move: affiliation with the universal health cover programme depends on residence status in Georgia; no transfer of entitlements from France is provided for, including for retirees.
• Retiree: no coordination mechanism allows entitlements acquired in France to be claimed; international health insurance remains necessary, as the precise terms of access to the Georgian programme for this category are not uniformly disclosed.

1. Before departure: notify French agencies of your departure (CPAM, CAF, France Travail, pension funds).
2. Before departure: take out health/accident insurance written in English or Georgian, guaranteeing at least 30,000 GEL of cover — mandatory for entry since 1 January 2026.
3. Keep the insurance certificate in a form presentable at border control, in addition to a valid passport or national identity card.
4. Seconded employee: arrange the unilateral secondment with the employer through your French fund before departure (maximum duration 3 years, renewable once).
5. For a stay of more than one year: plan ahead for the long-stay visa application, then the residence permit.
6. Locally employed worker or long-term resident: check with the employer or local authorities on the terms of affiliation with the universal health cover programme.
7. Keep receipts for care and form S3125 for any after-the-fact reimbursement request to the French fund (secondment case).
8. Register with the roll of French nationals living abroad (French embassy in Tbilisi).