Division 2.1.1 Visa fee

The first subparagraph of Article 6(1) of the Agreement provides that:

‘1.

The fee for processing visa applications of citizens of Georgia shall amount to EUR 35.’.

In accordance with Article 6(1) of the Agreement, the fee for processing a visa application is 35 EUR. That fee applies to all Georgian visa applicants (including tourists) and concerns short-stay visas, irrespective of the number of entries.

Article 6(2) of the Agreement provides that:

‘2.

When Member States cooperate with an external service provider, an additional service may be charged. The service fee shall be proportionate to the costs incurred by the external service provider while performing his tasks and shall not exceed EUR 30. The Member State(s) concerned shall maintain the possibility for all applicants to lodge their applications directly at its/their consulates.’.

Regarding the modalities of the cooperation with external services providers, Article 43 of the Visa Code provides detailed information concerning their tasks.

Article 6(3) of the Agreement provides that:

‘3.

The fees for processing the visa application are waived for the following categories of citizens:

(a)

pensioners;

‘(b)

children below the age of 12;’ (N.B. In order to benefit from the fee waiver for this category, visa applicants must present evidence proving their age.);

‘(c)

members of national and regional governments and of Constitutional and Supreme courts, in case they are not exempted from the visa requirement by this Agreement;’ (N.B. In order to benefit from the fee waiver for this category, visa applicants must present evidence from the Georgian authorities proving their position.);

‘(d)

disabled persons and the persons accompanying them, if necessary;’ (N.B. In order to benefit from the fee waiver for this category, evidence should be provided that both visa applicants fall under this category.).

In order to benefit from the fee waiver for this category, visa applicants must present a ‘Georgian Disabled certificate’ (first or second degree) issued by the Georgian Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Affairs or a certificate issued by public or private hospitals or clinics. In cases where the disability of the visa applicants is obvious (blind persons, one leg missing) the visual recognition at the consular service is acceptable. In principle, no additional documents are required from accompanying persons.

In justified cases the visa application may be submitted by a representative or the guardian of the disabled person.

‘(e)

close relatives — spouse, children (including adopted), parents (including custodians), grandparents or grandchildren — who are visiting citizens of Georgia legally residing in the territory of the Member States;’.

Point (e) of Article 6(3) of the Agreement regulates the situation of Georgian close relatives travelling to the Member States to visit citizens of Georgia legally residing in the territory of the Member States.

‘(f)

members of official delegations who, following an official invitation addressed to Georgia, are to participate in meetings, consultations, negotiations or exchange programmes, as well as in events held in the territory of the Member States by intergovernmental organisations;

(g)

pupils, students, post-graduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake trips for the purposes of study or educational training, including exchange programmes as well as other school-related activities;

(h)

journalists and accredited persons accompanying them in a professional capacity;’ (N.B. In order to benefit from the fee waiver for this category, visa applicants must present evidence proving that they are members of professional journalistic or media organisations.);

‘(i)

participants in international sport events and persons accompanying them in a professional capacity;’ (N.B. Supporters will not be considered as accompanying persons.);

‘(j)

representatives of civil society organisations when undertaking trips for the purposes of educational training, seminars, conferences, including in the framework of exchange programmes;

(k)

persons participating in scientific, cultural or artistic activities including university and other exchange programmes;

(l)

persons who have presented documents proving the necessity of their travel on humanitarian grounds, including to receive urgent medical treatment and the person accompanying such person, or to attend a funeral of a close relative or to visit a seriously ill close relative.’.’ (N.B. In order to benefit from the fee waiver for this category, visa applicants must present evidence proving their pensioner status. The fee waiver is not justified in cases where the purpose of the journey is a paid activity.);

The fee is waived for the above-mentioned categories of persons. In addition, the fee is also waived in accordance with Article 16(4) of the Visa Code.

As stated in Article 16(6) of the Visa Code ‘in individual cases, the amount of the visa fee to be charged may be waived or reduced when to do so serves to promote cultural or sporting interests as well as interests in the field of foreign policy, development policy and other areas of vital public interest or for humanitarian reasons.’.

Article 16(7) of the Visa Code provides that the visa fee is to be charged in euro, in the national currency of the third country or in the currency usually used in the third country where the application is lodged, and is not refundable except in the case of an inadmissible application or if the consulate is not competent.

When the fee is charged in a currency other than in euro, the amount of the visa fee charged in that currency will be determined and regularly reviewed in application of the euro foreign exchange reference rate set by the European Central Bank. The amount charged may be rounded up and consulates will ensure under local Schengen cooperation that they charge similar fees.

In order to avoid discrepancies which could lead to visa shopping, diplomatic missions and consular services of the Member States in Georgia should ensure similar visa fees for all Georgian visa applicants when charged in foreign currencies.

Georgian visa applicants will be given a receipt for the visa fee paid in accordance with Article 16(8) of the Visa Code.