Official language is Georgian. Russian, English, German and French are also spoken, along with Armenian and various regional languages such as Ossetian (South Ossetia), Abkharian and Assyrian.
Public Holidays
01/01/2022 New Year
01/07/2022 Orthodox Christmas holiday
01/19/2022 Orthodox Feast of the Epiphany
03/03/2022 Mother’s Day
03/08/2022 International Women’s Day
04/09/2022 National Unity Day
04/24/2022 Orthodox Easter Sunday
04/25/2022 Orthodox Easter Monday
05/09/2022 day of the victory
05/26/2022 Independence Day
08/28/2022 Mariamoba (Assumption of Mary)
10/14/2022 Svetitskhovloba (Orthodox Georgian Festival)
The following goods can be imported duty-free from EU countries to Georgia: 400 cigarettes or 50 cigars/cigarillos; 4 liters of alcoholic beverages. The following goods can be brought into Georgia duty-free from non-EU countries: 200 cigarettes, 3 liters of wine or 10 liters of beer. Due to the free trade agreement between the EU and Georgia since autumn 2014, no customs duties are levied on the import of products from the EU to Georgia, with the exception of tobacco products and alcohol (see above).
Prohibited Imports
Weapons, ammunition, narcotics, drugs and anything that can be considered paraphernalia for drug use, pornographic, immoral or subversive products, loose beads, as well as third party items to be imported for these persons. More information is available from Countryaah.com.
Export Regulations
Cultural goods such as works of art, manuscripts, furniture, jewellery, musical instruments, coins, archaeological finds and carpets can only be exported with an export permit.
Contact addresses
Embassy of the Republic of Georgia
Seglichenstrasse 7
Bern
Switzerland
+41 (0)31 351 58 61.
http://switzerland.mfa.gov.ge
http://switzerland.mfa.gov.ge
Embassy of the Republic of Georgia
Rudolfsplatz 2/8
Wien
Austria
+43 (0)1 403 98 48. Consular Dept.: +43 (0)1 710 36 11.
http://www.austria.mfa.gov.ge/default.aspx ?sec_id=1316&lang=2
http://www.austria.mfa.gov.ge/default.aspx?sec_id=1316&lang=2
Business hours: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm. Private shops are also open on Saturdays.
Business contacts
Eastern Committee of German Business eV Breite Straße 29, 10178 Berlin, Germany Tel. +49 (0)30 206 16 71 13. Website: www.ostausschuss.de Austrian Chamber of Commerce (Foreign trade in Southeastern Europe, Eastern Europe/Central Asia) Wiedner Hauptstraße 63, 1045 Vienna, Austria Tel. +43 (0)1 59 09 00 43 22. Website: www.wko.at United Economic Chambers c/o DPS Communications GmbH, Kasernenstrasse 11, 8004 Zurich Tel. +41 (0)44 221 00 85. Website: www.jointchambers.ch Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Georgia 29 Shataidze str. 0114, Tbilisi, Georgia Tel. +995 (0)322 69 47 47. Website: gcci.ge/en
Communication
Phone
According to Abbreviationfinder.org, the country code is 00995 and the area code for Tbilisi is 8832. International calls must be preceded by an 8. International calls and long-distance calls can almost only be made from telephone centers in the fixed network. The Sheraton Metechi Palace Hotel (tel: (32) 772020; web: www.sheratonmetechipalace.com) is equipped with its own satellite telephones. Public payphones are suitable for local calls.
Mobile phone
GSM 900/1800. Mobile phone companies include Geocell Limited (website: geocell.ge) and Magti GSM (website: www.magtigsm.com). roaming agreements exist. The reception and transmission range covers Georgia – apart from the north-west of the country – well.
Internet
There are some internet cafes in Tbilisi and other big cities, otherwise internet access is not widespread in Georgia.
Post office
International postal traffic is repeatedly interrupted, and long delays are the norm. Although registered mail usually takes longer, it is considered to be more secure. Letters should preferably be mailed directly to central post offices.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly for the current frequencies (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
