Do Russians need a passport and visa to enter Abkhazia in 2021?

WHY DO YOU NEED INSURANCE

The Republic of Abkhazia (RA) is a foreign country, therefore tourists are recommended to have international health insurance or an insurance policy for travelers in the CIS (including RA) .
Insurance programs for tourists traveling to Abkhazia are also available from the insurance company ERV, the only specialized company for travel insurance in the Russian Federation.

When traveling to Abkhazia, tourists are recommended to take the “Travel in Russia and CIS 2,000,000” insurance program. Insurance coverage – 2 million rubles. The cost of insurance for a tourist aged 0-64 years will be 40 rubles. per day, from 64 to 79 years – 90 rub. per day, from 80 and older - 160 rubles. per day.

As Anastasia Apatikova said, if a tourist insured by ERV falls ill with the COVID-19 coronavirus in Abkhazia, then any ERV program covers the costs of outpatient and inpatient treatment, including tests and tests prescribed by a doctor , as well as medical transportation costs and posthumous repatriation costs when sick with coronavirus.

If you are in mandatory quarantine after illness, the policy will also cover the cost of hotel accommodation (limit 300 USD) and return tickets .

At the same time, the Dolphin representative drew attention to the fact that the policy covers treatment costs only for the insured person who falls ill. If an insured tourist misses his flight, then the cost of accommodation (limit 9,000 rubles) and the cost of new tickets are reimbursed.

If, for example, the second insured tourist did not get sick, but ended up in quarantine, then the policy does not cover his expenses.

About relations between Georgia and Abkhazia

Briefly, the relations between the two states can be characterized as follows. Since the times of the USSR, Abkhazia has been an Autonomous Republic within Georgia. Then, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Georgia became an independent country, but Abkhazia did not. The interethnic conflict has been going on since 1992. In 2008, as a result of a 5-day bloody war, Abkhazia, with significant support from the Russian Federation, formally received the status of an independent state.

Georgia and Abkhazia on the map

However, this status is recognized by less than 10 countries in the world. Georgia has not recognized the independence of Abkhazia, but considers it territory occupied by Russia. Moreover, according to the Georgian authorities, entry into Abkhazia from Russia is considered a gross violation of the law, due to the fact that Georgia cannot control checkpoints on Russian territory.

To avoid inevitable problems when visiting Georgia, it is better to cross the Russian-Abkhaz border using an internal Russian passport rather than a foreign one.

Russians do not need to worry about having funds in local currency, since the currency of Abkhazia is the Russian ruble. At the moment, the situation in the country is conflict-free and Russians can easily go on vacation.

Address: per. Gagarinsky, 11 Moscow, 119034

Entry into Abkhazia - ways

Russians can enter the republic in two ways:

Through the Psou checkpoint on the Russian border. To get to this point, you just need to drive or fly to Sochi. From here it is only 10 km to “Psou”. You can cover this distance either by regular buses or minibuses, or by personal transport. You must also return to Russia through this point;
Through the Inguri checkpoint on the Georgian border. To do this, you first need to get to Georgia itself. The checkpoint is located 12 km from the Georgian city of Zugdidi.

A visa is not required for Abkhazia only when crossing the border through Psou. If entry is via Enguri, an Abkhaz visa is required.

An important point: entry into and exit from Abkhazia must be through the same checkpoint.
Otherwise, the next time the traveler visits Georgia, he will face serious problems.

When a visa is not needed

Having an internal passport to cross the borders of Abkhazia is sufficient. But you should pay attention to the quality of the photograph and really evaluate how much the tourist’s appearance has changed in comparison with the photograph. The fact is that this can become a significant obstacle to entry into the resort area. At least, such cases were recorded by border guards.

A visa is not required if a Russian plans to stay in Abkhazia for up to 3 months. If you need to extend your stay in the country, you will have to obtain permission.

Checkpoint “Psou” (visa-free entry from Russia)

It is more convenient for Russians to enter Abkhazia through the Psou checkpoint. Entry is via two bridges: automobile and pedestrian. When ordering a transfer or traveling by car, passport control goes through a road bridge. On the Russian side, they get out of the transport and proceed to the customs and passport control area, where they present documents and luggage for inspection, and, if necessary, declare money and transported items. Then similar controls are carried out on the Abkhaz side. The distance between zones is 150 meters.

Tourists traveling on their own cross the Abkhaz border through a pedestrian bridge, the length of which is 2 km - this distance is covered on foot. Checking documents on average takes no more than 30 minutes, but in the summer there is a significant flow of tourists, and the border crossing can take several hours.

An important point: Russian travelers can choose to provide either a Russian or a foreign passport. Entry stamps are only placed on the international passport, but this will make it impossible to visit Georgia in the future. Therefore, if your plans include visiting Georgia, at the Abkhaz checkpoint it makes sense to present only a Russian passport.

For drivers

To enter by car you must:

Have a registration document and a driver's license;
Provide a power of attorney with notarization and a note regarding the possibility of exporting the vehicle outside the Russian Federation if the car belongs to another person;
Pay a fee of 150 rubles for a passenger car and 300 rubles for a truck.

Traveling with children

Documents for entry with children:

Passport and birth certificate with a citizenship stamp (affixed at the passport office) - for minors 14-18 years old.
Birth certificate - for children under 14 years of age.
Consent to leave the Russian Federation if the child is traveling with third parties or traveling independently.

Insurance

According to the rules of entry into the Republic of Armenia, every foreign guest is subject to compulsory health insurance. The exceptions are:

Minors under 6 years of age (they use the policy of one of their parents);
Travelers with tour packages;
Workers officially employed in the Republic of Armenia or on a business trip.

The amount of coverage is 30 thousand rubles. The amount of the insurance premium depends on the time spent in the republic:

30 rub. - up to 3 days;
250 rub. — up to 30 days;
750 rub. - up to 183 days.

The following rates apply to vehicle owners:

200 rub. — up to 3 days;
500 rub. — up to 30 days;
2000 rub. - up to 183 days.

Resort fee

If your vacation in the Republic of Armenia lasts longer than 3 days, you must pay an additional resort fee of 30 rubles. The fee is paid at the place of residence. It is usually included in the price of a tour package or hotel room.

The following are exempt from payment:

Minors under 14 years of age and disabled people;
Travelers visiting Abkhazia for purposes not related to tourism.

Video: report on a trip to Abkhazia by car

What restrictions apply to tourists in Abkhazia?

Despite the fact that Abkhazia is very loyal to incoming tourists and does not require a virus test, restrictions in the country have not yet been lifted. Mass events are prohibited. Leisure facilities are still closed, as well as SPA salons, massage parlors, swimming pools and fitness centers. Restaurants and cafes are open, theaters and museums are open. Outdoor sporting events are permitted. The rules for visiting Abkhazia in 2021 oblige tourists to wear masks and maintain social distancing.

Is there quarantine in Abkhazia for arriving travelers?

What else is needed to enter Abkhazia? Quarantine? To travel around Abkhazia, visitors do not need a COVID test and do not need to comply with quarantine.

Checkpoint "Inguri" (entry from Georgia with permission)

The independence of the republic is recognized only by a few countries: Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru and South Ossetia. For the rest of the world community, Abkhazia is an autonomous republic of Georgia.

According to Georgian law, this region is considered occupied territory. Travel here is open to foreigners only through the Enguri checkpoint . Entry through other points is prohibited by the Georgian authorities; violators will face severe punishment - imprisonment for a period of 2 to 5 years or a fine of 2,000 lari (about 830 USD). Accordingly, attempts by Russians to enter Georgia from Abkhazia are regarded as illegal border crossing.

However, it is possible to obtain a permit that will allow you to enter Abkhazia from Russia, but it is issued in exceptional cases after approval from several departments of Georgia and only if the trip is of a peacekeeping, humanitarian nature or contributes to the resolution of an existing conflict. So the route of legal entry into Abkhazia from Russia is excluded in this case, especially if an ordinary tourist trip is planned.

Those wishing to enter Abkhazia through the Enguri checkpoint will be able to do this without any particular difficulties (not counting the need to obtain an entry permit): the Georgian side does not prevent the entry of foreigners and does not put stamps on the passport. According to Georgia, the trip is made from one region of the country to another, and restricting entry would mean indirect recognition of the independence of Abkhazia. Departure marks are not given for the same reason. Therefore, Russians will be able to travel here without problems.

Georgian border guards ask a number of questions about the purpose of visiting Abkhazia, type of occupation and ask for an Abkhaz entry permit (the information contained in it is checked against the passport data); they do not put a stamp in the passport. This is where passport control on the Georgian side ends; in total it takes no more than 20-30 minutes.

Entry permit

The Abkhaz checkpoint is located behind the Inguri bridge, movement along which is carried out only on foot. Driving is only allowed to local residents with special passes. The length of the distance is about 1 km. Here you need to present a foreign passport (in Russian you cannot enter through this checkpoint) and an entry permit.

An entry permit is issued on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia: mfaapsny.org/council/visa.php To do this, a scanned copy of the international passport and a completed application form are sent to the address. The application is reviewed within 7 days. The permit is sent to an email address or by fax, if this option has been selected. You need to print the document and take it with you on your trip.

Within 3 days after entering Abkhazia through Inguri, Russians must visit the consular department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to affix a visa to their passport. Department address: Sukhumi, st. Lakoba, 21. Russians are issued a visa free of charge.

Important points:

The Abkhaz checkpoint “Inguri” is not open 24 hours a day, but from 08.00 to 19.00. This should be taken into account when planning your trip;
To avoid complications with the Georgian authorities in the future, it is advisable to leave the RA also through Enguri. Otherwise, the road to Georgia will be closed forever.

Difficulties with Georgia

The Georgian authorities, unlike the Russian ones, do not recognize the independence of Abkhazia and consider it a temporarily occupied republic. In this regard, a person who wants to visit Georgia by crossing the Russian-Abkhaz border risks running into serious trouble. In 2021, tourists may even face arrest and deportation from the country.

This may lead to a person becoming “inadmissible” not only to the territory of Georgia, but also to other countries. The reason is the violated visa regime. Today, given the very difficult situation on the borders of many states, this is a sore point for the authorities.

It is important to remember that entry into the territory of Georgia may be prohibited for those Russians and stateless persons who have a mark in their international passport about crossing the border between the Russian Federation and Abkhazia.

Arrival from the Georgian side

To travel to Abkhazia from Georgia, citizens of the Russian Federation are obliged to obtain a current permit from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country of destination.

To do this, you need to write to the employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia by email.

You will also need to send documents by email such as:

entry form (filled out on the website);
high-quality scan of a photograph;
a high-quality scan of all current pages of the applicant’s identity document.

To ensure that Russian citizens do not have any difficulties with the Georgian authorities, it is best to use a civilian passport when traveling to Abkhazia.

Checkpoint on the Georgian-Abkhaz border

The majority of Russian citizens who have experience traveling by car claim that the best option is to cross the border with Abkhazia from the Vladikavkaz checkpoint.

Visa to Abkhazia for Belarusians and Ukrainians

From April 1, 2021, only citizens of countries that have recognized its independence can visit Abkhazia visa-free. Belarus and Ukraine are not such states, which means that Belarusians and Ukrainians will need a visa to visit the republic. Anyone can obtain an entry document remotely or in Russia - this is where the nearest Abkhaz embassy is located.

Previously, citizens of all countries of the Near Abroad could visit the republic without a visa, but now the Abkhaz side has introduced changes to its own legislation. The procedure for issuing Abkhaz visas is approximately as follows:

By email ( [email protected] ) or fax (+7 840-226-39-48), the foreigner sends a scanned copy of the passport and a completed application form (more detailed information is available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia: https://mfaapsny.org/council/visa .php)
A notification of visa issuance or refusal is received within 7 days. You need to print it out and take it with you on your trip.
Upon arrival in Abkhazia, go to the consular department to affix a visa to your passport and pay the visa fee (10 USD for a single-entry visa for 10 days, 30 USD for a multiple-entry visa for 30 days).

An important point: after visiting Abkhazia on a visa, a visit to Georgia will become impossible. Entering Georgia with a passport containing an Abkhaz visa means a violation of Georgian legislation and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison.

The amount of fines established for those who fail the test upon entry into the Russian Federation

Those returning from a foreign trip and not being tested for Covid within 72 hours and posting the result on the State Services account face a fine of 15,000 to 40,000 rubles. You won't be fined if you have a valid reason, supported by documents.

Everyone crossing the border is tracked thanks to movement tracking measures. Those arriving by plane fill out a form in which they indicate their passport details, flight number and date of border crossing. Those entering through ground checkpoints by car show a QR code received after filling out a form on the State Services website. There is no information on the RPN website about the control of tourists crossing the border with the Russian Federation by train.