Business & Taxes
How to Export Goods From Georgia: A Practical Guide
Exporting from Georgia means zero export duty and access to 2.3 billion buyers tariff-free. Learn the export steps, documents, and which FTA fits your market.
Georgia charges zero export duty and gives its traders preferential access to markets of 2.3 billion people, but those advantages only pay off if your paperwork is right. Ship without the correct origin proof and your buyer loses the tariff break, or the goods stop at the destination border. This guide shows you how to export goods from Georgia step by step, including the documents and the free trade agreement that fits your market.
Before you start
Exporting is simpler than importing because there is no duty to pay, but a few things need to be in place:
A registered business with a Taxpayer Identification Number.
A buyer and a clear destination market.
Knowledge of which certificates your goods and that market require.
Line these up and the rest is process.
Step 1: Register your business
Commercial exporting needs a registered business, which gives you the tax number that makes you a recognized economic agent. If you have not set one up, our guide to starting an import/export business in Georgia walks through the one-day registration.
Step 2: Confirm your market and the right trade agreement
Your destination decides which agreement applies and which origin proof your buyer needs to claim a preferential rate. Georgia's main exports include vehicles and re-exports, ferroalloys, spirits, wine, copper ores, mineral water, and hazelnuts, going to partners such as Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Armenia, and Central Asia, per OEC trade data.
Market | Agreement | Origin proof your buyer needs |
|---|---|---|
EU, EFTA, UK, Türkiye | DCFTA and free trade agreements | EUR.1 or an invoice declaration of origin |
China | Free trade agreement | China FTA certificate of origin |
CIS countries | Free trade arrangements | Form CT-1 |
US, Japan, Canada (GSP) | GSP schemes | Form A |
The EU agreement, the largest of these, is described by the European Commission.
Step 3: Check which certificates your goods need
Beyond origin, some goods need health-related certificates before they can leave.
Plants, seeds, fresh produce, grain, and wood need a phytosanitary certificate.
Animal products need a veterinary certificate.
Almost all preferential exports need a certificate of origin.
Confirm the destination country's specific requirements early, because these certificates can take a few working days to obtain.
Step 4: Obtain your certificate of origin
The certificate of origin is what lets your buyer claim the tariff break. Depending on the market, this is an EUR.1, a Form CT-1, a Form A, or a China FTA certificate, issued in Georgia by the Revenue Service or the Chamber of Commerce before the goods ship.
Apply with your invoice, contract, and production documents. For smaller EU consignments, an exporter can often declare origin directly on the invoice instead of a separate certificate. The detail is in our guide to the certificate of origin.
Step 5: Lodge the export declaration
Every export needs an export declaration in the electronic customs system, even though no export duty is charged. The declaration records the goods leaving the country and links to your origin proof.
There is no duty or customs fee on exports, re-exports, or transit, according to trade.gov. If you are new to the system, our overview of the customs declaration in Georgia explains how it works.
Step 6: Choose your exit point and ship
Goods leave Georgia by the same network used for imports: the seaports of Poti and Batumi, the Sarpi land crossing into Türkiye, other land borders with Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the Tbilisi and Kutaisi airports.
Match the route to the destination and the goods. Sea suits volume to overseas markets, road suits regional buyers, and air suits perishable or high-value loads.
Step 7: Get paid and keep your records
Complete the commercial side under your agreed terms, then retain the export declaration, invoice, transport documents, and certificates. Clean records support future shipments and any later review.
That is the full export cycle, and the absence of export duty keeps it lean. If you would rather hand the declarations and certificates to a specialist, our customs brokerage service prepares export paperwork and clears goods so nothing holds up your shipment. The same base setup also lets you import goods to Georgia when you need to.
Key takeaways
Georgia charges no export duty, re-export duty, or transit duty.
Exports still need an export declaration in the electronic customs system.
Your destination market decides which agreement applies and which origin proof your buyer needs.
A certificate of origin (EUR.1, CT-1, Form A, or China FTA) unlocks the preferential tariff abroad.
Plants, food, and animal products need phytosanitary or veterinary certificates before they leave.
Goods exit via Poti and Batumi ports, the Sarpi crossing, other land borders, or the airports.
Frequently asked questions
How do I export goods from Georgia?
Register a business, confirm your market and the applicable trade agreement, obtain a certificate of origin and any health certificates, lodge an export declaration, and ship from a port, airport, or land crossing. There is no export duty. The declaration is filed electronically.
Does Georgia charge export duties?
No. Exports, re-exports, and transit are free of customs duty and fees. Excisable goods that are exported are also relieved of excise. You only need the correct declaration and certificates, not a duty payment.
What documents do I need to export from Georgia?
The core set is the commercial invoice, transport documents, an export declaration, and usually a certificate of origin. Plants and food need a phytosanitary certificate, and animal products need a veterinary certificate. Requirements depend on the goods and the destination.
What is a certificate of origin and do I need one?
It is an official document proving where your goods were made, and it lets your buyer claim a preferential or zero tariff. Most exports to free trade partners need one. The type (EUR.1, CT-1, Form A, or a China FTA certificate) depends on the destination.
Which markets can Georgian exporters reach tariff-free?
Through its agreements, Georgia reaches the EU, EFTA, the UK, China, Türkiye, CIS countries, and Hong Kong on preferential terms, plus GSP access to markets like the US, Japan, and Canada. Together these represent more than 2.3 billion consumers. Each market has its own origin rules.
How long does it take to export from Georgia?
The export declaration itself can be processed quickly when documents are in order. Allow a few extra working days for certificates of origin and any phytosanitary or veterinary inspection. Shipping time then depends on your route and destination.
Do I need a license to export goods?
Most goods need no export license. Controlled categories such as weapons, dual-use items, certain chemicals, and cultural heritage goods do require permits. Check your product against the controlled list before shipping.
What can I export from Georgia?
Leading exports include vehicles and re-exports, ferroalloys, spirits and wine, copper ores, mineral water, and hazelnuts. Almost any legal good can be exported, subject to the destination market's standards and your origin proof. Food and plant products carry the most documentation.
Can I re-export goods through Georgia?
Yes. Goods imported into Georgia can be re-exported, and re-exports are also free of duty. A re-export may need its own certificate of origin or, for plants, a re-export phytosanitary certificate. Customs warehouses and Free Industrial Zones suit re-export models.
Do I need a customs broker to export?
It is optional. A broker can prepare the export declaration, secure certificates, and manage clearance, which is helpful for first-time or regulated exports. Many traders use one until the process becomes routine.
