Import/Export License Requirements in Georgia: 2026 Guide

You are bringing goods into or out of Georgia and you are not sure whether you need a license. Get it wrong and your shipment sits at the border, or you face penalties for moving a controlled item. Here is the reassuring reality: Georgia runs one of the world's most liberal trade regimes, most goods need nothing at all, and only seven categories are controlled. This guide on import/export license requirements in Georgia names each one and tells you who issues the permit.

Quick Summary:

• Georgia runs one of the world's most liberal trade regimes - around 90% of goods are tariff-free and most need no import or export license at all.

• Only seven categories are controlled: pharmaceuticals and medicines, weapons and military or dual-use goods, narcotic drugs and precursors, certain agricultural/veterinary/phytosanitary goods, nuclear and radioactive materials, ozone-depleting substances and refrigerants, and cultural-heritage items.

• A different government body issues each permit - there is no single "import license." The full table is below.

• Standard goods clear with just a declaration, invoice, and transport documents - customs clearance averages about 15 minutes.

• The only import quota in the whole system applies to ozone-depleting substances and HFC refrigerants, after Georgia joined the Kigali Amendment in 2023.

• Exporting antiques, icons, or art out of Georgia needs a separate cultural-heritage export permit, not an import license.

The short answer - most goods need no license in Georgia

Most goods require no import or export license in Georgia. You clear customs with three documents: a customs declaration, a commercial invoice, and transport paperwork. No license, no permit, no financial guarantee for standard goods.

The numbers back this up. Around 90% of goods are exempt from import tariffs, there are only three tariff bands (0%, 5%, and 12%), and customs clearance averages about 15 minutes. There are no quantitative restrictions on imports except for ozone-depleting substances. Export and re-export from Georgia are free of customs duties altogether (economy.ge).

Licensing exists for one reason only: to protect public health, national security, and the environment. So unless your product touches medicine, weapons, controlled substances, live plants or animals, radioactivity, refrigerant gas, or cultural heritage, you are clear. When we help clients import goods, the first thing we tell them is that the licensing question usually answers itself - the controlled list is short and specific. If you are weighing how to set up to trade, the trading company structure you choose matters more than any license worry.

Which goods need an import or export license in Georgia

Seven categories carry import or export controls. Everything else moves freely. Here is the full map of controlled categories and the current (2026) issuing authority for each - note that older published lists still cite pre-reorganization ministry names, so use the bodies below.

A few minor controlled lines sit outside this main table but come from the same statutory list: surveillance and interception equipment (Ministry of Internal Affairs), endangered species under CITES (MEPA), and non-iodized salt. They rarely affect ordinary commercial importers, but they exist.

Permit vs license vs certificate - they are not the same

These three words get used interchangeably, and that is where confusion starts. They are not the same document.

A license is the right to engage in a controlled activity - for example, the right to trade in weapons at all. A permit is clearance to move one specific controlled consignment across the border. A certificate is a document issued by the exporting country that travels with the goods; Georgia does not issue it.

Here is how they stack in practice. Importing seeds needs an import permit from the National Food Agency (issued in Georgia) and a phytosanitary certificate from the country of origin (issued there). You need both, from two different places, and one does not replace the other.

Pharmaceuticals, narcotics and precursors

This is the category that trips up clinics, pharmacies, and distributors most often, so it is worth getting precise.

Medicines under special control - those containing narcotic, psychotropic, or precursor substances - need an import or export permit from the State Regulation Agency for Medical Activities. The importer must already hold the relevant business license before a permit is even possible. A preliminary agreement with the exporting country's competent authority is also required before the permit issues.

Narcotics, psychotropics, and precursors themselves are quota-limited. The health ministry sets annual quotas in line with the UN International Narcotics Control Board. A decision on a complete permit application generally comes within 20 days, and the "silence is consent" principle applies - if no reasoned refusal arrives in time, the permit is treated as granted.

One distinction to keep clean: ordinary, non-controlled medicines must be state-registered to be sold in Georgia, but that is product registration, not an import license. If you are running a regulated import operation, getting your accounting and compliance set up correctly from the start saves a lot of friction later.

Weapons, military equipment and dual-use goods

Weapons and military equipment sit under the tightest control in the system. An import permit comes from the Ministry of Defence and is granted only to Georgian-registered legal entities that already hold a weapons-trade license. The Standing Committee on Military-Technical Matters issues a binding recommendation on each application. For civilian firearms specifically, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is the body to contact.

Dual-use goods are the grey-zone items with both civilian and military applications. They are defined by Government Decree No. 394 of 13 June 2014, which approves the lists of military and dual-use items. The permit application is handled by the Revenue Service Customs Department on the basis of approval from the MOD Standing Committee, and it is lodged electronically through rs.ge.

The state fee for a dual-use goods permit is 30 GEL, and the Customs Department issues its decision no later than 20 days after a complete application is lodged. Note that detailed military-import information is treated as confidential for national-security reasons, so expect less public documentation here than in other categories.

Agricultural goods - plants, animals and food

Food importers, anyone relocating with pets, and agri-trade businesses all land in this category. The National Food Agency (NFA) runs two distinct permit types.

The first covers import and transit of products under veterinary control: animals, animal products, feed, and veterinary preparations. The second covers import of plant-origin products under phytosanitary control. Validity differs: a veterinary permit runs up to one month, while a phytosanitary permit runs up to six months. Application is electronic-only.

On fees, the NFA charges by processing speed: 100 GEL for a 20-working-day decision, 200 GEL for 5 working days, and 300 GEL for 1 working day, for both permit types (nfa.gov.ge). Import can also be restricted outright if the goods originate from a declared disease-infected zone.

Here is the trap worth repeating: the phytosanitary certificate comes from the exporting country, while the permit comes from the NFA. They are two separate documents from two separate places, and customs will expect both where they apply. If you are bringing in food or agricultural products to sell, factor in the import VAT treatment too, since that is a separate question from the permit.

Nuclear, radioactive and environmental controls

Two very different controls share this section, but both run through the environment ministry's structure.

Nuclear and radioactive materials need a permit from the LEPL Agency of Nuclear and Radiation Safety (ANRS), which sits under MEPA. The permit covers radioactive sources, nuclear materials and technology, and equipment containing radioactive substances. A decision takes up to 20 days, with expedited 3-day or 10-day tracks available for additional fees.

Ozone-depleting substances and HFC refrigerants are the one category in the entire system that carries an import quota. Georgia joined the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol in 2023 - Parliament adopted the resolution on 2 May 2023 and the instrument was deposited with the United Nations on 11 July 2023 (mepa.gov.ge). MEPA now runs the import, export, re-export, and transit permits and distributes the annual quota.

This one matters more widely than people expect. Anyone importing refrigerators, air-conditioning units, or refrigerant gas falls under this regime - it is not just a concern for industrial chemical traders.

Taking cultural items out of Georgia

Most guides focus on imports. This one is about getting things out - and it is the rule expats buying art and antiques run into most.

Exporting cultural valuables - antiques, icons, artworks, and items of national importance - needs a permit from the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation, under the Ministry of Culture. The application is straightforward on paper: a written request, a copy of your ID or passport, and three colour photographs of the object at 9x13 cm. The Agency reviews within 15 days.

There is a catch worth knowing before you buy. If a designated heritage item is being exported for sale, the Ministry can exercise a preferential right - a state pre-emption - to purchase it or send it to auction so it stays in Georgia. So a genuine antique is not guaranteed to leave just because you own it.

The practical takeaway: if you are buying a real antique or a significant piece of art to take home, sort the export permit before you book your flight. If you are still in the planning stage of moving to Georgia, it is a useful rule to file away early.

How permits actually get issued

The process is more reader-friendly than the list of agencies suggests, because Georgia built it around a few simple principles.

The first is the single-window principle: you apply to one body, not to a chain of them. The second is "silence is consent" - if no reasoned refusal lands within the set time limit, the permit is deemed issued. The third is that most permits are electronic; dual-use and food or agri permits go through rs.ge and the relevant agency e-systems rather than paper desks.

The typical decision window is up to 20 days, and several categories offer paid expedited tracks - ANRS in 3 or 10 days, the NFA in 1, 5, or 20 working days. There are no quantitative or value restrictions on permitted goods, with the single exception of the ODS and HFC quotas.

One practical thread runs through almost every controlled category: the permit is granted to a Georgian-registered legal entity. If you do not have one yet, you will need to register a company before most permit applications will go anywhere.

Do you actually need a license? A quick self-check

Run your product through three quick steps and you will have your answer.

Step 1: Is your product in one of the seven controlled categories above? If no, you need no license - proceed with standard customs documents and you are done.

Step 2: If yes, identify the issuing authority from the table, apply through its electronic system, and expect a decision window of around 20 days.

Step 3: Confirm whether you also need a Georgian-registered entity, because most controlled permits require one. If you do not have one and cannot travel, you can still register remotely without flying in.

For the vast majority of everyday commercial goods - electronics, clothing, furniture, most consumer products - nothing is required beyond a declaration, an invoice, and transport documents. If you are setting up to trade and want both the company and any permits handled correctly the first time, start with a free consultation and we will point you the right way.

Key Takeaways

• Check your product against the seven controlled categories before you ship - if it is not on the list, you need no license, just standard customs documents.

• For controlled goods, identify the right issuing body from the table and apply through its electronic system.

• Budget around 20 days for a permit decision, and ask about paid expedited tracks if you are tight on time.

• Importing refrigerants, AC units, or fridges? Plan around the ODS and HFC quota - it is the one capped category in the system.

• Buying antiques or art to take home? Apply for a cultural-heritage export permit, with its 15-day review, before you travel.

• Most controlled permits require a Georgian-registered entity, so sort registration first if you do not have one.

FAQ

Do most goods need an import license in Georgia?

No. Most goods need no import or export license in Georgia - only seven controlled categories require one. Standard imports clear with a declaration, a commercial invoice, and transport documents. There is no single, blanket "import license" in the system.

Which goods need an import or export license in Georgia?

Pharmaceuticals under special control, weapons and military or dual-use goods, narcotics and precursors, certain plant, animal, and food products, nuclear and radioactive materials, ozone-depleting substances and refrigerants, and cultural-heritage items. Everything outside these seven categories moves freely. A different authority handles each one.

Who issues import permits in Georgia?

It depends on the goods - there is no single licensing body. The National Food Agency handles food and agricultural permits, the State Regulation Agency for Medical Activities handles special-control medicines, the Ministry of Defence handles weapons, ANRS handles radioactive materials, and MEPA handles ozone-depleting substances. The table above maps all of them.

How long does it take to get an import permit in Georgia?

Usually up to 20 days from a complete application. Some agencies offer paid expedited options - ANRS, for example, can decide in 3 or 10 days. Under the "silence is consent" rule, the permit is deemed issued if no reasoned refusal arrives within the time limit.

Do I need a license to import food into Georgia?

Plant and animal products need an import permit from the National Food Agency, plus a certificate from the exporting country. Veterinary permits run up to one month and phytosanitary permits up to six months. Application is electronic-only, and fees range from 100 to 300 GEL depending on processing speed.

Are there import quotas in Georgia?

No - except for ozone-depleting substances and HFC refrigerants. Those carry an annual import quota administered by MEPA, in force since Georgia joined the Kigali Amendment in 2023. Every other category of permitted goods has no quantitative or value cap.

Do I need a permit to export antiques or art from Georgia?

Yes. Cultural-heritage items need an export permit from the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation, reviewed within 15 days. You submit a written request, an ID or passport copy, and three colour photos of the object. The state can also exercise a preferential right to buy designated heritage items rather than let them leave.

What documents do I need for a normal (non-controlled) import?

A customs declaration, a commercial invoice, and transport documentation. No license or financial guarantee is required for standard goods, with temporary admission of goods being the main exception. This is why most importers never deal with the licensing system at all.

What is the difference between a license, a permit, and a certificate?

A license grants the right to run a controlled activity, such as trading weapons. A permit clears a specific consignment across the border. A certificate is issued by the exporting country and travels with the goods, like a phytosanitary certificate. They are three separate things, and one does not substitute for another.

Do I need a Georgian company to get an import/export permit?

For most controlled categories, yes - permits are granted to Georgian-registered legal entities, not to individuals abroad. Standard, non-controlled imports do not require a permit at all, so this only matters if your goods are on the controlled list. If you need an entity, we can set one up for you, including remotely.

What goods are outright banned from import into Georgia?

Items that threaten health, safety, or security are prohibited rather than permit-eligible - for example illegal narcotics, certain pornographic materials, and uncontrolled nuclear materials. These cannot be brought in under any permit. Controlled goods, by contrast, are allowed once you hold the right permit from the right authority.