Money & duty free for Georgia
Exchange rates:
LariC$1 = GEL2.05
€1 = GEL2.81
£1 = GEL3.4
US$1 = GEL2.75
US Dollar
C$1 = US$0.75
€1 = US$1.04
£1 = US$1.24
Currency & Money
Lari (GEL) = 100 tetri. Notes are in denominations of GEL200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of GEL1, as well as 50, 20, 10 and 5 tetri.
Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in Georgia, particularly in cities such as Tbilisi, Batumi, and Kutaisi, where hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and larger shops routinely accept Visa and Mastercard. Smaller businesses, rural guesthouses, markets, and marshrutkas often operate on a cash-only basis, so it is advisable to carry some local currency when travelling outside major urban areas.
ATMs are widely available in cities and towns and can be found at banks, shopping centres, and along main streets. Most accept international cards and dispense Georgian lari, though smaller towns may have limited machines and occasional outages.
There is no upper limit on the amount of foreign currency that can be brought into Georgia, but travellers are required to declare cash, cheques, or other financial instruments exceeding 30,000 Georgian lari (or equivalent) on entry and exit.
Georgia duty free
The following goods may be imported into Georgia without incurring customs duty, provided they are for personal use and carried by travellers aged 18 and over.
• Alcohol: Up to 4 litres of wine and 16 litres of beer, or 1 litre of spirits exceeding 22% alcohol by volume, or 2 litres of alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content of up to 22%.
• Tobacco: Up to 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 50 cigarillos, or up to 250 g of other tobacco products. Electronic cigarette liquids are permitted in limited quantities.
• Personal goods: Up to GEL3,000 and a total weight of up to 30 kg for travellers arriving by air. Travellers arriving by land or sea are subject to a lower duty-free value threshold.
Import of narcotics and psychotropic substances, weapons and ammunition, explosives, counterfeit money and goods, and obscene or pornographic materials is prohibited. Certain medicines containing narcotic or psychotropic substances may be restricted and require prior authorisation or supporting documentation. Plants, animals, and animal products may be subject to quarantine or veterinary controls. This list is not exhaustive. Travellers should consult the official customs website or contact the embassy or consulate near you for the most up-to-date information.
The export of cultural, historical, or archaeological artefacts without official permission is prohibited. This includes antiques, artworks, icons, manuscripts, and items of significant cultural value. Export of endangered species and products derived from them is also prohibited. This list is not exhaustive. Travellers should consult the official customs website or contact the embassy or consulate near you for the most up-to-date information.
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