The Council of the European Union has proposed reintroducing visa requirements for Georgian holders of diplomatic and service passports, partially suspending the EU-Georgia visa facilitation agreement. The measure, outlined in a Council note dated 2 December 2026, targets only holders of official passports, leaving visa-free travel for ordinary passport holders unaffected. The proposal is based on Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (the EU Visa Regulation) and builds on Council Decision (EU) 2025/170, which previously suspended visa-free travel for Georgian ordinary passport holders.
The proposed suspension follows a series of EU measures tightening visa policy toward Georgia. In 2025, the Council adopted Decision (EU) 2025/170, which suspended the visa waiver for Georgian ordinary passport holders under Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, citing concerns over irregular migration and security risks. The new proposal extends restrictions to diplomatic and service passport holders, a category previously exempt from visa requirements under the EU-Georgia visa facilitation agreement. The Council note does not specify a trigger for the latest measure but references ongoing assessments of Georgia's compliance with visa liberalisation benchmarks.
The proposal reflects a trade-off between security and diplomatic relations. By targeting only official passport holders, the Council aims to minimise disruption to ordinary travel while addressing perceived abuses of diplomatic privileges. However, the measure could strain EU-Georgia bilateral ties, as diplomatic passport holders include government officials and diplomats. The partial suspension also creates a cleavage between security objectives and the principle of visa facilitation for official travel, which traditionally fosters intergovernmental cooperation.
Georgian government officials and diplomats are directly affected, as they will now require visas for EU travel, potentially complicating official missions and diplomatic engagements. EU member state consular services may face increased workload processing visa applications from Georgian official passport holders, though volumes are likely small. Georgian ordinary passport holders are unaffected by this measure, but may face indirect consequences if bilateral relations deteriorate further. EU external border management benefits from reinforced control over official travel, aligning with broader EU efforts to manage migration and security risks.
The Council proposal will now be examined by the European Parliament and the Commission as part of the legislative process. The Parliament may seek to amend the scope or conditions of the suspension, while the Commission will assess the proposal's compatibility with EU external relations policy. A final decision is expected in early 2027.
← Atlas › News › Home affairs & Migration