Visa policy of Abkhazia

Abkhazia visa.

Passport stamp of Abkhazia.

Citizens of the following countries and territories can visit Abkhazia without a visa:[1][2]

If, when entering Georgia (by land, by air or by sea), Georgian border guards find an Abkhazian visa, Abzakh stamps or a stamp of Russian checkpoints on the border with Abkhazia in your passport, you are very likely to be fined, and often will not be allowed into the country additionally. Sometimes, in addition to a fine, criminal proceedings are initiated against some foreigners who have the above stamps or marks from checkpoints on the Abkhaz-Russian border on their passport, for illegal border crossing under the laws of Georgia. Since Georgia considers Abkhazia its territory. Then, in addition to a fine and deportation from Georgia, you may even face imprisonment or a larger fine in rare cases.

It is impossible to get from the territory of Abkhazia to the territory of Georgia or vice versa, since there are no checkpoints between these countries, and the border between the countries is carefully guarded. According to other sources, the border with Georgia is closed, but not completely, and there is a theoretical possibility to cross it in the Zugdidi area ("Ingur" checkpoint), but you will have to get extremely bureaucratic special permits from the two countries. and generally spend a lot of time and achieve nothing. It is almost impossible to legally cross the Abkhazian-Georgian border. Nevertheless, the departure from Georgia to Abkhazia is de facto free, since Georgia considers Abkhazia to be its part, however, it will be necessary to return from Abkhazia only through Georgia, otherwise the Georgian side will consider that you left the country illegally.

Abkhazia can only be reached by land through Russia. Despite the presence of seaports and several airports and airfields and a railway, there is no sea, air or rail passenger communication with the outside world (even with Russia) in Abkhazia. The territory of Abkhazia has not been controlled by the Georgian authorities since 1992, since the beginning of the war between these countries.

In Abkhazia, Georgia is considered an enemy state, and there are no relations at all between the countries. Georgia does not recognize the independence of Abkhazia and considers it its internationally recognized territory, officially considering its territory temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation. Georgia believes that Abkhazia should be an Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia within Georgia. In Abkhazia, Georgia is considered an aggressive state, led by "nationalists and pro-Western forces, who hate Abkhazia". Almost all political forces in Abkhazia are pro-Russian and anti-Georgian.

The Republic of Abkhazia is one of the most partially recognized countries visited by tourists in the world. The majority of foreigners visiting Abkhazia are from the former republics of the USSR (modern Post-Soviet space). They visit Abkhazia, as it is a cheap country for beach and mountain tourism and with subtropical nature. The country also has developed tourism in caves and gorges, for urban exploration in abandoned and destroyed objects, as well as sex tourism (de jure illegal in Abkhazia).

For example, by the end of 2021, Abkhazia was visited by over 5 million 177 thousand Russian citizens, not counting other foreigners.

Citizens of the Russian Federation[4]

Country	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008
Russia	5,177,816	2,824,631	4,902,475	4,520,750	4,357,973	4,274,549	3,833,802	3,285,377	3,359,453	3,367,243	3,072,517	2,804,505	2,503,898	1,930,302

• Visa requirements for Abkhaz citizens
• Visa policy of Georgia
• Visa policy of Artsakh
• Visa policy of Russia
• Visa policy of South Ossetia
• Visa policy of Transnistria