Following recommendations of the European Union and the International Organization of Migration, Georgia is set to change its visa regime, reported ArmInfo news agency. The decision comes following a report prepared by the IOM, which criticized Georgia’s liberal visa policies and warned that failure to take control over immigration could lead to increasing unemployment in jobs traditionally occupied by Georgian citizens.  According to the news source, it was also noted in the Georgian Parliament that not collecting adequate information on tourists in Georgia allows potential criminals and illegal migrants to enter the country. Currently, foreign citizens receive entry visas at the Georgian border; however, under the proposed plan entry visas will only be issued at Georgian embassies abroad and only short-term tourist visas will be issued at the border. Nino Nakashidze, head of Georgia’s Governmental Commission for European Integration, told reporters that the flow of illegal immigrants would likely increase due to expanding foreign business activity and the opening of a free-trade zone in Poti.  As a result, Nakashidze told reporters that Georgia “must control who enters the country and carefully review their documents.” A working group has already been established in the Georgian government to work on the recommendations offered by the European Union, reported the news source. 

This information was originally published on February 13, 2008.  (www.arminfo.info).