For citizens of Azerbaijan, Georgia is visa-free for a full year, so a spring semester needs no visa and no residence permit, only a passport and a health and accident policy of at least 30,000 lari for the whole stay. Tbilisi runs on contactless cards and ride-hailing apps, but everything official is in Georgian script, and drivers do not reliably stop at pedestrian crossings.
Money
Georgian lari (₾, GEL)
Language
Georgian; Russian widely understood by older people, English by younger
Time
UTC+4, no daylight saving
Plugs
Type C and F; 220 V
Tipping
Check the bill for a service charge; otherwise rounding up is enough
112 is the single number for police, ambulance and fire. The free 112 Georgia app adds chat, a silent SOS button and your GPS location, in English, Russian and Azerbaijani.
Set these up before you fly
The essentials that take days to arrange or have to work the moment you land.
Written for students from Azerbaijan first: where a rule depends on nationality, the rule for Azerbaijani citizens is given and labelled.
ADA University · Spring 2027
Universities and places
Georgian Technical University
Tbilisi
15 places
There is no dedicated page for incoming exchange students; ADA’s international office nominates you to GTU’s International Relations Department, which confirms documents and deadlines.
Places, programmes and the minimum cGPA are from ADA’s list. Confirm them with the Office of Global Outreach and Partners before you apply: exchange@ada.edu.az
Payments & banking4
Contactless cards work in shops, cafés and on Tbilisi transport; keep some lari in cash for markets, small shops and minibuses outside the centre.
GL
Georgian lari in cash
Cash for markets, small shops and minibuses
On arrival
Why you need it: Your Azerbaijani Visa or Mastercard will cover most of Tbilisi, but markets, bakeries and some minibuses want lari in cash.
Bring a Visa or Mastercard from home and tell your bank you are travelling
Withdraw lari at a bank ATM or change money at a bank or exchange office
Compare the rate offered with the National Bank’s official rate
Before you rely on itRates differ from one exchange office to the next, so compare before changing a large sum. Some Azerbaijani bank cards charge a fee abroad; check your bank’s tariff before you go.
Source: nbg.gov.ge · the provider or a government body · Checked
TB
TBC Bank
Local bank account and card for non-residents
Optional
Why you need it: A Georgian account helps if you pay rent by transfer or want to avoid foreign-card fees for five months; TBC issues a debit card for non-residents at its branches.
Ask to open an account and request the non-resident debit card
Be ready to explain why you need the account
Install the TBC app once the account is open
Before you rely on itThe non-resident card is a Mastercard debit that works only in Georgia and not for online shopping. Requirements and fees for non-residents are set by the bank; check them at the branch before you rely on the account for rent.
Source: tbcbank.ge · the provider or a government body · Checked
BO
Bank of Georgia
Local bank, and where the student travel card is issued
Optional
Why you need it: Bank of Georgia branches issue the student travel card, its payment machines top up Metromoney, and the bank has a page for non-residents opening accounts.
Before you rely on itRequirements and fees for non-residents are not spelled out on the public page; bring your passport and your host university’s letter, and expect to be asked why you need the account.
Source: bankofgeorgia.ge · the provider or a government body · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
TP
TBC Pay
Top up your phone and pay bills from an app or terminal
Optional
Why you need it: Prepaid SIM top-ups, utility bills in a rented flat and small transfers all go through TBC Pay, at its street terminals or in its app.
Cost varies · Bill payments vary; card-to-card transfers 1% (at least 1 lari); transfers to a mobile number free up to 20 lari, then 1 lari (2026)
Choose the service (mobile operator, utility) and enter your number or account
Keep the receipt until the payment shows
Before you rely on itIt covers over a thousand services, so check you picked the right operator or utility before paying. Topping up a prepaid SIM is also possible in each operator’s own app.
Source: tbcpay.ge · the provider or a government body · Checked
Essential apps5
Taxis and food delivery run through apps, with the fare shown upfront, which spares you haggling in a language you do not speak.
Bo
BoltEssential
Taxis booked in an app, plus scooters, food and groceries
Before departure
Why you need it: You see the price in the app before you order, so you do not negotiate in Georgian or Russian; it is the easy way home at night and to and from Tbilisi airport.
Install Bolt and register with your Azerbaijani number before you fly
Add a bank card in the app
Check the plate number before you get in
Before you rely on itStreet taxis without a meter may quote high prices to newcomers; an app avoids the argument. In Georgia Bolt also runs Bolt Food, Bolt Market groceries and scooters, though features vary by city.
Source: bolt.eu · the provider or a government body · Checked
YG
Yandex Go
A second taxi app with upfront fares, cash or card
Optional
Why you need it: If you already use Yandex Go in Baku the same account works here, and comparing it with Bolt at rush hour often saves money.
Before you rely on itDelivery fees rise at night and in bad weather; check the total before ordering.
Source: wolt.com · the provider or a government body · Checked
Gl
Glovo
Delivery of food, groceries and pharmacy items
Optional
Why you need it: The main alternative to Wolt in Tbilisi, with supermarkets and pharmacies as well as restaurants; it also works in Batumi, Kutaisi and other cities if you travel at weekends.
Before you rely on itRestaurant and shop coverage differs from Wolt; compare both for your district.
Source: glovoapp.com · the provider or a government body · Checked
WA
WhatsAppEssential
Messaging with classmates, landlords and groups
Before departure
Why you need it: Course groups, landlords and other exchange students coordinate on WhatsApp; Viber and Facebook Messenger are also common with Georgians.
Before you rely on itWhen you add a Georgian SIM, keep WhatsApp on your Azerbaijani number or use Change Number so you do not lose chats.
Source: play.google.com · the provider or a government body · Checked
Transport7
Tbilisi has two metro lines, a large bus network and minibuses, all paid by tapping a card; 1 lari covers 90 minutes of rides.
TT
Tbilisi Transport Company (metro and buses)Essential
Metro, buses, minibuses and cable cars in Tbilisi
On arrival
Why you need it: You can tap your own contactless bank card from the first ride, and 1 lari buys 90 minutes of unlimited transfers between metro and buses.
Paid · 1 lari for 90 minutes; passes of 3 lari a day, 20 a week, 40 a month, 100 for three months (2026)Varies by city
Tap a contactless bank card or a Metromoney card on the reader
Tap again on every transfer: it is free within 90 minutes
For a monthly pass, buy a 2-lari travel card at a metro station office or a Bank of Georgia branch
Plan routes in the Tbilisi Transport app
Before you rely on itPasses are loaded on a travel card, not on a bank card. Paying in cash or through a mobile app does not give you the 90-minute package. Inspectors fine riders without a valid fare 5 lari, payable within 30 days, with a further 50 lari if it goes unpaid.
Source: ttc.com.ge · the provider or a government body · Checked
MC
Metromoney card
Rechargeable transport card for metro, buses and ropeway
On arrival
Why you need it: If your Azerbaijani card is not contactless or charges a fee on each tap, a Metromoney card gives the same fares for a 2-lari deposit.
Paid · Card 2 lari, refundable within a month with the receipt (2026)Varies by city
Buy the card at a metro station payment office; no documents are needed
Top it up there or at Bank of Georgia express payment machines
Keep the receipt if you might return the card, and note the card number
Before you rely on itIf you lose it, you can block the card by its number and move the balance to a new card, so keep the number somewhere safe. It also pays for participating minibuses and the Rike–Narikala ropeway (2.5 lari a ride).
Source: ttc.com.ge · the provider or a government body · Checked
TT
Tbilisi Transport
Journey planner and live bus arrivals from TTC
Before departure
Why you need it: The official app plans a route by metro, bus or both and shows when the next bus will actually arrive, which saves guessing at a stop in a city you do not know.
Check the route and the last bus in the Tbilisi Transport app
Before you rely on itIt does not run through the night; check the last bus in the app, and on a late arrival take a Bolt or Yandex Go rather than a street taxi.
Source: ttc.com.ge · the provider or a government body · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
GB
Georgian Bus
Shuttle from Kutaisi airport to Tbilisi and Batumi
Before departure
Why you need it: Low-cost flights often land in Kutaisi, a long way west of Tbilisi; this shuttle runs from the airport to Tbilisi, with tickets sold online and a flight schedule on its site.
Book a seat online once your flight to Kutaisi is confirmed
Check its flight schedule for the departure that fits your arrival
If your flight is late, call its 24/7 help line on +995 32 2 80 60 60
Before you rely on itFares and journey times are shown at booking, not on the home page. Only relevant if you fly into Kutaisi (KUT); from Tbilisi airport take bus 337 or an app taxi.
Source: georgianbus.com · the provider or a government body · Checked
BT
Baku–Tbilisi train
Direct trains between Baku and Tbilisi, overnight and by day
Optional
Why you need it: Since 2026 a direct train links Baku and Tbilisi again: an overnight alternative to flying home for a weekend or at the end of the semester.
Paid · Standard class from 54 manat one way from Baku on the extra trains from November 2026; sleeper classes cost more (2026)Varies by nationality
Buy tickets on the Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) website or app
Citizens of Azerbaijan verify their account with MyGov ID; foreigners verify by a code sent to their phone
Travel with your passport
Before you rely on itFrom 1 November 2026 ADY adds services on the route, among them a daytime train leaving Baku at 09:10, according to its announcement in the Azerbaijani press. Timetables and fares change; check them on ADY before you plan. You also need the right to enter Azerbaijan on the way back.
Source: report.az · a secondary source · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
GR
Georgian Railway
Trains from Tbilisi to Batumi and the regions
Optional
Why you need it: The train to Batumi on the Black Sea is a common weekend trip from Tbilisi; tickets are sold online, so you can book before a busy weekend.
Before you rely on itBook ahead for weekends in late spring. The student discount needs a Georgian personal number, so exchange students on a passport should expect to pay the full fare. Buses and minibuses from Tbilisi’s stations cover the places trains do not.
Source: railway.ge · the provider or a government body · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
SIM, eSIM & internet3
Three operators sell prepaid SIMs with no contract, and monthly data is cheap: Magti’s unlimited package was 35 lari for 30 days in 2026.
Ma
MagtiEssential
Prepaid SIM, sold at Tbilisi and Kutaisi airports
On arrival
Why you need it: You need a Georgian number for Bolt, landlords and classmates; Magti sells SIMs at Tbilisi and Kutaisi airports, so you leave the airport connected.
Paid · Airport packs 15 lari (5 GB) or 30 lari (3 GB with calls), each for 15 days; unlimited data 35 lari for 30 days (2026)
Buy a SIM at Magti in the airport, with your passport to hand
Start with a 15-day pack (code 3315 for 5 GB, 2230 for the 30-lari pack)
Before it runs out, switch to a monthly package: unlimited data is *220#
Install MyMagti to check your balance and renew
Before you rely on itThe 35-lari unlimited plan is sold as a promotion and may change. Smaller monthly packs start at 5 lari for 1 GB (*111#). Check in MyMagti when a package ends, and keep enough balance.
Source: magticom.ge · the provider or a government body · Checked
Ce
Cellfie
Prepaid bundles of data and minutes, formerly Beeline
Optional
Why you need it: Its monthly bundles with calls and data are good value if you call local numbers a lot, for landlords and deliveries.
Paid · Mini 7 lari (1.5 GB), Pro 17 lari (7 GB), Maxi 25 lari (20 GB) a month (2026)
Buy a SIM at a Cellfie shop, with your passport to hand
Choose a monthly package and keep enough balance for it to renew
Before you rely on itA package renews only if your balance covers it on the 30th day, at the same time of day you first activated it. Mini and Pro include a set number of minutes to other networks; Maxi has unlimited calls.
Source: cellfie.ge · the provider or a government body · Checked
Si
Silknet
The third mobile operator, formerly Geocell, with tourist packages
Optional
Why you need it: If Magti or Cellfie coverage is weak in your flat or on campus, Silknet is the other network; it sells tourist packages of calls, texts and data for short stays.
Buy a SIM at a Silknet shop, with your passport to hand
Activate a tourist package first, then move to a monthly package if you stay with Silknet
Before you rely on itPackage prices are shown on Silknet’s site and may change; compare them with Magti and Cellfie before you choose. Silknet also sells home internet, which a landlord may already have in the flat.
Source: silknet.com · the provider or a government body · Checked
Visa, registration & legal3
For citizens of Azerbaijan, a year visa-free covers the semester; the one firm rule is health insurance of at least 30,000 lari for the whole stay.
VF
Visa-free stay of one yearEssential
Entry and stay for up to a year without a visa
Before departure
Why you need it: A spring semester fits well inside the one-year visa-free stay, so there is no visa appointment and no residence permit to arrange before you fly.
Carry your host university’s acceptance letter in your hand luggage
Have your insurance policy ready to show at the border
Before you rely on itFor citizens of Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan is on the government’s list of countries whose citizens may enter and stay for one full year without a visa. Travel on your passport: the list allows entry on an ID card only for EU citizens. Other nationalities: check the list; if your country is not on it, apply for an e-visa at evisa.gov.ge.
Source: matsne.gov.ge · the provider or a government body · Checked
CH
Compulsory health and accident insuranceEssential
Insurance of at least 30,000 lari, checked at the border
Before departure
Why you need it: Since 1 January 2026 foreigners entering Georgia as visitors must hold a policy covering the whole stay, up to a year, and border police can ask to see it on arrival. Georgian law defines a visitor broadly, so plan on the rule applying to an exchange semester.
Buy a health and accident policy with cover of at least 30,000 lari (or the equivalent)
Make it run from your arrival date to your departure date, with no gaps
Get the policy in English or Georgian, as a PDF or on paper
Keep it on your phone and printed for the border check
Before you rely on itThe policy may come from a Georgian or a foreign insurer. Holders of diplomatic, official and special passports are exempt. Your host university may want the policy too: TSU asks for a copy with your application. Check its own minimum cover with the international office.
Source: matsne.gov.ge · the provider or a government body · Checked
SR
Study residence permit
Only needed if you stay beyond your visa-free period
Optional
Why you need it: For a one-semester exchange on a one-year visa-free stay you do not need it; it matters if you extend into a second year or your nationality gets a shorter stay.
Paid · GEL 300 for a decision in 30 days, GEL 450 in 20, GEL 600 in 10 (2026)Varies by nationalityVaries by residence status
Get a certificate from your host university confirming you study there
Apply to the State Services Development Agency at least 40 calendar days before your legal stay ends
Bring your passport, proof of your legal stay, a photo and proof of income
Before you rely on itThe agency takes applications at Public Service Halls, and online for some permit types. Proof of income must be at least twice the monthly subsistence level for the length of the permit.
Source: sda.gov.ge · the provider or a government body · Checked
Housing & daily life3
Tbilisi State University keeps a dormitory for incoming exchange students; elsewhere most students rent a room or flat through listing sites.
TL
TSU Lisi Dormitory
Tbilisi State University’s residence for exchange students
Before departure
Why you need it: TSU’s information sheet for incoming exchange students names Lisi as its accommodation: 320 beds with a library, medical centre and laundry, which settles the hardest part of arriving before you fly.
Paid · TSU estimates shared housing in Tbilisi at up to €200 a month (2026/27)Varies by university
Write to the dormitory yourself as soon as you are nominated: zaza.tsakadze@tsu.ge or +995 32 225 75 50
Confirm the monthly price, the dates and what is included by email
Plan the commute: Lisi is on the Nutsubidze Plateau, away from the main campus
Before you rely on itTSU’s international office does not arrange housing or register you at Lisi; you deal with the dormitory directly. Room rates are not on the page. Students at Caucasus University, GIPA and GTU should ask their own international office what it offers.
Source: tsu.ge · the provider or a government body · Checked
MG
myhome.ge
A large listing site for flats and rooms to rent
Before departure
Why you need it: Many private flats in Tbilisi are listed here, often in Georgian or Russian; it gives you a feel for prices by district before you arrive.
Filter by rent, district and term; Vake, Saburtalo and Vera are close to most campuses
Message or call in Russian if the landlord does not reply in English
See the flat in person or on a live video call before paying
Before you rely on itMany landlords prefer long leases; say early which months you need (TSU’s spring semester runs 1 March to 12 June 2027, with exams into July). Never send a deposit for a flat you have not seen, and get a written agreement with the amount, deposit and who pays the utilities.
Source: myhome.ge · the provider or a government body · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
SG
ss.ge
Second big listing site for rentals in Tbilisi
Before departure
Why you need it: It has listings that never reach myhome.ge, so checking both widens a thin market for short lets.
Before you rely on itThe same flat can appear more than once, from the owner and from agents; if an agent is involved, ask about a fee before viewing.
Source: home.ss.ge · the provider or a government body · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
Student life3
Your host university’s international office is the way in: it confirms your dates, says whether you qualify for the 20-tetri student fare, and at TSU runs free Georgian classes.
ST
Student travel card
20-tetri rides on Tbilisi metro and buses
On arrival
Why you need it: Students pay 20 tetri instead of 1 lari, which adds up over a semester of daily trips to campus.
Free · 20 tetri a ride (2026)Varies by universityVaries by residence status
Ask your host international office whether exchange students can get the student travel card
If they can, take your passport and student ID to a Bank of Georgia branch
Use the card on the metro and buses
Before you rely on itThe fare is for students of accredited universities in Tbilisi. TSU lists the card for its bachelor’s, master’s, PhD, medical and Georgian-preparation students and does not mention exchange students, so check before counting on it; the answer may differ by university.
Source: ttc.com.ge · the provider or a government body · Checked
TI
TSU Inbound Mobility
TSU’s office for incoming exchange students
Before departure
Why you need it: It publishes the information sheet and important dates for 2026/27, sets the spring deadlines and runs free Georgian classes for every incoming exchange student.
Make sure ADA nominates you by 14 November 2026; your own application is due by 28 November 2026
Download the information sheet and important dates for 2026/27
Email exchange@tsu.ge (bilateral exchanges) about courses and arrival
Choose courses only from TSU’s English-taught catalogue for incoming students, up to 30 ECTS
Before you rely on itSpring semester 2027 runs 1 March to 12 June, with exams in June and July (subject to change). Course changes are possible only in the first two weeks; after that every listed course appears on your transcript, whatever the result. At Caucasus University, GIPA and GTU, the international office plays the same role; ask it for its own dates.
Source: tsu.ge · the provider or a government body · Checked
ET
ESN Tbilisi
Erasmus Student Network’s section for exchange students in Tbilisi
On arrival
Why you need it: Run by students for exchange students, it is the quickest way to meet other newcomers in the first weeks; TSU names ESN Georgia among its student groups.
Follow ESN Tbilisi on Instagram or Facebook from its ESN page before you arrive
Write to info.esntbilisi@gmail.com to ask about events for incoming students
Before you rely on itIt is the only ESN section in Georgia, and its page does not say which universities it serves, so ask whether its events are open to students of your host university.
Source: accounts.esn.org · the provider or a government body · Checked
Communication & language2
Signs, forms and menus are in Georgian script; Russian gets you far with older people, English with students and younger staff.
GT
Google TranslateEssential
Camera translation of Georgian script, offline
Before departure
Why you need it: Menus, signs and notices are in Georgian script, which you cannot sound out on arrival; the camera mode reads them on the spot.
Install the app and download Georgian for offline use
Try camera mode on a Georgian sign or menu photo before you fly
Before you rely on itFine for menus and signs, not for contracts: ask your host office to check a lease before you sign. Many people will switch to Russian if it is easier for you.
Before you rely on itFree for TSU’s incoming exchange students and worth 5 ECTS. Students at other partners should ask their own international office; check with ADA before counting the credits.
Source: tsu.ge · the provider or a government body · Checked
Words for the first week
გამარჯობაgamarjoba
Hello
მადლობაmadloba
Thank you
კი / არაki / ara
Yes / no
ბოდიშიbodishi
Sorry; excuse me
ინგლისური იცით?inglisuri itsit?
Do you speak English?
რა ღირს?ra ghirs?
How much is it?
ბარათით შეიძლება?baratit sheidzleba?
Can I pay by card?
ანგარიში, თუ შეიძლებაangarishi, tu sheidzleba
The bill, please
გაუმარჯოს!gaumarjos!
Cheers! (literally “to victory”)
მიშველეთ!mishvelet!
Help!
Emergency & safety3
112 is the only number to remember, and its app works in Azerbaijani, Russian and English; save the embassy’s number before you go.
GP
GPC
Pharmacy chain with 24-hour branches and online delivery
Optional
Why you need it: For a cold, a fever or a late-night need, GPC has 24-hour branches in Tbilisi and an online shop with delivery and an English version.
Bring the generic name of any medicine you take, not only the brand you know from home
Before you rely on itAversi and PSP are the other big chains, with branches across Tbilisi, and Glovo and Wolt deliver from pharmacies too. Some medicines sold freely at home may need a prescription here; ask the pharmacist.
Source: gpc.ge · the provider or a government body · Checked
EO
Embassy of Azerbaijan in GeorgiaEssential
Consular help for citizens of Azerbaijan, in Tbilisi
Before departure
Why you need it: If your passport is lost or stolen, the embassy’s consular section is where you get a document to travel home, and it is in the centre of Tbilisi.
Save +995 32 224 30 04 (consular section), +995 32 224 22 20 (embassy) and consul_tbilisi@mission.mfa.gov.az
Note the consular phone hours: Monday to Friday, 14:00–16:00
Visits are by appointment, Monday to Friday 09:30–12:00; book through the ministry’s portal at appointment.mfa.gov.az
Keep a scan of your passport in your email
Before you rely on itNot from Azerbaijan? Your own embassy’s page is the one to save. The embassy is at 4 Vakhtang Gorgasali Street, Tbilisi.
Source: tbilisi.mfa.gov.az · the provider or a government body · Checked
1G
112 GeorgiaEssential
Calls, chats or silently alerts 112 with your location
Before departure
Why you need it: If you cannot explain where you are, the app sends your GPS position, and its chat and menus work in Azerbaijani, Russian and English.
Learn where the SOS button is: it alerts the police silently with your position
Before you rely on itAnyone in Georgia can use it. False calls are punishable by law.
Source: 112.gov.ge · the provider or a government body · Checked
Culture & practical tips
Hospitality is serious and ritual-heavy, churches have a dress code, and the street rules for pedestrians are not the ones you know.
01Crossings are not a promise
Drivers often do not stop at zebra crossings, and some turn fast through them. Use the underpasses on big avenues, cross with locals, and do not step out assuming the car will brake.
02The supra has a toastmaster
At a feast (supra) a tamada leads a long series of toasts: to peace, to the dead, to parents, to friends. Drink wine only when a toast is made, not between them, and it is fine to sip rather than empty the glass.
03Dress for churches
Women are expected to cover their hair and wear a skirt below the knee; many churches lend scarves and wrap skirts at the door. Men should not wear shorts. Keep voices low and ask before taking photos.
04Russian, English or Georgian
Older people and many shopkeepers speak Russian; younger people and students more often speak English. A few words of Georgian, gamarjoba and madloba, open doors faster than either.
05Check the bill for service
Many restaurants add a service charge to the bill. If it is there, no tip is needed; if not, rounding up for good service is enough.
06Khinkali are eaten by hand
Hold the dumpling by its knot, bite a small hole, drink the broth, then eat the rest. The knot is left on the plate, which is also how the table counts how many you ate.
07The occupied regions are off limits
Abkhazia and South Ossetia are outside Georgian government control. Entering them from Russia is illegal under Georgian law; do not plan trips there.
08Stay clear of demonstrations
Political protests take place on Rustaveli Avenue in the centre and can close the road or turn tense. Walk around them, and do not join in on a visitor’s status.
09Mountain weather turns fast
Weekend trips to Kazbegi or Gudauri are easy from Tbilisi, but in February and March passes can close with snow. Check the road before you go and carry warm layers.
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