Flying to Georgia? These Drugs Could Turn Your Vacation Into Detention

There is an alarming increase in the number of cases in which tourists are arrested immediately upon landing in Georgia, as a result of their luggage carrying medications that are prohibited from being brought into the country, or quantities exceeding the permitted amount. This occurs even when the respective medications are sold in travelers' countries without a prescription.

What You Need to Know Before Traveling to Georgia

According to Georgian procedures, border authorities are particularly strict about enforcing legislation in the field of medicines. Possession of a prohibited medicine or a quantity that does not meet the rules may lead to a delay in border control, significant fines, registration in the local database, arrest, and even a ban on future visits to the country.

The authorities instruct passengers to carefully verify that the preparations brought for personal use are allowed to be brought in, and that the quantity they wish to carry is within the defined limits of the law. The official list of medications published by officials includes the following:

- pre-flight check

- medicine used to treat a health condition that appears on the list of restrictions require a doctor's prescription in English and a notarized translation of the document.

- carry medications in your hand luggage along with the relevant medical documents

- do not bring any medications beyond what is required for personal use into the country

- in case of doubt, it is recommended to contact the Georgian Embassy in your country for further clarification.

List of Medications You Should Not Take on a Flight to Georgia

1. Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances

All medications in this category are completely prohibited without appropriate medical documentation.

2. Drugs under "special supervision"

The list includes, among others:
- Methadone
- Methylphenidate (Ritalin and similar)
- Methamphetamine
- Pregabalin (Lyrica and similar)
- Tianeptine
- Tramadol
- Fentanyl
- Tilidine
- Alprazolam (Xanax)
- Flunitrazepam

3. Additional prohibited drug groups

The document also lists entire groups of materials that are prohibited without documents, including:

A. Drugs from the opiate family

For example: Acetyldihydrocodeine, Dihydrocodeine, Codeine, Nicodicodeine, Norcodeine, Pholcodine, Ethylmorphine and all combined preparations containing them.

B. Ephedrine-like substances

Ephedrine, Norephedrine, Pseudoephedrine and all combination preparations containing them. 

C. Buprenorphine and all combined preparations based on it.

You should check the latest list on the Georgian Embassy website before your flight.

Final thoughts: Bringing these drugs in without proper documentation is considered a criminal offense in Georgia, and may result in arrest, fines, or denial of entry. Even legal drugs in your country may require a prescription in English and notarized if they appear on the control list.

For personal use, you can pack up to 31 days of treatment, provided that all necessary permits are in place.