From 3 April 2026, Georgian holders of diplomatic, official, and service passports must obtain a visa to enter Switzerland. The Swiss Federal Council made the decision on 1 April.
According to official explanations, this measure is part of the development of Schengen visa legislation and will remain in effect for 12 months. The restriction does not apply to other Georgian citizens.
The document notes that the EU recently strengthened the mechanism to suspend visa-free travel for third countries. The updated rules allow visa requirements to be temporarily imposed due to:
Deterioration of foreign relations with a third country
Violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms
Switzerland has applied these rules specifically to Georgia, citing legislative changes adopted last year. As a result, Georgian diplomats and public officials will lose visa-free travel for one year.
Additionally, certain provisions of the existing Switzerland-Georgia agreement, which simplified visa procedures, are temporarily suspended.
