Insurance is now mandatory in Georgia — and Polis.ge is turning the purchase into an online habit
Since January 1, 2026, every foreign tourist entering Georgia must have health and accident insurance for the whole trip. In 2025, Georgia recorded 5.5 million international tourist visits. For them, a policy has gone from a formality to a required purchase. Online service Polis.ge sells it with no office visit, and it turns its customers into partners: friends who buy on their recommendation get a discount, and the customers themselves get rewards.
A market created by law
According to Georgia’s National Tourism Administration, the country recorded 5,521,866 international tourist visits in 2025, up 8.4% on 2024. Total international visits reached 7.8 million. The fastest-growing markets were China (+44%), Azerbaijan (+33%) and Israel (almost +30%).
Under Georgia’s Law on Tourism, a mandatory insurance requirement came into effect on January 1, 2026. The policy’s sum insured must be at least GEL 30,000. The policy must be valid for the entire stay, from the day of entry to the day of departure. It may be checked at the border.
The new requirement means that millions of international tourist visits now involve arranging health and accident insurance for the duration of the stay.
What is Polis.ge?
Polis.ge is an online insurance service in Georgia. Travelers can choose and buy a travel policy for the dates they need on the website, either before the trip or while already in the country. The insurance products are provided by GPI Holding; the service is operated by CAP Group LLC.
The service deliberately avoids turning the purchase into a comparison of dozens of offers. Instead of a calculator, there are three ready-made plans: Lite, Standard and Premium. The buyer sees how they differ and picks the one that fits. For someone buying a mandatory policy before a flight, an easy choice matters more than endless customisation.
“A tourist doesn’t want to figure out insurance. They want to be let into the country and to get help if something happens. We removed everything that stops you from buying a policy in one go,” says the company’s founder.
Recommendation as a growth channel
In travel insurance, the key question is “where do I buy it?” People ask it of those who already live in Georgia or have been there: friends, colleagues, members of expat chats. Polis.ge built its growth model on this. Rather than only buying ads, the service rewards the people who make the recommendation.
This is the job of the Polis.ge Partners Club. A member signs up with a Georgian phone number and gets a personal link. Friends who buy a travel policy through that link get a 5% discount. The member earns points, credited once the policy is paid for, issued and in force. Points can be exchanged for rewards from the catalogue: Wolt vouchers, headphones, speakers and other electronics. Full terms are published on the Polis.ge Partners Club page.
For the business, this means a controlled cost of customer acquisition. Rewards are paid only for a policy that is paid for and in force, not for a click or a visit.
Why it matters for the market
Mandatory insurance has turned the travel policy into a mass-market product. Mass-market products eventually move to wherever buying is easiest: online, on a smartphone and through friends’ recommendations. Polis.ge enters the market with two advantages at once: simple online purchase for tourists, and a partner programme for people who have lived in Georgia for years and are already the go-to source of advice for newcomers.
FAQ
Do I need insurance to enter Georgia in 2026?
Yes. Since January 1, 2026, foreign tourists must have health and accident insurance for their entire stay. The policy’s sum insured must be at least GEL 30,000. Policies from both Georgian and foreign insurers are accepted.
Can I buy insurance online if I’m already in Georgia?
On Polis.ge, you can buy a travel policy either before your trip or while you’re already in the country.
What is the Polis.ge Partners Club?
It’s a referral programme. A member’s friends get a 5% discount on a travel policy, and the member earns points that can be exchanged for rewards. Health and car insurance are not part of the programme.
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