Health insurance in Georgia
The entry requirement and cover for long stays.
Retiring in Georgia. What happens to your pension, tax and health cover.
In short
A state pension from Germany, Austria or Switzerland can in principle be paid to you in Georgia. You then confirm regularly, with a life certificate, that you are still alive. Germany has no social security agreement with Georgia, so according to the German liaison office for health insurance abroad your German statutory health insurance ends when you move there, and you need cover of your own. Under the double tax treaty of 1 June 2006, a German state pension may be taxed only in Germany.
The points in detailBritish citizens may visit Georgia without a visa for up to a year, according to the UK Foreign Office. To live there permanently, you need a residence permit.
Residence permitThe points
What changes when you move.
Pension, tax, health, residence and the flat itself. Settle each point with the relevant body before you go.
Pension paid abroad
Germany's statutory pension fund, the Deutsche Rentenversicherung, pays pensions abroad as a rule. Georgia is not on its list of countries with a social security agreement. Since October 2013, however, the fund says pensions are paid in full in such countries too. The exceptions are certain periods, such as those under the Foreign Pensions Act, which are generally not paid outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland.
Life certificate
If your pension is paid abroad, you have to confirm regularly that you are still alive. For German pensions, the pension service of Deutsche Post sends the form once a year with the pension adjustment notice. Public authorities, German embassies and consulates or a notary are among those who can certify it, as the notes on deutschepost.de explain.
Tax on the pension
Georgia exempts resident individuals' foreign-source income. Under Article 18(2) of the 2006 double tax treaty, benefits from the German statutory social security system may be taxed only in Germany. Other pensions, such as company pensions, are taxed under Article 18(1) in the country where you are resident. For public-service pensions, the article refers to Article 19(2). Have the rule for your own pension checked.
Health cover
With no social security agreement in place, your German statutory health insurance ends when you move to Georgia, according to a leaflet from the German liaison office for health insurance abroad, the DVKA. Your fund can tell you what cover is then open to you. Since 1 January 2026, entering Georgia has required health and accident insurance with at least GEL 30,000 of cover for the whole stay.
Visa-free or with a permit
The UK Foreign Office says British citizens may visit for up to a year without a visa; the German Foreign Office gives up to 360 days for Germans. For other nationalities, Georgia's foreign ministry gives the period on geoconsul.gov.ge. If you live in Georgia permanently, you apply for a residence permit. Owning a flat with a market value above USD 150,000 is one route.
A flat to grow old in
Look for a lift, step-free access from the pavement to your front door and a bathroom that can be adapted. Ask how the lift copes with a power cut. Walk the route to the clinic, the pharmacy and the supermarket.
By home country
Germany, Austria, Switzerland.
Each country pays its pensions abroad through its own office. This is who to contact.
Germany
Pension fund and DVKA.
- Pension
- Deutsche Rentenversicherung, pensions paid abroad
- Proof of life
- life certificate via the Deutsche Post pension service
- Health cover
- DVKA, living abroad
- Tax
- Germany and Georgia treaty of 1 June 2006
Austria
Pension Insurance Institution.
- Pension
- Pensionsversicherungsanstalt (PVA), payment abroad
- Proof of life
- life certificate once a year
- Health cover
- check with your own health insurer
- Tax
- Austria and Georgia treaty of 11 April 2005 (Federal Law Gazette III No. 60/2006)
Switzerland
AHV for residents abroad.
- Pension
- Swiss Compensation Office (SAK) in Geneva for pensioners abroad
- Proof of life
- life certificate when the SAK asks for it
- Before retirement
- voluntary AHV/IV if you live outside the EU and EFTA, apply within one year
- Tax
- Switzerland and Georgia treaty of 15 June 2010 (SR 0.672.936.01)
The rules depend on the type of pension, your insurance record and where you live, and sometimes on nationality. Get advice from the paying institution before you move. A UK State Pension rises each year only if you live in the EEA, Gibraltar, Switzerland or a country with a UK social security agreement, and Georgia is not on GOV.UK's list of countries where increases are paid. This page is not pension or tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about retiring in Georgia.
Pension, tax, health cover, residence and where to live.
Can I have my pension paid in Georgia?
For a German state pension, yes, and as a rule in full. Tell the Deutsche Rentenversicherung about your move and your new account about two months ahead. Certain insurance periods, such as those under the Foreign Pensions Act, may be cut. Get the amount confirmed before you move.
Do I pay tax on my pension in Georgia?
If you are resident in Georgia, it exempts individuals' foreign-source income. Under Article 18(2) of the 2006 double tax treaty, however, a German state pension may be taxed only in Germany. Rent from a Georgian flat is taxed in Georgia at 5%.
Am I covered by German statutory health insurance in Georgia?
As a rule, no. Germany has no social security agreement with Georgia, so according to the DVKA your German cover ends when you move there. You need private cover that includes permanent residence in Georgia.
Do I need a residence permit to retire in Georgia?
Not for a visa-free stay. British citizens may visit for up to a year, according to the UK Foreign Office; for other nationalities, check geoconsul.gov.ge. If you live there permanently, you apply for a residence permit. Owning a flat with a market value above USD 150,000 is one route.
Is Batumi or Tbilisi better for retirees?
Batumi offers the sea and a mild but very humid climate, and is quiet in winter. Tbilisi is the capital, with year-round daily life and a wider choice of clinics. Try living in both, winter included.
Last reviewed on 3 November 2026. Sources: Deutsche Rentenversicherung (deutsche-rentenversicherung.de): Germany's social security agreements, list of countries (Georgia not included, as of 3 November 2026); release 'Rente im Ausland genießen' (11 August 2025); FAQ on moving abroad, Deutsche Post, Renten Service branch (deutschepost.de): notes on the 2026 life certificate, GKV-Spitzenverband, German liaison office for health insurance abroad (DVKA): leaflet 'Meine Krankenversicherung bei Wohnort im Ausland', August 2021 (dvka.de), Double tax treaties with Georgia of Germany (1 June 2006, Federal Law Gazette 2007 II p. 1034, Art. 18(1) and (2)), Austria (11 April 2005, Federal Law Gazette III No. 60/2006) and Switzerland (15 June 2010, SR 0.672.936.01), Tax Code of Georgia, Art. 82 (matsne.gov.ge); German Foreign Office, Georgia, entry requirements, as of 2 November 2026; UK Foreign Office travel advice, Georgia, entry requirements (gov.uk, updated 15 September 2026); geoconsul.gov.ge, Pensionsversicherungsanstalt (pv.at): brochure on payment abroad and the life certificate; Swiss Compensation Office (SAK) and voluntary AHV/IV (ahv-iv.ch; eda.admin.ch); GOV.UK, State Pension if you retire abroad and the list of countries where annual increases are paid. This guide is not legal or tax advice.
Read next
More on living in Georgia.
Health insurance for long stays, the residence permit and the first steps of the move.
Settle the pension, then choose a flat.
Project pages show whether a building has a lift, step-free access and amenities nearby.