Shipping from China to Georgia
China โ Georgia ยท clearance by Georgian Revenue Service
For buyers shipping into Georgia, the practical question is not the ocean or flight time but what happens after arrival. Georgia is served through Poti, Batumi, Anaklia (under development); cargo enters through TBS air / Poti sea, and the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
On the destination side, Georgian Revenue Service handles clearance; budget 2โ6 days of dwell before the cargo is released.
What the routing looks like in practice
Georgia has had a free trade agreement with China since 2018 โ the only one in the Caucasus โ so most goods enter duty-free with a valid certificate of origin, leaving only 18% VAT. Poti and Batumi also serve as the Black Sea end of the Middle Corridor for cargo continuing to Armenia, Azerbaijan and Central Asia.
| Air gateways used | TBS (Tbilisi), BUS (Batumi) |
|---|---|
| Air transit, China to gateway | 3โ5 business days |
| Sea gateways used | Poti, Batumi, Anaklia (under development) |
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 25โ35 calendar days via Suez to the Black Sea |
| Gateway serving Georgia | TBS air / Poti sea |
| Inland leg to Georgia | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 2โ6 days |
| Peak season to plan around | SepโNov |
Delivery cities in Georgia
Principal delivery points: Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, Rustavi, Poti. Pick a city for the gateway it uses and the inland leg beyond clearance.
What you will pay on arrival in Georgia
Georgian Revenue Service assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Georgia consignees. Current regime: VAT 18%; customs duty of 0%, 5% or 12% only โ and 0% on most goods under the ChinaโGeorgia free trade agreement, with a de-minimis position of GEL 300 for personal parcels.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: Technical regulation conformity for regulated goods; certificate of origin to claim FTA preference. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Georgia: The FTA preference requires a correctly issued certificate of origin; without it the standard 0/5/12% tariff applies. Black Sea sailing schedules can be affected by regional shipping conditions.
Air, sea or overland into Georgia?
| Mode | Transit to gateway | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| โ๏ธ Air Freight | 3โ5 business days | time-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo |
| ๐ข Sea Freight | 25โ35 calendar days via Suez to the Black Sea | volume cargo where cost per kilo matters more than speed |
Transit shown is China departure to the Georgia gateway and excludes the same-day inland leg to Georgia and 2โ6 days of clearance.
What to sort out before the cargo leaves China
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: Technical regulation conformity for regulated goods; certificate of origin to claim FTA preference.
- Budget for the inland leg: same-day delivery beyond gateway clearance to reach Georgia.
- Put the Georgia delivery address, contact name and phone number on the invoice, not just the packing list.
- Use ISPM-15 treated pallets. Untreated wood is the most common reason otherwise-clean cargo gets held.
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during SepโNov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (LรWรH รท 6000) โ the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Georgia take?
China to the Georgia gateway is 3โ5 business days by air, 25โ35 calendar days via Suez to the Black Sea by sea. On top of that, allow 2โ6 days of clearance with Georgian Revenue Service and a same-day inland leg to Georgia.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Georgia?
Georgian Revenue Service applies: VAT 18%; customs duty of 0%, 5% or 12% only โ and 0% on most goods under the ChinaโGeorgia free trade agreement. The de-minimis position is GEL 300 for personal parcels. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Georgia.
What certification do I need for Georgia?
For regulated goods, plan for: Technical regulation conformity for regulated goods; certificate of origin to claim FTA preference. Missing conformity paperwork is the single most common cause of a hold, and in most cases it cannot be remedied once the cargo has arrived.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for Georgia?
We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight โ length ร width ร height in centimeters divided by 6000 for air โ and bill the greater of the two, rounded up to the next kilogram. Light, bulky cargo is almost always billed on volume.
Which port or airport does cargo for Georgia clear through?
Cargo for Georgia is routed via TBS air / Poti sea. Sea gateways for Georgia are Poti, Batumi, Anaklia (under development); air gateways are TBS (Tbilisi), BUS (Batumi). We pick whichever gives the shortest total door time for your address.
What documents does Georgian Revenue Service require?
A commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading or air waybill, a certificate of origin where it lowers duty, and any product certification (Technical regulation conformity for regulated goods; certificate of origin to claim FTA preference). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Georgia change by ministerial decision, sometimes mid-year. The figures on this page are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling โ confirm the current position for your own HS code with Georgian Revenue Service or your broker before you ship.
- Georgian Revenue Service
- WTO โ Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- IPPC โ ISPM 15 wood packaging standard
- WCO โ Harmonized System nomenclature
- IMO โ IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea
Page data last reviewed: 10 ๆ 2026.
Shipping by industry
This page covers the route and clearance picture for the destination. Packing, classification and the compliance step that actually holds a shipment depend on what you are sending โ these guides cover that by commodity.
- Transformers New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Sanitary Ware Building Materials & Construction Products
- Cartons Wood, Bamboo & Paper Products
- Flexible Packaging Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Home Decor Furniture & Home Products
- Technical Textiles Textiles, Apparel, Footwear & Leather
- Outdoor Products Toys, Sports, Outdoor & Leisure
- Fasteners Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Electric Motors General Machinery & Industrial Equipment
- Wire & Cable New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Wall Panels Building Materials & Construction Products
- Injection Molded Parts Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
Checking the Georgia duty position yourself
Duty and tax figures on this page are planning estimates. The binding assessment is made by Georgian Revenue Service against your declared HS code at the time of entry; where the amount is material, verify the current rate through ITC Market Access Map before committing to an order.
If you want to sanity-check a duty figure yourself, start from the heading rather than the product name โ the WCO Harmonized System is the underlying nomenclature, and the WTO Tariff & Trade Data portal holds the applied rates by country pair.
For ocean cargo, restricted commodities move under the IMO's IMDG Code, and the container has to be declared and stowed accordingly. Batteries, flammables and corrosives all have a compliant ocean path; what causes rolled bookings is finding out about them after the container is packed.
On the origin side, export declaration and any commodity inspection requirement fall under China Customs (GACC); we handle that filing as part of the service, but the requirement is theirs, not ours.
Watch: the process behind this route
This guide covers routing and clearance for Georgia. The video below covers the wider shipping process that sits around it.
Ocean Freight 101 - What Is LCL Ocean Freight — Flexport. Published on YouTube by a third party; we link it because it explains the process well, not because we produced it or endorse the provider.
Customs clearance in Georgia
Duty and tax position, certification, typical port dwell and what actually holds shipments at this border โ plus who files the entry.
Georgia clearance requirements →