Customs Clearance in Georgia
Import entries into Georgia are administered by Georgian Revenue Service. Cargo typically sits 2–6 days at the gateway before release, and most of that window is documentation rather than physical inspection. We handle the entry itself — classification, valuation, duty and tax settlement, and the release — either as part of a delivered duty-paid movement or as a standalone brokerage service on cargo somebody else is shipping.
Clearance profile — Georgia
| Customs authority | Georgian Revenue Service |
|---|---|
| Duty and tax | VAT 18%; customs duty of 0%, 5% or 12% only — and 0% on most goods under the China–Georgia free trade agreement |
| De-minimis | GEL 300 for personal parcels |
| Certification | Technical regulation conformity for regulated goods; certificate of origin to claim FTA preference |
| Typical port dwell | 2–6 days |
| Sea gateways | Poti, Batumi, Anaklia (under development) |
| Air gateways | TBS (Tbilisi), BUS (Batumi) |
Compiled from the destination customs authority and port operators as a buyer-planning reference. It is not a customs ruling — the binding position depends on your HS heading and the consignee's status.
What we do on the entry
- Classification. We agree the HS heading before the cargo sails, not after it lands. A heading argued at the border costs storage every day it runs.
- Valuation. We build the customs value the way Georgia expects it — including or excluding freight and insurance according to the local rule, with the supporting evidence attached.
- Entry filing and duty settlement. Lodged in the consignee's name or, where the market allows it, under our own importer arrangement.
- Release and onward delivery. Terminal release, any inspection attendance, and delivery to the door if you want the movement quoted duty-paid.
What actually holds shipments here
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.
None of that is unusual, but all of it is easier to resolve before the container sails than after it arrives.
How the lane behaves
Georgia has had a free trade agreement with China since 2018 — the only one in the Caucasus — 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.
Documents we will ask for
- Commercial invoice and packing list matching the goods exactly
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Certificate of origin where a preference is claimed
- Consignee registration or tax identifier for the market
- Product certification, permits or licences where the commodity requires them
Mismatches between the invoice and the transport document are the single most common reason an entry is queried. We check them before filing rather than after a query lands.
Clearing agents in Georgia
Our entries in Georgia are filed by licensed local brokers, not sub-contracted blind. If you hold a customs broker licence or AEO authorisation here, we are open to adding capacity — we send referred volume from an ocean freight book that already discharges at your gateways.
The network is vetted rather than open: licence verification with the issuing authority, insurance, two contactable references and supervised trial entries before any unsupervised volume.
Apply to become our Georgia clearance partner →Destination guide
Gateways, inland legs, port behaviour and seasonal pressure for Georgia — the background this clearance page assumes.
Georgia destination guide →Common questions
Who administers customs clearance in Georgia?
Import entries are administered by Georgian Revenue Service.
How long does clearance take in Georgia?
Cargo typically sits 2–6 days at the gateway. Complete paperwork lodged before arrival is what keeps a shipment at the short end of that range.
What duty and tax applies in Georgia?
VAT 18%; customs duty of 0%, 5% or 12% only — and 0% on most goods under the China–Georgia free trade agreement The rate that applies to your shipment depends on the HS heading — send the specification for a firm figure.
Can you clear cargo in Georgia that you did not ship?
Yes. Brokerage is available as a standalone service on cargo moved by another forwarder, as well as bundled into a duty-paid movement we carry ourselves.
Do you work with local brokers in Georgia?
Yes — our clearance network is built on vetted local licence holders. Brokers in this market can apply to join through our partner programme.