How can a foreigner (not from Russia) obtain a visa to Abkhazia?

To obtain a visa to Abkhazia, a citizen of another country (e.g., from the EU, USA, etc.) needs to obtain permission in advance, and then process the visa on-site in Sukhum. Due to Abkhazia's unrecognized status, the process has its own peculiarities.

Step-by-step instructions for foreigners:

1. Obtain entry permission: You need to send a scan of your passport and a completed application form to the email visa@mfaapsny.org or through the form on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia. The passport must be valid for at least another 6 months. A response with permission (or refusal) should arrive within 7 days. In practice, there may be no response. In this case, many tourists enter without it, but this is risky.
2. Cross the border: With a printed permission and your passport, you need to enter Abkhazia. If you do not want problems with future visits to Georgia, you must enter and exit only through the "Inguri" checkpoint from the Georgian side. Entering through the "Psou" checkpoint from Russia will make you a violator of Georgian law.
3. Process the visa in Sukhum: Within three days after entry, you must contact the Consular Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia in Sukhum (ul. Zvanba, 9, tel. +7 840 226 39 48). There you pay the visa fee and receive the visa in your passport.

Visa fee cost (approximately):

• Single-entry visa for up to 10 days — 700 rubles.
• Single-entry visa for up to 1 month — 1400 rubles.
• Single-entry visa for up to 3 months — 2100 rubles.
• Single-entry visa for up to 6 months — 4200 rubles.

The process may seem confusing, so we have gathered all current contacts, links to application forms, and nuances from real tourist experiences in one place. Read more in our guide: Entry to Abkhazia in 2026: rules, documents, and whether a visa is needed.

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