Medical visa documents: when you need a visa for treatment and how the package is prepared
Georgian citizens do not need a visa for short stays in the Schengen area, up to 90 days in any 180-day period, so in most cases of treatment in Europe a medical visa is not required. A visa becomes necessary when treatment lasts longer than 90 days, when the country requires visas from Georgians, for example the UK, the USA or India, and for companions travelling to such countries. For these cases we prepare the full package: clinic invitation, cost estimate, proof of funds, translated medical history, insurance and the application.
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First we check whether you need oneWe will not have you pay for an unnecessary application and fee
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An invitation with the right contentDiagnosis, dates, cost and payment terms in a single letter from the clinic
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Translation in consistent terminologyStatements, certificates and the discharge summary in the language the embassy requires
In short: when you need a medical visa
- In Schengen countries such as Germany, Austria or Spain, a biometric passport is enough for treatment of up to 90 days and you do not need a visa.
- Treatment lasting more than 90 days requires a national (category D) visa, issued by the embassy of the specific country before you travel.
- The UK and the USA require Georgians to have a visa even for treatment; India has a separate electronic medical visa for the patient and for the companion.
- Turkey and Israel do not require a visa for short-term treatment; we check the rules for longer stays before you travel.
- The core of the package is always the same: clinic invitation, cost estimate, proof of funds, translated medical history, insurance and accommodation.
- The embassy decides on the visa; we prepare and translate the package, but we cannot guarantee the outcome.
When you need a visa: by destination
The first question we ask with every enquiry is whether a visa is needed at all. Below is the general picture for a Georgian citizen with a biometric passport.
| Destination | Treatment up to 90 days | More than 90 days | Companion |
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| Schengen countries (Germany, Austria, Spain, etc.) | Visa-free, with a biometric passport | National D visa, in advance, from the embassy of the country where you are treated | The same rule; their own D visa for a long stay |
| Turkey | Visa-free, with a passport or ID card, within the visa-free period | Residence permit on site, before the visa-free period expires | The same conditions as the patient |
| Israel | Visa-free | Extension of stay with permission from the local authority | The same conditions as the patient |
| United Kingdom | Visitor visa, which allows private medical treatment | Extension of stay for treatment, with a doctor's letter | Their own visitor visa |
| USA | B-2 visa, with an interview at the embassy | Extension of stay on site, through the immigration service | Their own B-2 visa |
| India | Electronic medical visa (e-Medical Visa) | Extension on site, at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office | e-Medical Attendant visa, limited in number |
| South Korea | C-3-3 medical visa (up to 90 days), with an invitation from a registered institution; K-ETA does not apply to Georgians | G-1-10 visa for long-term treatment | A family member acting as caregiver, on a G-1-10 visa |
The table is a guide, not a final answer. Visa rules change, so in every specific case we check the current requirements against the embassy's official sources and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs information before we start preparing the application.
What goes into a visa package for treatment?
The embassy needs to be convinced of three things: the treatment is real and planned, its cost is covered, and the patient will return home after treatment. Every document answers one of these questions.
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Clinic invitation or admission letter
On the clinic's letterhead, signed: the patient's name and passport number, diagnosis, planned treatment, admission date and expected duration, and the companion's name. We agree the content of the letter with the clinic in advance so that no point the embassy needs is missed.
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Cost estimate
The estimated cost of treatment, itemised, and the payment terms: full prepayment, a deposit or payment in stages. The embassy compares this amount with your financial documents, so the figures must match.
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Proof of payment or funds
A receipt for the advance paid into the clinic's account, or a bank statement covering the cost of treatment and the stay. If a relative or sponsor is paying, you need their letter, their statement and proof of the relationship or connection.
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Translated medical history
The discharge summary, the treating doctor's report and the test results that confirm the need for treatment, in the embassy's language or in English. Some embassies ask for a notarised translation, others accept a plain one; we confirm the required form in advance.
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Medical insurance
A Schengen visa requires a policy covering the whole stay, and for a national visa some countries ask for special health insurance. An ordinary policy does not cover planned treatment: its cost is proven by the proof of payment, while insurance covers unforeseen events.
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Accommodation and ties to Georgia
A hotel or apartment booking for the days outside hospital, a ticket reservation, and documents showing your ties to Georgia: an employment certificate, property, family. For the embassy, this is evidence that you will return after treatment.
The medical history is translated by our medical document translation service, using the same terminology as the documents sent to the clinic, so that the diagnosis reads the same for the embassy and for the clinic.
Companion, child and donor: what extra documents are needed?
In a country that requires a visa, the companion is a separate applicant, with their own application form, financial documents and fee. The embassy's main question is who they are to the patient and why their presence is needed. So the companion must be named in the clinic's letter, and the relationship must be documented: a marriage certificate for a spouse, a birth certificate for a child or parent. We start the translation of birth and marriage certificates on the first day of the package, and if someone else is paying the companion's costs, the translation of bank statements and the sponsor's letter is prepared in the same package.
- Child patient. The application form is completed by a parent or legal representative. If the child travels with one parent, the embassy often asks for the other parent's notarised consent and a birth certificate naming both parents.
- Living donor for a transplant. Clinics, and the law in some countries, check the relationship between donor and recipient especially strictly. The chain of kinship must be proven with every intermediate certificate, sometimes with an apostille and a certified translation.
- Several companions. Some countries limit the number of companions, for example with India's medical visa. If family members plan to take turns travelling, each of them needs a separate package.
How we prepare the application: five steps
Visa preparation starts in parallel with communication with the clinic, so that the treatment date does not have to wait for the embassy queue.
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Checking whether a visa is needed
Based on the country, citizenship, passport type and length of treatment, we establish whether a visa is needed and of which category. If it is not, we stop here and prepare the minimum documents you need at the border.
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Invitation and cost estimate from the clinic
We send the clinic the embassy's list of requirements and ask for a letter that covers every point. If something is missing from the standard letter, we ask for a new one before it goes into the application.
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Translation and certification
Georgian documents are translated into the language the embassy requires, with notarisation or an apostille where needed. All translations are prepared in consistent terminology so that the diagnosis does not read differently from one document to another.
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Application form and appointment
We complete the application form with you, check your answers against the documents and schedule your visit to the embassy or visa centre. The applicant attends in person for biometrics and the interview; nobody can do this on their behalf.
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Preparing for the interview
We go through the main questions together: why this clinic, who is paying, how long you are staying, who is waiting for you in Georgia. Answers should be simple and consistent with the documents; a memorised script raises more suspicion at the embassy than an honest answer.
When you do not need a visa: what does the border check, and what happens if treatment runs longer?
Visa-free travel does not mean an automatic right of entry. The border officer may ask about the purpose of the visit, accommodation and funds. A patient travelling for treatment should carry the clinic's letter, the cost estimate or payment receipt, the insurance policy and the return ticket reservation in their hand luggage. These are the same documents prepared for a visa, simply presented at the border instead of at the embassy.
The most difficult situation is when a patient travelled visa-free and the treatment ran beyond 90 days: a complication, an additional operation, rehabilitation. In that case you must apply to the local immigration authority for an extension of stay before the visa-free period expires, with a letter from the treating doctor stating that you cannot travel for medical reasons. Overstaying can lead to refusals on future visits and a fine, so we start on this as soon as the doctor first mentions postponing your return.
The Schengen 90 days are counted cumulatively across all Schengen countries. If you have already been in Europe in the last six months, fewer days remain for treatment, so we count your previous trips together. The EU is also gradually introducing electronic registration at the border and prior travel authorisation for visa-free travellers; before you travel we check what applies on your flight date. Once the visa question is settled, we plan flights and travel, and you will find the overall picture on the treatment abroad page.
Frequently asked questions about medical visas
Does a Georgian citizen need a visa for treatment in Germany?
If the treatment and the stay fit within 90 days, usually not: a Georgian citizen with a biometric passport can stay in the Schengen area visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, including for treatment. If the clinic's plan involves a stay of more than 90 days, for example long-term cancer treatment or rehabilitation, you must obtain a national visa from the German embassy before you travel. Leaving without a visa and hoping to sort it out on arrival is risky. We check the current rules for each specific case against the embassy's own sources.
What should the clinic's invitation letter contain?
The letter must be on the clinic's official letterhead, signed and with contact details. It must state the patient's full name, date of birth and passport number, the diagnosis, the planned treatment, the admission date and expected duration, the estimated cost of treatment and the payment terms. If the patient has a companion, the companion must be named as well. A clinic's standard letter often leaves out one or two of these points, so we check it against the embassy's list of requirements and ask for a new one if needed.
Will the embassy accept the application if a relative or sponsor pays for the treatment?
Yes, this is a common situation, as long as the funding is backed by documents. The sponsor writes a letter confirming that they will cover the patient's treatment and living costs, attaches a bank statement and, if they are a relative, a certificate proving the relationship. If the money was raised through charity or a foundation, you need proof of payment or a letter from the organisation. All the documents are translated, and the figures in them must match. Solidaroba.ge does not fund treatment; we help you prepare and translate these documents.
What happens if I travelled visa-free and the treatment lasts longer than 90 days?
In that case you must apply to the local immigration authority for an extension of stay before your permitted period runs out. The application is accompanied by a letter from the treating doctor confirming that treatment is ongoing and that you cannot travel for medical reasons, together with proof of funds and insurance. The procedure varies by country and the decision rests with the authority. The worst option is to overstay quietly: it can lead to a fine and refusals on future trips. That is why we start on this as soon as the doctor mentions postponing your return.
Do you guarantee that the visa will be granted?
No, and nobody should give you such a guarantee. Only the embassy or visa authority decides on a visa, at its own discretion. What we can ensure is that the package is complete, consistent and correctly translated, that the clinic's letter contains the required information, and that the financial documents match the cost estimate. This removes the most common technical reasons for refusal. We never prepare a false document or an exaggerated certificate: that could cost you future visas as well. If someone promises you a guaranteed visa, treat it as a warning sign, not an advantage.
How far in advance should I start preparing the visa?
As soon as the clinic confirms the treatment plan and an expected date. The time breaks down into three parts: getting a correct invitation from the clinic, translating and certifying the documents, and booking the embassy appointment and waiting for the decision. The last part is the least predictable: the queue and processing time vary by country and season and sometimes take weeks. If the treatment is urgent, we document the urgency with a doctor's letter and ask the embassy to expedite processing, although that decision is theirs. Until the visa is issued, we book tickets only on refundable fares.
What comes before the visa and what follows it
- Finding a clinic and a doctor The clinic invitation starts where the treatment plan and cost estimate have been confirmed.
- Interpreter at a clinic abroad A Georgian medical interpreter on site or by call, once the visa is granted and treatment begins.
- Apostille and legalisation When the embassy asks for an apostille or consular legalisation on a Georgian certificate.
First, let us find out whether you need a visa at all
Tell us the country, the length of treatment and who is travelling. If you do not need a visa, we will tell you so directly; if you do, you will get an exact list of documents and timelines.