Border crossing from Georgia to Russia in Kazbegi
 

I've been to this border first week of august to find out the info for other travellers.
You can NOT cross this border. It is only open for Georgia, Azerbajan, Armenia, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus pasport holders.
Gr,
Vincent:thumbup1:

If I am going from Russia to Georgia and I have Estonian passport (Georgia is visa-free for Estonia passports) what may be the problem?

For Belgian passport holders there is also no visa required but this border is only open to some ex-sovjet countries (I don't know if this includes the Baltic states). I don't know if you will be allowed to cross at this border. I've been there in the first week of august and that's what the guy at the Georgian border side told us. He wouldn't let us pass onto the Russian side cause we had no visa for Russia anyway, but we just wanted to try and see the Russian border. So if you are planning to go from Russia to Georgia by this border make sure you check it with the Russian embassy or you will have to enter Georgia by boat I guess cause you cannot go via Abkhazia either! And the border via Azerbajan have the same rules!!!
Hope the info is useful for other travellers.

This would be the CIS (Commonwealth of Independant States) formed after the collapse of the Soviet Union and joined by some former Soviet Union states - not the Baltic states who preferred to go towards the EU.
Current CIS members are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgistan, Moldovia, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Ukraine participates but is not a full member. Georgia resigned at the time of the Ossettia war.

Borders around Russia can be -
Local - open only to passport holders of Russia and the country across the border.
Restricted - open only to CIS passport holders.
International - anyone, subject to any visa requirements etc.

I believe the Russia/Georgia border falls into the 'local' category at the moment.

No. I'm Russian, and I know this problem very much.

Dut to Russian Government Decree №1223 (from 05.11.1999), see my lj:
Antiviza Project LJ - граждане каких стран могут пересекать сухопутные границы RUS-AZ и RUS-GEO ? , in Russian (use translate.google.com), all landing border points (road and railroad) RUS-GEO (only one: Verkhniy Lars-Dariali, ex-Kazbegi) and RUS-AZ(Azerbaijan, several points) are opened for citizens of CIS-countries, Georgia, Abkhazia (limited recognized state, from 2008), South Osetia(limited recognized state, from 2008), and Iran(Islamic Rep.of, from 2010).

This restriction is against terrorists.

Entry to Russia from GEO and AZ citizens of other contries is absolutely impossible.
But I heard unconfirmed info about successful attempt to exit from Russia to GEO and/or AZ foreign travellers.

And, (it's absolutelly confirmed) - the borders between RUS and Abkhazia (Vesjeloe-Psou), and RUS and South Osetia(Nizhniy Zaramag-Rok) are fully opened for citizens of all contries.

Great post, repovesi. I can confirm the bit about Abkhazia and South Ossetia borders; I drove across both last year.

I do believe it may be possible to enter Georgia at Verkhniy Lars, but I would not rely upon it.

Daniel

Daniel, do you have a web page?

No webpage I'm afraid, some pics on FB if you use the site, and the odd post on here and the TT.

Daniel

Daniel

We are two guys riding from Vladivostok (we are in Vlad at the moment waiting for our bikes to arrive from Seattle). We are planning on taking ferry from KZ to Baku in AZ then enter Georgia from AZ then Georgia to Turkey etc etc .

We have 6 month multi entry Russian business visas. Are you saying that it may be possible for us to enter Georgia from Russia at Verkhniy Lars ? If this were possible it would avoid us maybe having to waitfor the ferry in Aktau. If it doen't work out we always have the option of heading north and exiting Russia via Ukraine.

Any info would be welcome

Thanks

Martin

When I was in the area last year I was told by authorities in the area that is was possible to cross. Plus a Lithuanian citizen entered Georgia through that border. For sure the Georgians will not allow you to exit Georgia at Kazbegi, but if the Russians have already let you out, the Georgians may feel obliged to let you in.

I can't give any more info than that.

Daniel

Thanks Daniel,

We will see what happens when we get there......

Martin

Daniel, what about Nizniy Zaramag border cross? Is it open in both directions? I'm checking the maps now and I'm almost sure the road is not asphalt...

Check this page: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...eorgia-36335-6

I can confirm that currently Russia to Georgia at Verhnii Lars/Kazbegi is possible. We passed there week and a half ago without any issues. The problem is that you cannot be sure of the status of this border pass without recent info.

Crossing from Georgia to Russia via Kazbegi/Vladikavkaz border point May 2012
 

Crossing from Georgia to Russia via Kazbegi/Vladikavkaz border point:
Went Friday 11 May 2012 up from Tbilisi to Kazbegi via Georgian Military Highway. The road is very nice, except for the crossing over the pass, where you have 14 km of really bad road. The rest is brand new and fun to ride.
Went up to the border point,parked the bike and asked the guy from custom if I can cross as a non russian/georgian/CIS citizen the border. The answer was YES YOU CAN!
I asked then again, and mentioned that last year the border was closed for foreigners. They said yes, it was closed but now it's open, it is ok to cross to Russia. If you have a russian visa, of course.
I did not crossed because I wanted to go to Azerbaijan and from there to Turmenistan on the way to Mongolia and Siberia.

Border Crossing Point GEO -RUS at Verkhniy Lars is open for non-CSI citizens too; I crossed it this morning with a valid russian visa. No more then 30' to wait.


Beside 20 km. from Gadauri (GEO) to north, the road is good.