VISAS, ENTRY RULES, CUSTOMS REGULATIONS in Abkhazia
To cross the border with Abkhazia, it is enough to present an internal Russian or international passport. Children under 14 must have a birth certificate with an insert about Russian citizenship (or a foreign passport). For children under 18 accompanied by one of the parents or with accompanying persons without parents, a notarized consent from the second or both parents is required for the child to leave the Russian Federation.
When entering Abkhazia, it is obligatory to have medical insurance. Insurance must be covered at the rate of 10 rubles per day of stay in Abkhazia. It is issued in Russian travel agencies, directly at the border or upon arrival at the boarding house.
The checkpoint on the border of Russia and Abkhazia is located near the village of Vesyoloye in Sochi, on the Abkhazian side it is located on the Psou River. If you are going to get to the republic not by plane, then you should specify the opening hours of the border, since there are technical breaks here during the day.
To cross the border on a private vehicle with Russian numbers, you must have a driver’s license and a registration certificate. In the zone of customs-border inspection on the Abkhaz side of the border, it is necessary to obtain registration of the vehicle by paying a fee.
Customs rules in Abkhazia are the same as in Russia. The import of currency is not limited, the export is limited to the amount of 10,000 US dollars. You can import duty-free goods worth up to 65 thousand rubles, up to 2 liters of alcoholic beverages and up to 50 cigars, or 100 cigarillos, or 200 cigarettes, 250 g of tobacco.
Embassy in Abkhazia
Abkhazia, embassy in Moscow
Embassy of Georgia:
Arbatskaya metro station (Filyovskaya line), Small Rzhevsky lane, 6.
Tel.: 291-13-59, 290-69-02
Fax: 291-59-90.
Due to the tension in relations between Georgia and Abkhazia, the Georgian Embassy does not provide any information about the republic.
Abkhazia, Russian embassy in the country:
There is no Russian embassy on the territory of Abkhazia. The nearest embassy of the Russian Federation is in the city of Tbilisi.
Embassy of the Russian Federation in Tbilisi:
Ave. I. Chavchavadze, 51
Tel.: (995-32) 91-24-06, 91-26-45, 94-16-04, 95-17-54.
Fax: (995-32) 91-27-38, 95-52-33.
Contact in Abkhazia
On the streets of the cities of Abkhazia there are payphones from which you can call only within the republic. You can make an international call from hotel rooms or from a call center in Sukhumi.
In order to call from Russia to Abkhazia, you need to dial 8 – 10 – 995 – area code – subscriber number. The code for Sukhumi is 122. You can call automatically to Abkhazia only in Sukhumi to numbers starting with the number 2, in other cases you should order negotiations.
In order to call from Abkhazia to Russia, you need to dial 8 – 10 – 7 – area code – subscriber number.
HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS
January 1-2 – New Year
January 7 – Christmas
January 14 – Azhyrnykhua (Creation Day, renewal)
March 8 – International Women’s Day
May 9 – Victory Day
September 30 – Liberation Day of the Republic of Abkhazia
November 26 – Constitution Day of the Republic of Abkhazia
There are also holidays in the country that are not non-working:
May 23 – Day of the Holy Apostle Simon Canonite
May 31 – Day of Remembrance of the victims of the Caucasian War and the forced eviction of the mountain peoples of the Caucasus
July 23 – Flag Day of the Republic
August 14 – Memorial Day of the Defenders of the Fatherland
October 11 – Armed Forces of the Republic of Abkhazia
December 14 – Day of Remembrance of the children who died during the Abkhaz-Georgian conflict
USEFUL THINGS
According to FOODEZINE.COM, omen and girls are not recommended to travel around Abkhazia unaccompanied by men.
SHOPS
Most shops in Abkhazia are open from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 19:00.
Tipping Tips
in Abkhazia are most often already included in the bill. They range from 7 to 10% of the amount indicated in the invoice.
NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
Abkhazians are friendly and will always come to the aid of a tourist.
ELECTRICITY
220V, 50Hz;
HEALTH CARE
Before traveling to Abkhazia, it is necessary to take out medical insurance with coverage at the rate of 10 rubles per day of residence in the republic. It can be purchased at Russian travel agencies, directly at the border or upon arrival at the boarding house. Drinking tap water in Abkhazia is not recommended.
