Border Sadakho | Customs and Immigration
Georgia
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- Verified:
- 18 days ago
- GPS:
- 41.22772, 44.83152
- Altitude:
- 0.0 masl
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2xperience.nl
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Border with Armenia (Sadakho) both directions.
Don't take the road over Haghpat. They are working on the road. It is terrible you van will only have a speed of 15 to 20 km/hour. And long waiting times for construction work. .
Road to Haghpat still bad, but you can make it even with 7m.
27.04.2022 - Road from Vanadzor to Border mostly rebuild and in good condition, they currently still work on a few parts.
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Latest Check-Ins
GE to AM: went very quick on Georgian side, Armenian side took a bit longer (1 hour total). Temporary import of vehicle was 25 euro. Friendly people!
Report Check-InArmenia to Georgia/ in Armenia gards were firendly and helpfull. They check all the papers of the car. I had to pay 2 speeding fine ( 11 000 drams = 25 euro) happily i save some drams "just in case" it was easy to pay to the cashier. take care of radar in Armenia ! I spend also few stress minutes because i couldn't find the importation car's paper (it was written in Armenian) but finally i found it. In Georgia gards were helpfull too. I took the car insurance by internet (30 euro fr 90 days). It took one hour because they wanted to check the vaccination and the microchip of the dog... but finally everything was OK. It was longer (90 min) than when i cross the border in the order side (from georgia to armenia one mounth ago) but it still a smooth and fluid border
Report Check-InArmenia to Georgia / in Armenia gards were friendly and helpfull. They check all papers, I was confuse because they ask for importation car autorisation (i had that papers but it was written in Armenian :s it took few stress minutes to find it). take care of radar in Armenia. Before passing the border i had to pay 2 speeding fines ( total 11 000 drams = +/- 25 euros) happily i save some drams "just in case" i paid it to the cashier. In Georgia (i took car insurance by internet 30 euros for 90 days) everything was ok. It took more or less 1 hour because they wanted to check vaccination and microchip of the dog (but everything was in order). finally it was bit longer than in the other side 1 mounth ago maybe because it was at night ( around 8 pm) I was the only car, only some trucks and buses...
Report Check-InGeorgia to Armenia / very smooth and easy pass. The Georgian gards stamp the passport it takes 10 min. In Armenia it smooth too. The gards were friendly and help full. I payed 27 euro for diesel taxe. In less than 30 min I cross this border. Just at de border some poeple propose armenian sim card and insurance but very expensive. 80 euro for 1 mounth car insure and 30 euro for sim card and 1 mounth free internet. I knew about the "real prices" so I refused. In the first city i buy sim car and tel abonnement for 10 euro and car insurance about 20 euro for 60days.
Report Check-InGE to AM —> I crossed at 9am by motorbike. Incredibly smooth, by 9.30 I was in Armenia.
Comments from previous posts remain valid. I’d like to share I was not required to pay for the TIP, I guess reason is because I was by motorbike. The ATM at the roundabout was out of order, but I found another one after 300m.
GE to ARM
Leaving GE super easy and fast. I was reminded that I was on day 27 of 30 to pay traffic fine 100 GEL for riding without helmet, after 30 days it would double. Then I was stamped out. Fine by me. Georgia was great, really loved it, but as I'm probably not back in the next 5 years or longer, I don't think I actually have to pay anything ;-) Also, I was a bit worried about all those speed cameras all over the country, mostly 'section control', but didn't hear anything about it when I left the country.
Entering Armenia is just as easy, the immigration officer needed a few pointers where to find the VIN, etc. in my bike papers, but got the entry stamp within 5 minutes.
Customs made me open one bag and had a superficial glance at my stuff. Then I was told to park and go inside for the TIP. Nothing to pay for motorbikes. Changed some a few Euros at 3,5% commission at the counter next to the two customs windows. Slow moving line, about 8 truck drivers at each window, took nearly an hour until I got the TIP. Exit gate guard has a quick look at the TIP and at the stamp in the passport, good to go.
No-one checked insurance, but I got it online at aswa.am
July 2023 (crossing Armenia to Georgia). Very easy crossing (although I had already been in Georgia). Road to border on Armenian side is very good. The border guards were friendly and quick. On the Georgian side we didn’t need to show insurance but did need to show national driving licenses. Quick and painless all around!
Report Check-InGE --> ARM
Georgian side super fast, passenger goes inside the terminal, driver with the vehicle, you got stamped and that's it.
Armenian side was easy and fast for passport control (again passenger separated from driver), it took a bit longer for vehicle. They checked inside (quickly) 3 times. After passport control you must go into the building and pay for TIP at the bank (10.000 Amd only cash, or 75 GEL). Then you go to the window next to it to actually get all the papers.
We bought insurance at a small shop next to the roundabout: 7.000 Amd only cash for 30 days (Citroen Jumper 130 HP) and Sim card at official Viva Mts shop (4.500 Amd 1 month unlimited, ok with debit card).
GE->AM with a camper over 5 tonnes. Exit GE went very smooth, without car inspection. Entering AM was a little bit complicated, as our camper is over 5 tonnes. Custom checked every storage compartment.
Total fee to pay for entering AM with vehicle over 5 tonnes:
Road tax: 10'000 AMD
Eco tax: 65'000 AMD
Custom Service Fee for temporary import for 30day: 8500 AMD
For the temporary import you have to show up at the truck desk which means waiting time. Total time at boarder: 2h
Addidional the mandatory 3party insurance as already mentioned in the previous posts.
By the way: Construction work at route M6 to Haghpat is almost finished. Smooth drive.
So easy, as previously stated. We used Covid vaccine certificate, the QR code was scanned to confirm.
Report Check-InAM -> GE Super fast border crossing. Went on a wednesday morning and took around 30 min. On both sides passenger had to walk separate to passeport check and only the driver drove through with vehicle. Enter Georgian side: Passport,Vehicle registration document, COVID vaccination or PCR test and less than 1 min look/check of van interior. Didn't ask for car insurance however we've done it online before.
Report Check-InGE -> ARM
crossed today without problems
took us around 1 hour
at Armenien side: show COVID vaccination paper, passport control, short look in our van, payment of the ökotax (72GEL)
GE ->AM road from Tbilissi to sadakhlo in good condition. crossed the border in one hour, hardly anybody. we paid 9500 AMD or 72 GEL, cash only, notes only if in GEL. they no longer need PCR test to go into Armenia if you are vaccinated. road from Sadakhlo to Vanadzor is really bad. it took us 3h30 hours to do 90km. weather was very snowy, about 10km before Vanadzor for 8km the road itself was full of snow, with lorries stopped everywhere , half blocking the road. crazy
Report Check-InGE->AM They checked actual PCR test (max. 72h, pdf on phone was enough, we were not vaccinated at time of entry), old PCR test we did on our 3rd day in Georgia, passport, vehicle registration paper, driver license.
The process to "import" the motorbike took a bit longer, they required vehicle papers, value and year of the bike, no cost.
We bought the insurance beforehand online, 2 months for 5'000 AMD https://aswa.am/self-signing/
When leaving the border, several men tried to stop us to sell insurance. They jumped around and in front of the motorbikes. Be aware of that and just leave them behind. Down the road, right at the roundabout, there is a supermarket with ATM (no fees).
Report Check-InAM-GE:
Very easy, on the Armenian side the didn’t even look at the customs papers. Just collected them and stamped passport out.
To get into Georgia they wanted to see vaccination certificate, PCR Test, vehicle insurance, driving license, passport, vehicle registration, power of attorney (the car is not on our name) translated into Russian, checked the car throughoutly and we had to drive to an other place to let a dog sniff our car.
We had all papers in order and came well prepared (bought car insurance online in advance) so just time consuming. Nothing to pay in that direction.
GE-AM: Easy, nobody there. We bought insurance beforehand online. Had to pay 10.000 Dram for everything. There is an ATM in the building.
We only got 6 months for the car, but 12 months is usual, so pay attention to that little detail if you plan leaving your vehicle in the country and fly out.
Road still under construction, but no problem to drive it as traffic is lead on gravel roads that are easy to drive.
easy Border, very frendly both side.
Armenien: 9500dram for ÖkoTax
pay at Bank, if you have gel 58
PS: The street is still under construction. Some parts are already finished and very good to drive, but a big part is not finished yet :(
Report Check-InSmoth boarder controll. Took us about 30 minutes for everything (checked PCR Test, Stamped passport, checked quickly the car, had to pay an "Öko-Tax" 20$/10.000ADM.)
I would recommend to buy the car insurance online via:
https://aswa.am
It's super easy!
Direct after the border there were some guys who wanted to sell us the car insurance for an horrendous price (15 days for 33.000ADM instead of 5.000ADM which we paid online.
If you drive further there is a supermarket, ATM, Viva shop for simcard (simcard+freeminutes+10GB for 5.000ADM, Apps like Insta/FB/Messager do not consume GB). Here it is also possible to buy the car insurance.
Smoth bordercontroll. Checked PCR Test, stamped the passport, checked quickly the car, had to pay "Öko-Tax" (ca. 20$ or 10.000ADM). In total it took 30min to pass the boarder.
I would recommend to buy the car insurance online:
https://aswa.am
Played for a car for 15days 5.000 ADM.
Direct after ther boarder there are some guys who want to sell you the insurance for 33.000ADM for 15days !!!
If you drive a little further there is a supermarket and a Viva Simcard shop (simcard+10GB for month, Instagram/FB/Messengers do not consume GB!), you can also buy the insurance there.
Open between 10-18! The only open border between the countries at Covid time.
Report Check-InCrossed the border without too much issues. We spent about one hour in total to cross. Had to pay for car registration and
was able to get cash from the ATM in the office.
Went from Georgia to Armenia today without problems. One Motorcycle, 2 persons. It took about 30 min only for all. For Exiting Georgia, I was no. 4 in line, after 5 min It was done.
I have done the road insurance before online, easy and fast here: https://aswa.am/self-signing
2000 Dram for 10 days motorcycle, pay by creditcard. Watch the demo video before starting the process, then it is really easy. Email with police never arrived, but at the end of the process the policy (and T&C...in Armenian language) is shown as .pdf, download and print it. Policy comes with eng and Armenian version.
At the border, my wife (Philippina) was separated for passportcheck, but after a few minutes we were reunited. Presented my (German) Passport, Driver licence, German Car registration, got a stamp, and moved 10 m. There I was asked by an officer to buy insurance from a broker, after telling 2 times I have already got the Armenian Insurance and explaining him how to read the policy it was fine and I was send to ‚Declaration‘. Nobody checked our luggage e.g. or asked for cigarettes/alcohol...
Declaration: Presented Passport and Registration of the bike, told the officer the value is 5.000$, he made copies, print a paper only in Armenian letters, I signed it, and that was it. No payment...
At the ‚checkout‘ I presented all that documents and papers, here you go. Some Officers were friendly, others just doing their job. All was ok. We didn’t get SIM Cards there. I was happy to do the insurance in advance, would recommend that.
Road to Haghpat is still under construction for a total of 10-15 km I guess, often only soil and deep potholes and very bad. Dusty. Gladly it did not rain when we drove. If you can, take another.
Report Check-InEasy enough border. BUT do NOT buy insurance from the van past the border on the Armenian side. Obviously, I suppose, but they’ll rip you off. Just do it online. Super cheap. Get a SIM card in town or at the actual store.
Also, as stated, the road going south into Armenia is pretty bad, for a solid 60-70k or so. Then it gets better, relatively speaking.
Report Check-InGeorgia to Armenia.
Camper Van VW T4. Border Georgia: quick, but unfriendly.
Armenia very friendly. controlled the the car inside. Second passenger went by foot.
After Customer controlling park the car and go to declaration. first pay fee at th3 bank. then go to car declaration. insurance still not nessessary.
Getting documents for car. very friendly.
go out of office. insurance in different stores available. start price 23000 dram. endprice 13000 dram.
also simcart for 5000 dram.
time needed 1 hour.
You can buy mandatory third party liability insurance beforehand online at http://www.ingoarmenia.am/index/index/lang/en. We paid 4,000 AMD for 10 days for a Toyota Hilux. The policy is sent by email, paid by credit card.
Apparently, the fine for not having insurance is USD 200.
Update on the below: the custom was super easy about the full jerry can but remain valid the advice below if you don’t fancy losing some time.
Also: be sure you gave money to pay for the custom declaration!! ATM was nearly impossible to find!
Report Check-InPretty straightforward process. But if you want to save time and if you have jerry cans have them empty on entering Armenian side. I’m now stuck at the custom and not sure what the process will be (I have 60L full jerry cans)
Report Check-InWent from Georgia to Armenia today. Driver stay with the car, passenger has to walk through passport controll. Car was checked well inclusive our box on the car.
Border police was friendly and spoke English very well. Our visit to Azerbaidshan before was no problem, only asked what we did there.
Process was quick and without problems.
Went from Georgia to Armenia today, the process was quick and painless. All border guards were friendly and eager to help me with the customs declaration form. The Armenians asked me if I had been to Azerbaijan (I have not) so you might get some questions if you have an Azeri stamp in your passport.
I paid 10.000 AMD for 10 days insurance on my car (price is negotiable).
Report Check-InMoving from Georgia to Armenia is very easy and hassle-free.
1) Depart from Georgia (5 minutes).
2) Enter Armenia with passport control (driver stays with the car/passenger walks).
3) Buy customers declaration stuff (~9.000 Dram - ~18€) = on the left/just after the passport control.
4) Buy car insurance (10 days for a small campervan: 14.000 Dram > first they asked for 19.000 Dram, so we asked for the „last price“) = yellow building
5) Last check: customs paper, car insurance, car passport, passport
5) Welcome to Armenia! :)
Armenia to Georgia: incredibly fast. 30min for both border. light check on both side.
insurance 1km after border on Georgia side (see photo for prices). They accept visa and mastercard. Free WiFi also.
crossed from GE to AM on 29 Aug - confirming by and large previous comments: GE very easy, AM a bit time consuming but correct and fair.
changed remaining GEL on the G-side at Liberty at a rip-off quote.
To get insurance at a fair price seems to be a bit of a lottery … your choice to try and bargain or spend the time and check various offers.
We advise NOT to buy a SIM-card at one of the dealers near the border (they dont know what they are selling!) but best go to a proper Beeline-Shop e.g. in Noyemberian
the border control was easy and fast. But bordercontrol in Armenia (from Georgia) was a little bit chaostic.
1. control pasport (passenger go to gate and driver stay in the car)
2. take money (there have ATM and exhange office)
3. to office for pay insurance for passengers (for 2 persons 10 000 drams)
3. to other office for confirm the insurance for passengers and sign your name on this paper
3. to office, 100m after border, for insurance for car (3000 drams for Opel Vivaro for 10 days)
4. Welcome in Armenia!
Border control was easy and fast.
From Georgia to Armenia, by stop of Arnenia it was a little bit chaostic.
1. Control passenger and car for paspor
2. Take money (there have ATM and exchange office)
3. Pay for passengers insurance (for 2 persons +- 10 000 dram)
3. To office with insurance for passenger and sign your name on this paper
4. To other office (100m after border) for pay an insurance for car (3000 dram for Opel Vivaro for 10 days)
5. And you are ready!
Paid 7.000 AMD for motorcycle insurance. They initially asked for 12.000.
Guy with a car paid 50GEL (~9500 AMD)
Exchange next to vendor with OK rate. accepts USD, EUR, GEL and Russian Rubels
Report Check-InToday crossed from Georgia to Armenia. Leaving Georgia was without any hassle within 2min.
Armenia was more work:
1. First they will Check for passport and vehicle document
2. Next station will check the luggage
3. Then one has to go to the booth inside to “customs inspector” to declare the vehicle (nobody tells you about that! But it is needed to leave the area!)
4. (100m outside of the core customs building to the right one has to buy insurance and can also buy SIM card. For my motorcycle they asked for 12000 Dram for 10days. I declined and told them 3000 what they accepted. For the SIM they asked 5000 that supposedly includes a precharge of 1000 Dram)
5. last step: leave the area presenting your passport and the vehicle declaration
6. welcome to Armenia!
7. (alternatively around 200m to the right there are several booths were you can buy an insurance also)
Having said this - in Georgia nobody ever checked my insurance. Not even when they stopped me for overtaking in a forbidden zone (what I really did and I deserved the fine of 50 GEL ;) )
Report Check-InFrom Armenia to Georgia. All ok and quick. free Wifi in the pasenger terminal . For vehicule you have to take an insurance for georgia wich company is 1km after the border. prices are oficials (see the picture).
Report Check-InFrom Georgia to Armenia. Leaving georgia was quick and simple. Coming to Armenia there ar three checks. First check is passport control, they check every stamp. Second one is bagage check, our car had to go through x-ray, but everything was fine. The third is to check if you paid road tax. The tax you can pay directly after the passport control at the broker, first you pay at the bank (next to the broker. Here you can also exchange money for a good rate). We had to pay for our landcruiser 10.000 dram. After the bagage control they are building a new building, we were told that from next week people can buy their insurance here. We bought our insurance 300 meter after the border we bought 10 days for 9.000 (they ask more in the beginning). But we saw he bought it online with his creditcard for 3.000, so maybe you can buy it yourself on internet, but you need a stamp. But take your time to negotiate if you buy here.
Report Check-InLeaving Armenia for Georgia
Roads on both sides were ok.
Armenian control took time because police were comparing a photo from a surveillance or speed camera to one of us for at least half an hour.
Georgian control went quick.
No corruption, everything fine.
We came here today with our Georgia-registered car. Leaving Georgia for Armenia.
Very smooth at Georgia border. Even not check luggage at all.
A little bit more for Armenia side.
Only the driver can drive through. All other passenger need to walk through.
If the driver also needs Visa on Arrival. Park your car at first, got your visa at room(only accept Dram, but there is an ATM ok for VISA/MASTERCARD), then go back to your car.
Checked luggage for two times but both very quick.
Declare your car to custom is nesssary.
But NO money paid here for now.
Insurance and SIM card are 100m after border. See the new POI I created.
Report Check-InEasy and fast - no problems exiting Armenia, entering Georgia. Nobody wants to see armenian insurance paper. No corruption.
Report Check-InEntering Armenia can take time, so be prepared. We had to pay €35 on taxes and car permit plus €15 on insurance per 10 days. (they tried to charge us €25 at first)
Report Check-InDidn't experience any corruption or trouble. Custom officers were very friendly. Motorcycles don't need to pay the 35euros any more, but cars do. I got an armenian insurance just past the border at the roundabout for 15days and payed 7000 dram about 12euros. And even was given a free bottle of selfmade to wine 😄
Report Check-InDon't forget to buy insurance for your vehicle in one of the many shops while entering Armenia. Police is waiting and checking for it couple of kilometers after the border crossing.
Report Check-InNo problem leaving Armenia for Georgia. Customs were correct on both sides but they made me queue with the trucks rather than car/bus lane where I usually go.
Report Check-InComing from Armenia and going to Georgia, we passed the border today. Everything went smoothly with no problems and no irritation.
Report Check-InCorrupted custom officers on Armenia side. Pay only to the bank and get the official receipt. Custom officers will try to extort you for "Broker fee". I complained when they failed to produce an official receipt for 15,000 dram. Returned me 3000 dram and give me a pathetic unofficial looking receipt for 12,000 drams. At passport control, I snapped photos of anti-corruption poster and passport officer asked the reason and I showed them the receipts. I said I want to complain to custom authorities. Custom officers then called me back and said I lost money, returned me 10,000 dram. I later learnt many more foul stories about this border. And also beware of traffic police who will pull you over for speeding and then ask for a discounted tourist fine. I acted dumb and stupid, waste their time until they gave up.
Report Check-In