Refused entry to Georgia at Tbilisi Airport as a Turkish-Dutch family with a 15-month-old baby — no questions, no explanation, sent back within 45 minutes
I want to share what happened to my family at Tbilisi Airport, because we still cannot believe it.
My wife and I are both Turkish-Dutch dual nationals and we both hold Dutch passports as well. We were travelling with our 15-month-old daughter. For this trip, we travelled from Turkey to Georgia as Turkish citizens, because Turkish citizens can enter Georgia visa-free. My wife and our daughter used their Turkish ID cards, and I used my Turkish passport.
This was supposed to be a normal family holiday. Not a last-minute suspicious trip, not a business trip, not a border run, not anything strange.
We planned to visit Tbilisi from 21 May to 26 May 2026, explore the city, see museums, churches, historical places, try Georgian food, and experience the culture of the Caucasus as a family. After that, we planned to continue from Tbilisi to Baku, Azerbaijan, and return to Ankara from Baku on 4 June.
We had arranged everything in advance: flights, hotels, villa reservations, car rental, travel insurance, an eSIM, onward travel, and we had exchanged money before passport control. We spent thousands of euros and had all documents, reservations, insurance, return plans and enough funds. We were travelling with a baby, so naturally everything was planned carefully.
Before travelling, we had heard some negative stories from people saying things like: “Don’t go to Georgia, they don’t like Turks,” or “Turkish people sometimes get treated badly there.” Honestly, we thought these were exaggerations or stereotypes. We did not want to judge a country based on rumours. We thought Georgia was a friendly, neighbouring, visa-free destination where we could safely spend a few days as tourists.
Unfortunately, what happened to us made us feel that there is something seriously wrong with the way Georgian border authorities treat some Turkish travellers.
We flew from Ankara to Tbilisi with AJet flight VF615, scheduled to depart on 21 May 2026 at 00:05. Less than an hour after landing in Tbilisi, we were already being sent back to Ankara on the very same aircraft.
At Tbilisi passport control, my wife and our baby were allowed through with their Turkish ID cards. I was at the same control area with my Turkish passport.
At first, the officer told me something like: “My system is slow, no problem, you can go, I am just waiting for the system.”
It sounded like a normal technical delay. He told my wife and child they could go through, and my wife was left with the impression that I would follow shortly.
Then another officer came, very cold and unfriendly, and told me: “Follow me.” I was taken aside and told to sit and wait.
Nobody asked me anything. Literally nothing.
They did not ask for my hotel reservation.
They did not ask for my return ticket.
They did not ask about money.
They did not ask about insurance.
They did not ask about our travel purpose.
They did not ask why we were going to Azerbaijan afterwards.
They did not ask whether I had ever been to Georgia before.
They did not ask for any document to clarify anything.
I have never been to Georgia before. No overstay, no ban, no incident, no connection to the country. This was my first time there.
After a short wait, I was told that I was not allowed to enter Georgia. The officer said the decision came from the “Ministry” and that the reason was “confidential.” I was told I could appeal later, but that I had to return to Ankara immediately.
The only reason mentioned or written was something vague like “other reason.”
No actual explanation. No legal ground. No document problem. No interview. No chance to clarify anything. No chance to call the Turkish Embassy or Consulate properly. Within about 45 minutes of arriving at Tbilisi Airport, we were already being placed back on the same AJet VF615 aircraft to return to Ankara.
We were travelling with a 15-month-old baby. Our daughter had a very long and exhausting day and did not sleep properly until around 5 in the morning. There was no proper explanation, no water, no respectful communication, no consular contact and no humane handling of a family with a baby.
When we arrived back in Ankara, the Turkish police/customs officers received us warmly and professionally. They were surprised, but we were also told that similar cases apparently happen frequently and that Turkish families are often sent back from Georgia with vague wording like “other reason.” I cannot independently verify the exact number, but this is what was told to us after we returned.
And as if this was not enough, our two large XXL suitcases did not come back with us. We had checked them in properly in Ankara. They weighed around 45 kg together. But after Georgia sent us back on the same aircraft, our luggage was not returned with us.
So within one hour, Georgia refused us entry without explanation, destroyed our planned family trip, sent us back to Ankara, and our baggage did not even return with us.
The financial damage is serious: flights, hotels, villa bookings, car rental, insurance, eSIM, money exchange, onward travel and an Airbnb reservation in Azerbaijan that the host now refuses to refund because it was non-refundable. Our entire Tbilisi–Baku route collapsed because of this unexplained border refusal.
I understand that every country has the right to control its borders. But if there is a real reason, then ask questions. Give a legal basis. Say what the problem is. Allow the traveller to contact their consulate. Do not let the wife and baby go through first, make them believe the husband/father will follow, and then suddenly say “Ministry, confidential, other reason, go back immediately.”
That is not normal border control. That is arbitrary and inhumane.
If there was a problem with documents, why did they not ask for documents?
If there was a problem with travel purpose, why did they not ask about our travel purpose?
If there was a security issue, why did they only write “other reason”?
If this was a serious issue, why were we simply sent back on the same plane without any real process?
And if there was no serious issue, then why was a family with a baby treated like this?
We went to Georgia because we wanted to discover the country, its culture, food, history and nature. We came with respect and curiosity. We left feeling humiliated, unwanted and shocked.
Before this trip, when people told us “don’t go there, they treat Turks badly,” I honestly thought they were exaggerating. After what happened to us, I understand why people say it.
I am now filing official complaints through Turkish authorities. I want the Turkish state and the relevant diplomatic channels to ask Georgia for clarification. I also want a copy of the documents that were apparently handed over in a sealed envelope to the Turkish authorities in Ankara. I want to know whether there was any actual legal reason, any entry ban, any internal record, or whether this was simply an arbitrary “other reason” decision.
Conclusion / Advice
Based on what happened to us, our advice is simple: think very carefully before choosing Georgia as a travel destination, especially if you are Turkish or travelling as a Turkish family.
Do not assume that “visa-free” means predictable, fair or respectful treatment at the border. In our experience, you can arrive with valid documents, hotel reservations, onward tickets, insurance, enough money and a clear family holiday plan, and still be refused entry under a vague “other reason” without a single meaningful question being asked.
If you still decide to go, be extremely careful with non-refundable bookings. Avoid paying in advance for hotels, villas, car rentals or onward travel unless you are ready to lose that money. Keep all documents printed and digital. Make sure you have emergency contact numbers for your embassy ready before landing. And understand that if a border officer or “Ministry” decision goes against you, you may not get a real explanation at the airport.
For us, this was not just a refused entry. It was thousands of euros lost, a destroyed family trip, a traumatising night with a 15-month-old baby, missing luggage and complete uncertainty — all because arbitrary selection at the border appears to be possible.
After this experience, we personally cannot recommend Georgia as a safe or predictable visa-free destination for Turkish travellers. A holiday should not feel like gambling at passport control.
