Where to buy a SIM card with internet in Georgia, and can you still receive SMS verification codes from Russian services on it?
Based on 3 discussions with 6 participants · Last activity: 3 days ago
TL;DR
Physical SIM cards with data are available at the border and in Tbilisi from operators like Magti, Geocell, and Beeline; connectivity kicks in automatically right after landing at the airport. Receiving Russian SMS codes on a Georgian SIM is often unreliable due to a 'cooling period' — the safer fix is a notarized power of attorney for someone in Georgia to reissue the SIM.
What the community said
To check whether a Georgian SIM can actually receive Russian SMS verification codes, travelers test it by calling a dedicated verification number — but no one in the chat confirmed a reliably working result.
2 days ago
If you urgently need to receive an SMS from a Russian service on a Georgian number and the 'cooling period' hasn't ended, waiting won't help — it's faster to issue a notarized power of attorney to someone in Georgia so they can have your SIM reissued at the operator's office.
20 days ago notarized power of attorney
You can buy a physical SIM card with mobile data right at the Georgian border when entering the country, no need to wait until you reach Tbilisi.
23 days ago SIM at the border
After landing at Tbilisi airport, restart your phone — signal and roaming internet usually kick in automatically even before you've officially left the arrivals area, so there's no need to panic if it doesn't work instantly.
24 days ago Tbilisi airport