What is an apostille and why is it needed?

An apostille is a special stamp that confirms the authenticity of an official document for use in another country.

It certifies:

• the authenticity of the signature of the official;
• their authority;
• the authenticity of the seal or stamp on the document.

Simply put, an apostille is needed so that Georgian authorities can be sure that the document was actually issued by an official body of another country and is not a forgery.

An apostille is most often required for:

• birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates;
• certificates of no criminal record;
• powers of attorney;
• company charter documents;
• court decisions.

When an apostille is not required

Georgia is a signatory to the 1961 Hague Convention, so in standard situations an apostille is required.

However, there is an exception.

Georgia has bilateral and multilateral international agreements on legal assistance with a number of countries, under which official documents are accepted without an apostille and without consular legalization.

This means:

• the document can be used directly in Georgia;
• only a translation into Georgian (with notarization in Georgia) is required.

List of countries whose documents are accepted in Georgia without an apostille

If the document was issued in one of the countries below, an apostille is not required for Georgia:

• Armenia,
• Azerbaijan,
• Belarus,
• Kazakhstan,
• Kyrgyzstan,
• Moldova,
• Russia,
• Tajikistan,
• Turkmenistan,
• Uzbekistan,
• Ukraine.

These rules apply to most official government documents.

Important: in practice, there may be nuances—the type of document, the year of issue, the authority that issued it. Therefore, it is better to check the specific case before submitting.

What you will still need

Even if an apostille is not required, the following is usually required:

• an official translation into Georgian;
• notarization of the translation in Georgia.

Without a translation, Georgian authorities (courthouses, courts, banks) will not accept the documents.

How we can help you

If you need to:

• obtain Georgian certificates (marriage, birth, death);
• restore or issue documents remotely;
• register a company in Georgia and obtain corporate documents;
• correctly prepare a package of documents for submission to government agencies —

we will be happy to help.

We will:

• advise you on whether an apostille is necessary in your case;
• organize the receipt of documents in Georgia;
• provide accurate translation and notarization;
• save you time and prevent mistakes.

👇 Contact us for a consultation — we will analyze your situation and suggest the best solution.