You need an apostille when a document issued in Georgia has to be presented in a member country of the 1961 Hague Convention. This page covers what to know before you start: which documents can get an apostille, which cannot, and what order everything happens in. The most common mistake is getting that order wrong.
What an apostille confirms
An apostille confirms that the signature on a document is genuine, that the person who signed had the authority to do so and, if the document is sealed or stamped, that the seal or stamp is genuine. It does not check the content of the document. After an apostille, no other certification is needed for the same purpose.
Where it applies
An apostille applies in member countries of the Hague Convention. The current list is in the Hague Conference status table. Other countries require consular legalization. You can check your country and document with the route checker.
Membership changes. Thailand, for example, joins the Convention on 28 February 2027, and legalization applies to it until then.
Documents that can get an apostille
According to the Public Service Development Agency, an apostille can go on:
- documents from medical institutions, within their authority
- documents from the Ministry of Education, its agencies and educational institutions
- documents from judicial authorities
- notarial acts, such as a power of attorney
- documents from Georgian administrative bodies, such as a birth certificate
- a letter from an administrative body confirming that a copy matches the original
- a translation of such documents provided by an administrative body
Documents that cannot
An apostille or legalization cannot go on:
- a notarized translation, or a notarial act certifying a copy
- documents from private-law companies, except medical and educational institutions
- identity documents and their copies, except a copy of a Georgian citizen's passport certified by the issuing body
- a driving licence, a vehicle registration document or a military service record card
- documents from Georgian diplomatic missions and consular offices
- administrative documents related to customs and commercial operations
- receipts from administrative bodies and normative acts
The full, current list is on the Agency's page.
Who issues the apostille
For most documents the Public Service Development Agency issues the apostille. For an educational document you apply through the Agency, which forwards it electronically to the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement, and the Center decides. The Service Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs issues apostilles on its own documents, such as a criminal record certificate.
Where and how to apply
Anyone with an interest can apply. You can do so:
- at the Agency's territorial offices and Public Service Hall branches
- at a consular office
- remotely if you are abroad, through a direct video connection
- for an electronic document, through the website with a qualified electronic signature
You submit the original, a printed electronic document certified by an authorized person, or an electronic copy or duly certified copy of a physical document. An electronic document can also receive an electronic apostille.
Timing
The Agency publishes these timelines:
- standard document: 8, 4 or 2 working days, or the same day
- documents from the Ministry of Education and its agencies: 8, 4 or 2 working days
- remote applications and electronic documents submitted through the website: within 3 working days
- applications at a consular office: within 8 working days
These are state timelines. Our part, the translation and notarization, takes 1 working day, or 1-2 hours with express for orders received during working hours. Express cannot shorten the state timeline.
The right order
- The apostille goes on the original, or on another document from the list above.
- The document is translated, including the apostille stamp. Names follow your passport.
- The notary certifies that the translator's signature is genuine.
If you translate first and plan to put the apostille on the notarized translation, the Agency will not certify it and you will lose time. Some countries also want a translation by their own sworn translator, so check with the recipient before you start.
How we help
Upload the document, or message us on WhatsApp or Viber at +995 500 09 11 68. We check whether this document can get an apostille, tell you the right order, and carry out the translation and notarization.
Frequently asked questions
Can an apostille be placed on a notarized translation?
No. According to the Agency, a notarized translation and a notarial act certifying a copy are among the documents that cannot get an apostille. The apostille goes on the original, and the document is then translated with its stamp.
Can a passport get an apostille?
Identity documents and their copies cannot. The exception is a copy of a Georgian citizen's passport certified by the issuing body. A notarized translation is usually what is needed.
Can a private company's contract or letter get one?
Not directly, unless it comes from a medical or educational institution. If the recipient asks for an apostille, contact us: the document may need to be drawn up as a notarial act.
Can you apostille a foreign document from here?
No. The apostille is issued in the country that issued the document. Once it reaches Georgia, we translate it into Georgian and have it notarized.
Is an apostille enough for every recipient?
In a member country an apostille replaces legalization, but the recipient sets the translation requirement. Check whether they need a notarized translation or one by a sworn translator.