The legal basis of an international school in Georgia is defined by Article 34-1 of the Law on General Education: the implementation of a foreign-recognized general educational programme is admissible only where the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement has concluded an agreement with the authorized institution of the foreign country for the recognition of that programme. A separate "international school status" does not exist in the law — the page is written on exactly this construction.
The precondition of the agreement — the channel of recognition
Under paragraph 1 of Article 34-1, only the implementation of a foreign-recognized programme for whose recognition the Center has concluded an agreement with the foreign authorized institution is admissible in Georgia. The manner and conditions of concluding the agreement are determined by the Center's rules approved by government decree. This means that the legitimacy of an "international" programme is tested not by its name but through this channel of recognition.
The practical consequence is twofold. For the parent: the word "international" in a school's name carries no legal meaning — what matters is whether the implemented programme is recognized through this channel. For the founder: it is necessary to establish whether the Center has an agreement with the specific foreign programme, since without it the implementation is inadmissible from the outset and any authorization becomes groundless.
Who implements the programme and how
The right of implementation belongs to a legal person created in the manner established by legislation, upon whom the requirements for a school do not extend — save for the exception norms the law itself names; certain norms — including those on the right to general education — extend according to their content. Such a legal person acquires authorization only at the level at which it implements the foreign-recognized programme, and the authorization statute may even define different conditions for it.
Equivalence of the document and mobility
A document issued upon completing a foreign-recognized programme of the respective level is equated with the document confirming basic or complete general education and gives the right to continue at the next level; it needs neither apostille nor legalization. A pupil studying in such a programme also has the right of mobility, and the education received in the process of mobility is recognized in the manner established by legislation.
The legal nature of the document is also settled in the same paragraph: equivalence is a statutory consequence, not a fresh decision on recognition — the pupil acquires the right to continue from the document itself, and no institution may unilaterally reassess that right. For school planners the structure helps too: authorization by level means an international programme can be added to a school gradually — first the basic, then the secondary level.
Transitional recognition — Article 63-6
Article 63-6 settles a historical question: equated with the document confirming general education is a document issued before the start of the 2017-2018 school year upon completing a foreign-recognized programme implemented in Georgia, if the Center concludes an agreement with the foreign institution carrying out its recognition after 1 January 2017; the education received under such a programme before that date is likewise recognized.
The legal entity implementing the programme is exempt from the requirements the law lays down for general educational institutions, save for the exception norms the law itself names; at the same time, individual norms — including those connected with the right to receive general education — apply to it with regard to their content. The procedure and conditions of concluding the recognition agreement are determined by the rules of the National Center approved by a government decree.
Frequently asked questions
Below we answer the questions most frequently asked about international schools.
Does a separate "international school" status exist?
No — the matter concerns the implementation of a foreign-recognized programme, admissible only for programmes recognized through the Center's agreement.
Is authorization required?
Yes — at the respective level; different conditions may even be defined for such a person.
Is a foreign certificate recognized?
Yes — the document of completion is equated with basic or complete general education, without apostille or legalization.
Is the right of mobility lost?
No — a pupil in such a programme has the right of mobility, and the education received is recognized by law.
Does the document need an apostille or legalization?
No — the document issued upon completing a recognized programme implemented in Georgia is equalized and needs neither apostille nor legalization.
How We Help on Legal.ge
The Legal.ge team will verify the recognition status of the programme, determine the authorization requirements at the respective level, and assist with document equivalence and mobility. Contact us — an international school project begins with the channel of recognition.
The three-check summary for parents: is the programme recognized through the Center's agreement; is the school authorized at the respective level; and does completion yield an equated document. Three positive answers mean the child's education stands on a state-recognized legitimate path — and each of the three can be verified in advance, before enrollment, rather than reconstructed in a dispute afterwards.