---
title: "International School Licensing"
url: "https://legal.ge/en/service/education-law-en/international-school-licensing-en"
field: "Education Law"
description: "International schools in Georgia: Article 34-1 — recognized programmes, authorization and document equivalence; Article 63-6 — the transitional rule. Legal.ge."
reviewed: "2026-06-24"
updated: "2026-10-15"
publisher: "legal.ge"
---

# International School Licensing

> Source: legal.ge, https://legal.ge/en/service/education-law-en/international-school-licensing-en

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.

The full text is available on legal.ge after signing in: https://legal.ge/en/service/education-law-en/international-school-licensing-en

### Does a separate international status exist?

No — the matter is implementation of a foreign-recognized programme, admissible only when recognized through the Center's agreement.

### Is authorization needed?

Yes — at the respective level, possibly under different conditions.

### Is the foreign document recognized?

Yes — equated with basic or complete general education, without apostille or legalization.

### Is mobility possible?

Yes — and the education received is recognized by law.