An Apostille is a simplified form of international document authentication that grants it legal validity for use within the territory of a foreign state. Georgia is a member of the 1961 Hague Convention, which means that a document issued in Georgia and certified with an Apostille is automatically recognized in other member countries of the convention (e.g., USA, Germany, France, Turkey) without additional legalization. Similarly, an apostilled document coming from abroad is valid in Georgia. However, the Apostille procedure often causes confusion: which document needs an Apostille, which needs legalization, which agency issues it, and how to verify an electronic Apostille. An incorrectly certified document is unusable abroad, leading to wasted time and money.
This service covers the full process of document apostillization and legalization. The service includes: preparing and submitting documents to the Public Service Development Agency (civil acts, Public Service Hall documents) or the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement (diplomas, certificates); certifying medical and court documents; verifying the validity of documents received from abroad; and utilizing the electronic Apostille (e-Apostille) service. A special place is held by the legalization process for countries that are not members of the Hague Convention (e.g., UAE, Canada), which requires multi-step authentication at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and consulates.
In real life, Apostille services are needed for many purposes. For example, a student is traveling to Germany to study and needs their diploma and transcript certified with an Apostille. Another scenario: a Georgian citizen is getting married in Italy and needs an Apostille on their birth certificate and certificate of non-impediment. A third case: a businessman is opening a company branch in Dubai (non-Hague member), for which the Georgian company's charter must first be certified at the Ministry of Justice, then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and finally at the UAE consulate (full legalization).
In Georgia, the authority to issue Apostilles is held by the Public Service Development Agency (civil and administrative documents), the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement (educational documents), and the Service Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (criminal record certificates). Identity cards, passports, and documents contradicting Georgian legislation cannot be apostilled. Since 2020, Georgia issues electronic Apostilles, the validity of which can be verified online, significantly simplifying the process.
The process begins with submitting the original document or a notarized copy to the relevant agency. The applicant must specify the receiving country, as some countries require the translation to be apostilled as well. The standard timeframe is 1-8 working days. After certification, a special stamp is placed on the document, or an electronic certificate is issued. A lawyer's assistance is important to determine exactly which procedure is needed (Apostille or legalization) and in what form the document should be presented (original or copy) to avoid rejections.
Legal.ge will help you in the process of international document legalization. Our partners ensure fast and error-free certification of your documents so that you can use them anywhere in the world. Save time and nerves with Legal.ge services.
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