Both of you
- A valid passport (original)
- Proof that you are in Georgia lawfully: entry stamp, visa or residence permit
- The joint application, signed at the registration
- Your decision on surnames after the marriage
How to get each document right
Passports: translation or not?
The agency may accept a foreign passport without a Georgian translation when the personal data is printed in Latin letters, which is true of almost every modern passport. The word is "may". The registrar still has to write your names in Georgian script on the record, and a notarized passport translation fixes that spelling in advance. It also removes a discussion at the desk on the one day you do not want one. For that reason we usually prepare it, especially when a name has letters that can be transliterated in more than one way.
Proof of lawful stay
The registry needs to see that each foreign spouse is in Georgia legally. For most visitors this is simply the entry stamp in the passport. If you entered on a visa or live in Georgia on a residence permit, bring that document too. Check that the entry stamp is readable before you leave the airport; a faint stamp is the most common small problem we see.
Divorce decree or death certificate
This is the document that most often stops a wedding. It must prove that the previous marriage has ended, so bring the final decree, not an interim judgment. It must carry an apostille from the country that issued it, or a consular legalization if that country is not a party to the Apostille Convention. Neither step can be done in Georgia. Once it is in order, we translate the document and its apostille into Georgian and the translation is notarized in Tbilisi. A Georgian notary usually needs to see the original, so bring it with you. More on this in our divorce decree translation guide.
Witnesses' documents
Each witness presents an identity document. Georgian witnesses bring their ID card or passport. Foreign witnesses bring their original passports, which are treated like yours, so we include them in the same translation set and use the same spelling rules. Photocopies are not enough. If you are travelling as a couple only, we provide two witnesses.
Certificate of no impediment
Georgian law does not ask foreigners for a certificate of no impediment: you confirm in the application that there is no bar to the marriage. Some home countries, however, want one before you marry abroad, or ask for it later when you register the marriage at home. Check with your registry office or embassy. If you bring one, it needs an apostille or legalization, and we translate both into Georgian. More in our article on the certificate of no impediment.
Surnames
Decide before the day. Under Article 53 you can both take one of your surnames as a common surname, or one or both of you can combine your own surname with your spouse's. A surname that already has two parts cannot be combined further. The choice goes into the record and onto the certificate, so it is worth agreeing on the exact spelling in advance.
Which documents need what
| Document | Original | Apostille or legalization | Georgian translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your passports | Yes | No | Recommended, notarized |
| Proof of lawful stay | Yes | No | No |
| Divorce decree or death certificate | Yes | Yes, from the issuing country | Yes, notarized |
| Foreign witnesses' passports | Yes | No | Recommended, notarized |
| Certificate of no impediment (if any) | Yes | Yes | Yes, notarized |
Apostille or legalization? The UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon are not parties to the Apostille Convention, so their documents need consular legalization. China, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman accept and issue apostilles. See how legalization works.