The most expensive mistake we meet every week looks like this: someone translated a document, had it notarized, carried it abroad, and was told there that without an apostille the paper means nothing. Or the reverse - they put an apostille on the Georgian original, then translated it, and the receiving country demanded certification of the translation as well.
In both cases the problem is not the quality of the translation but the order of operations. This page explains that order and tells you which question to ask before you pay the first lari.
What each one certifies
Both are instruments of trust, but they answer different questions.
Notarization
- Certifies that the translator's signature is genuine
- Does not certify that the content of the translation is correct
- Works mainly inside Georgia
- Required by banks, ministries, courts and the registry
- Done at a notary, after the translation is prepared
Apostille
- Certifies that the seal and signature on the document are genuine
- Says nothing about the translation or the content
- Works in the member states of the Hague Convention
- Required by foreign universities, consulates and employers
- Issued by the Public Service Hall or the relevant authority
Consular legalization
- Used when the country is not a Hague Convention member
- A two-stage procedure: ministry, then consulate
- Longer and more expensive than an apostille
- Needs planning ahead, often several weeks
The sentence that explains everything: an apostille belongs to the document, notarization belongs to the translation. This is precisely why in many cases you need both rather than one of them.
Which one you need, and when
Notarization only - when the document stays in Georgia. A foreign passport or diploma translated for a Georgian bank, employer, university or court. A document brought from abroad and translated for a Georgian authority. A property transaction at a notary where one party is a foreigner. Apostille only - when the receiving country intends to have the translation made itself, or when the document is already in English and only needs confirming. This is the rarer case. Both together - the most common scenario. A Georgian document going abroad: a criminal record certificate for a work permit, a diploma for a foreign master's programme, a birth certificate for a child's school, a marriage certificate for family reunification. Legalization instead of an apostille - when the receiving country is not a party to the Hague Convention. An apostille will not help there and the procedure runs through the ministry of foreign affairs and the relevant consulate.The order - where people go wrong
For a Georgian document going abroad the correct sequence is usually: the original first, then an apostille on the original, then the translation - of the already apostilled document - and finally notarization of the translation.
That order matters because the apostille stamp is itself a block of text that becomes part of the document. If you translate first and apostille afterwards, the stamp will not appear in the translation, and the receiving authority sees a document whose certifying part is in a language it cannot read.
Exceptions exist and depend on the country. Some require a double apostille - one on the original and another on the notarized translation. Others do the opposite: they make the translation on their own territory and want only an apostilled original from us.
So the only reliable source on this question is the receiving body's written requirement: the consulate's page, the university's instruction or the employer's letter. Send us that text and we will tell you the sequence free of charge, before you start.
Who does what
An apostille is issued by the state, not by a translation bureau. In Georgia that is the Public Service Hall and the relevant authorities. Our role here is organisational: we check whether the document is fit for an apostille in its current condition and, if you wish, run the procedure on your behalf under a power of attorney.
Notarization happens at a notary, who certifies the translator's signature. That means responsibility for the content of the translation remains with the bureau and the named translator - which is exactly why we have an editing stage where figures and names are compared against the original.
Preparing the translation is entirely our work. Separating these three roles becomes practically useful when something goes wrong: if the apostille was refused, the reason is in the document; if the notary declined, the reason is a formality; if the authority rejected it over content, that is our responsibility and the correction is free.
Timing and planning
In terms of timing these two procedures differ sharply, and this is where plans usually collapse.
Translation
A one-page certificate - the same or the next day. A diploma with its supplement - one to two days. A multi-page contract or discharge summary - according to volume.
Notarization
Usually adds half a day, depending on the notary's schedule. An order arriving in the morning fits into the day far better than one arriving in the evening.
Apostille
This is the Public Service Hall's timing and is not done the same day. It has to be planned in advance, particularly if you already have a consulate appointment.
Practical advice: if you have a fixed date at a consulate or a university, plan backwards. Count the apostille first, then the notary, then the translation - and start a few days before that total.
What to do, step by step
Establish who the document is for
A Georgian authority or a foreign one? That single question decides whether you need notarization only, an apostille only, both, or legalization.
Find the recipient's written requirement
The consulate's page, the university's instruction or the employer's letter. That text is the only reliable source - not a friend's experience and not a forum.
Send us the document and that requirement
A photo or PDF by email to info@targmanebi.ge or by WhatsApp. We will tell you the sequence and the timing free of charge, before you pay anything.
The process in the right order
Apostille on the original, then the translation, then notarization - or whichever order the specific country requires. We can run the apostille procedure for you if you prefer.
Price
The translation fee is agreed after the material is seen and depends on the language, the volume and the field. Notarization is a separate component based on the notary's tariff, which is fixed by Georgian law and identical at every notary. The apostille state fee is set by the Public Service Hall and varies with how quickly you need it.
These three sums are independent of each other and we quote all three in advance, in one reply - so that you do not end up in the position of having paid for the translation only to discover that half the budget is needed for state fees. Current orientations are under translation prices.
Not sure whether you need notarization or an apostille? Send us a photo of the document and the receiving authority's requirement - we will tell you the sequence and the timing free of charge.
Call: 501 113 200Frequently asked questions
Does an apostille confirm that the translation is correct?
No. This is the most widespread misunderstanding. An apostille confirms only that the seal and signature on the document belong to a genuine Georgian authority. It says nothing about the translation. Responsibility for translation quality rests with the bureau, while the translator's signature is certified by a notary.
Should I translate first or apostille first?
In most cases the apostille goes on the original first and the translation follows. The reason is that the apostille stamp is itself text and becomes part of the document, so it has to appear in the translation too. Doing it the other way round often means paying for the translation twice. Some countries have their own rule, so check the recipient's requirement first.
My country is not in the Hague Convention. What now?
Then an apostille will not help and consular legalization is required. That is a two-stage procedure: first the ministry of foreign affairs, then the consulate of the relevant country. It takes considerably longer and has to be planned ahead - sometimes several weeks. Call us and we will tell you the stages for your specific country.
The notary refused to certify. Why?
The most common reasons: the original was not presented, the document is damaged or partly illegible, a seal is unclear, or the document itself needs prior certification by the issuing authority. These are formal reasons and have nothing to do with the translation. Tell us exactly what the notary said and we will tell you how to resolve it.
I brought a document from abroad. Can I apostille it in Georgia?
No. An apostille is affixed in the country that issued the document. If your document is German, the apostille must be obtained in Germany. In Georgia it is then translated into Georgian and notarized. Without that certification a Georgian authority will often not accept the translation either.
How long is an apostille valid?
The apostille itself has no expiry - the document it is attached to does. A criminal record certificate is usually valid for a few months and its apostille lives with it. A birth certificate has no expiry, although some authorities ask for a recently issued extract.
Can you obtain the apostille for me?
Yes, under a power of attorney. In that case you provide the document and the power of attorney, and we run the apostille procedure as well as the translation and notarization, returning the finished package. This is particularly convenient if you are not in Georgia or live in a region.