Apostilles and Translations for Georgia: US, UK, Canada and Australia
Most foreign documents need an apostille and a notarized Georgian translation before Georgian offices accept them. Where to get one in the US, UK, Canada and Australia.
Overview
- Georgian offices accept documents from the US, UK, Canada and Australia once they carry an apostille from the country that issued them.
- Every foreign document then needs a Georgian translation, done by a professional translator and notarized in Georgia.
- The apostille comes from the country of origin. Georgia can't add one to your US birth certificate, and your home country can't add one to a Georgian document.
- Some documents, such as criminal record checks, go stale after a few months. Get those last.
Birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas, criminal record checks, powers of attorney. Sooner or later, most people moving to Georgia need one of these accepted by a Georgian office. The process isn't hard, but the order matters, and getting it wrong costs weeks.
Information current as of October 28, 2026.
The three steps
- Get the original document, or a certified copy, from the office that issues it.
- Get an apostille in the country that issued it.
- Get it translated into Georgian in Georgia, and have the translation notarized.
An apostille is a certificate that confirms a public document is genuine. The US, UK, Canada and Australia all belong to the Hague Apostille Convention, and so does Georgia, so an apostille is all you need. No embassy legalization.
Where to get an apostille
United States
Where you go depends on who issued the document.
- State documents, such as birth and marriage certificates, and documents signed in front of a US notary: the Secretary of State of the state that issued them.
- Federal documents, such as an FBI background check: the US Department of State's Office of Authentications.
A state document sent to Washington comes back without an apostille. Check who issued it first.
United Kingdom
The Legalisation Office of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office issues apostilles for UK documents. Some documents, such as letters from a solicitor, have to be certified by a UK solicitor or notary first.
Canada
Canada joined the Apostille Convention in January 2024. Global Affairs Canada issues apostilles for federal documents and for many provincial ones. Some provinces issue their own, so check with the province that issued your document.
Australia
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade issues apostilles for Australian public documents.
The Georgian translation
Every foreign document needs a Georgian translation. The translation is done by a professional translator in Georgia and notarized by a Georgian notary. If you submit a copy rather than the original, the copy needs to be notarized as well.
Translate the apostille too. It's part of the document.
Don't translate before the apostille is on. A translation made before the apostille won't cover it, and you'll pay twice.
Documents that expire
The apostille itself doesn't expire. But Georgian offices often want recent documents, typically from the last one to six months. This matters most for:
- criminal record checks.
- certificates of marital status, such as a certificate that you're single.
- bank letters and statements.
Get these close to the time you file, not months ahead.
Which documents you'll likely need
| What you're doing | Documents that often need an apostille |
|---|---|
| Residence permit for a spouse or children | Marriage and birth certificates |
| Marrying in Georgia | Birth certificate, proof you're free to marry |
| Buying property from abroad | Power of attorney signed at home |
| IT residence permit | Proof of experience, such as employment letters or contracts |
| Opening a business with a foreign company as owner | Company registration and director documents |
Georgian documents for use abroad
The reverse works the same way. If you need a Georgian document accepted at home, such as a Georgian marriage or divorce certificate, the apostille comes from Georgia. The Public Service Hall issues it. Your home country may then want its own translation.
How we can help
We tell you exactly which documents your case needs, check them before you send them for an apostille, arrange the Georgian translation and notarization, and file them with your application. Ask about your documents, or see which residence permit fits you. Buying from abroad? See buying property in Georgia without flying in.