How to Read a Georgian Public Registry Extract Before You Buy
The Public Registry extract is the most important document in a Georgian property deal. What it shows, how to get one for 13 GEL, and the red flags to look for.
Overview
- Every registered property in Georgia has an extract at the National Agency of Public Registry. It shows the owner, the property and any burdens on it.
- Anyone can order one. Online, it costs 13 GEL and arrives within a working day.
- Check the owner's name, the size, the cadastral code and every line about mortgages, leases or seizures before you pay anything.
- Get the extract yourself, and get a fresh one on the day you sign. Don't rely on a copy from the seller.
If you only check one thing before buying property in Georgia, check the registry extract. Georgia's property registry is public and well run. That's a real advantage for buyers. But it only protects you if you read the extract, read it closely and read a current one.
Information current as of October 28, 2026.
What the extract is
The National Agency of Public Registry keeps the official record of property rights in Georgia. For each property, it can issue an extract: a short document showing the current state of the record.
Ownership in Georgia passes when a sale is registered here. So the extract is the best evidence of who owns a property today and what rights others have over it.
How to get one
You can order an extract online or at a Public Service Hall. The fees:
| How | Speed | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Online | Within 1 working day | 13 GEL |
| Online | Same day | 52 GEL |
| In person | 1 working day | 20 GEL |
| In person | Same day | 75 GEL |
You'll need the property's cadastral code or address. The extract may be in Georgian only. Get it translated, or have a lawyer read it with you.
What to check, line by line
The owner
The extract names the registered owner or owners. The person selling to you must be on it, or must hold a valid power of attorney from the person who is.
Watch for:
- More than one owner. Every owner has to agree to the sale and sign.
- A company as owner. Check that the person signing can act for the company.
- A recent change of owner. A property that changed hands days ago isn't always a problem, but it's worth asking why.
The property
Check the cadastral code, the address and the area. Make sure they match the apartment you've seen and the one in your contract. Size mismatches happen, and they matter, especially if price or a residence permit valuation depends on size.
Burdens on the property
This is the most important part. The extract shows rights that others hold over the property. Look for:
- A mortgage. A bank has a claim on the property. That's normal for a seller who borrowed to buy, but the mortgage must be paid off and removed as part of your purchase. If it isn't, it can stay on the property after you buy.
- A seizure or ban. A court or authority has frozen the property, often because of a debt or a dispute. Don't buy a property under seizure until it's lifted.
- A lease. Someone may have a registered right to live in or use the property.
- Tax liens and other claims. Any claim registered against the property needs explaining before you pay.
If the burden section is empty, that's what you want to see.
Timing matters
An extract shows the record on the day it's issued. A seizure or mortgage registered after that won't be on your copy. Order a fresh extract on the day you sign, and check again just before you pay.
Don't take the seller's copy
A printed extract from the seller may be old, or worse. It costs 13 GEL to get your own. Do it.
What the extract won't tell you
The extract is about rights, not condition or legality on the ground. It won't tell you:
- whether the building has a valid permit for every floor.
- whether there are unpaid utility bills.
- whether the developer of a new building is in trouble.
- what neighbors or the building's residents' association are disputing.
For an apartment that isn't built yet, see off-plan apartments in Tbilisi.
How we can help
We pull and translate the extract, check the owner and every burden, look at the building and the developer, and tell you plainly whether it's safe to pay. Then we handle the contract and the registration. Ask about property, or read our step-by-step guide to buying property in Georgia as a foreigner.