Apostille & Legalization

Georgia is a member of the 1961 Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, which means documents issued in Georgia can be authenticated with an apostille and used in the territory of any other Hague Convention member state without further certification.

An apostille is an official certificate attached to or stamped on a document that:

• Confirms the authenticity of the signature

• Confirms the authority of the signer

• Confirms the seal or stamp on the document

This makes the document legally accepted in countries that are party to the Hague Convention.

Typical documents that may be apostilled include:

• Educational certificates and diplomas

• Birth, marriage, and death certificates

• Powers of attorney

• Commercial documents and corporate records

• Police clearance certificates and government-issued papers

For countries not part of the Hague Convention, simply apostilling the document is not enough. Instead, a more detailed legalization process is required, which typically involves:

1. Initial certification within Georgia by relevant ministries

2. Verification at the consulate or embassy of the country where the document will be used

3. Final approval to confirm authenticity before the document becomes valid abroad
   
   

Legalization is generally required for countries without apostille agreements — such as UAE, Egypt, Iraq, and several others — where diplomatic certification ensures the document is accepted.

These document authentications are commonly required for:

• Study abroad: diplomas, academic transcripts, certificates

• Residence and visa applications: birth and marriage certificates, police clearances

• Business purposes: corporate documents, contracts, powers of attorney

• Marriage or family matters abroad: personal status documents
  
  

Without proper apostille or legalization, documents may be rejected by foreign authorities or institutions.