A Georgian marriage certificate is the official proof that a marriage was registered in Georgia. Whether you married there years ago or need the record for a procedure abroad today, here is what the document is for and how to get hold of it.

When you need a marriage certificate

The certificate proves your marital status and the details of the marriage. It is commonly requested for:

• Proving marital status abroad, or changing a name after marriage
• A spouse’s residence permit or visa application
• Pension, inheritance, insurance and other family procedures
• Court and civil matters that require documentary proof of the marriage

Current record or archival copy?

Where the certificate comes from depends on when the marriage was registered. A recent marriage is held in Georgia’s civil registry, and a current certificate can be issued from it. A marriage registered long ago — including in the Soviet period — is usually kept in the national archives, and obtaining it means first locating the record in the archival holdings, which can also require proof of your connection to it. Knowing which source holds the record is half the job.

Making it usable abroad

The certificate is issued in Georgian. For another country you will almost always need a certified translation into the target language and an apostille, which authenticates the document for Hague Convention countries (for non-Convention destinations, legalisation is used instead). Only once translated and apostilled will most foreign authorities accept it.

Getting it without being in Georgia

You do not need to travel back. The certificate can be requested, translated and apostilled on your behalf under a power of attorney, and the finished, legalised document sent to you. This is the route most people use once they have relocated — it turns several separate offices into one remote request. See how we obtain civil and archive documents from Georgia, including marriage certificates, end to end.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a Georgian marriage certificate from abroad?

Yes. Under a power of attorney it can be requested, translated and apostilled on your behalf and sent to you — no need to return to Georgia.

What if the marriage was registered decades ago?

Older marriages are usually kept in the national archives rather than the current civil registry. The record is located in the archival holdings and an archival certificate is issued; this can require proof of your connection to the record.

Does it need translation and apostille?

For use abroad, usually yes — a certified translation into the target language and an apostille (or legalisation for non-Convention countries) so it is recognised.