Civil Acts

MARRIAGE REGISTRATION

Marriage is the voluntary union of a man and a woman registered in compliance with the Georgian legislation.

Only citizens of Georgia or stateless persons with respective status in Georgia can apply for registration of marriage at the Consulate. The registration of marriage and the issue of respective certificate are part of one and the same procedure.

Persons intending to marry should indicate in their application that there is no impediment to their marriage, that they are aware of each other’s health status, previous marriage(s), if any, and child(ren) born in previous marriage(s), if any.

Marriage can be registered in the presence of the persons intending to marry and at least two capable adult witnesses. Registration of marriage by proxy is not allowed.

Marriage age is 18. A person having reached 16 years can only enter into marriage by consent of his/her statutory representative or by court decision.

Consent of persons intending to marry is required for registration of marriage.

Upon registration of marriage either the husband or the wife can choose to change his or her surname to the other person's surname. Either the husband or the wife, or both, can decide to combine their two last names.

Marriage is registered within 10 days of filing the application.

Persons intending to register marriage must file a respective application with the Georgian Consulate. Such application may be filed by proxy. Prior to appearing at the Consulate General, an appointment must be made.

A list of documents to be submitted:

1. ID cards of persons intending to marry, certifying their citizenship of Georgia;
2. Document certifying dissolution/ annulment of previous marriage(s), if any;
3. Identity cards of witnesses;
4. In case of registration by proxy – a proxy form and an ID card of a person acting as proxy.

Note: Any document issued by the authorities of any other country must be verified in a due manner, certified by an Apostille (List of issuing authorities of apostilles).

A special rule applies to court decisions of a foreign country, which, upon certification, are subject to acceptance by the Supreme Court of Georgia.

Note: Any document issued by the authorities of any other country may be filed in Georgian, English or Russian. If the translation is provided by respective bodies of the foreign country, certification procedures indicated above will also apply to the translated copies of documents.

If the competent authority of a foreign country registers the fact of birth, the consulate cannot re-register it except in special circumstances.

For detailed information see Repeated Registration of Civil Status Acts.

MARRIAGE REGISTRATION IS FREE OF CHARGE

 

DIVORCE REGISTRATION

Registration of divorce is the basis for termination of marriage.

The Georgian Consulate can only register divorce between citizens of Georgia or stateless persons with respective status in Georgia. Divorce can be registered on the basis of a joint application of the spouses, or - where a respective court decision exists - on the basis of an application of one of the spouses, provided that the marriage is registered by the competent authorities of Georgia.

Divorce is registered within 5 working days of filing an application. The registration of divorce and the issue of respective certificate are part of one and the same procedure.

It is mandatory to appear at the Consulate General of Georgia in person. Prior to appearing at the Consulate General, an appointment must be made.

A list of documents to be submitted:

1. Certificate of marriage;
2. If divorce is registered with the spouse recognized as missing or incapable – a valid court decision recognizing this person as missing or incapable;
3. If divorce is registered with the convict sentenced to at least 3 years in prison -  a copy (abstract) of a valid court decision sentencing the person concerned to at least 3 years in prison;
4. If divorce is registered on the basis of a court decision – this court decision on divorce;
5. In case of registration by proxy – a proxy form and an ID card of a person acting as proxy;
6. A money order in the amount of $100 USD written out to the Consulate General of Georgia in NY. 

Note: Any document issued by the authorities of any other country must be verified in a due manner, certified by an Apostille (List of issuing authorities of apostilles).

A special rule applies to court decisions of a foreign country, which, upon certification, are subject to acceptance by the Supreme Court of Georgia.

Note: Any document issued by the authorities of any other country may be filed in Georgian, English or Russian. If the translation is provided by respective bodies of the foreign country, certification procedures indicated above will also apply to the translated copies of documents.

If the competent authority of a foreign country registers the fact of divorce, the consulate cannot re-register it except in special circumstances. For detailed information see Repeated Registration of Civil Status Acts.

 

DUPLICATES OF CIVIL ACTS REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES

A person once obtaining a document certifying the registration of civil status documents (certificates of birth, marriage, divorce, etc.) can apply for the re-issue of such documents in case of their loss, damage or for some other reasons.

Only citizens of Georgia or stateless persons with respective status in Georgia can apply for the issue of repeat documents certifying the registration of civil status documents.

The application can be filed by the person concerned or by the person acting as his/her proxy; in case of minors and incapable persons – by their statutory representatives.

In order to applying for duplicate of a civil act registration certificate, it is mandatory to appear at the consulate.

A list of documents to be submitted:

1. In case of registration of the change of name, surname by proxy – a proxy form and an ID card of a person acting as proxy.
2. A money order in the amount of $20 USD written out to the Consulate General of Georgia in NY.

Note: Any document issued by the authorities of any other country must be verified in a due manner, certified by Apostille (List of issuing authorities of apostilles).

A special rule applies to court decisions of a foreign country, which, upon certification, are subject to acceptance by the Supreme Court of Georgia.

Note: Any document issued by the authorities of any other country may be filed in Georgian, English or Russian. If the translation is provided by respective bodies of the foreign country, certification procedures indicated above will also apply to the translated copies of documents.

The applicant may be denied service if:

1. The applicant’s permanent or temporary residence is not within the jurisdictional area of the Consulate;
2. Application was not submitted by an authorized person;
3. The Applicant failed to file all required documents.

 

NAME, SURNAME CHANGE REGISTRATION

The Consulate General of Georgia is authorized, upon your request and as provided by law, to undertake proceedings for name or surname change registration. As a result, respective changes will be made to your civil status documents, and further, to your identity cards.

Name and surname change will be registered within 45 days of filing the application.

Only citizens of Georgia or stateless persons with respective status in Georgia, whose birth is registered by the Georgian competent authorities can apply for registration of name and surname change at the Consulate.

The interested person’s application and a combination of specific circumstances under this Chapter provide the basis for the registration of name and surname change. The interests of persons who have not yet reached full age or are incapable will be represented by their statutory representatives. Minors at 10 and above must express their consent to the change of their names and surnames. A person may register a change of name only once.

A person may change his/her surname and adopt:

• the surname of the relative in the ascending or descending lines;
• the combined surname of his/her parents;
• the surname of his/her actual parent;
• the surname of his/her adoptive parent;
• the surname of his/her spouse;
• the surname granted to him/her by the competent authority.

It is mandatory to appear at the Consulate General of Georgia in person. Prior to appearing at the Consulate General, an appointment must be made.

A list of documents to be submitted:

• documents certifying the existence of circumstances for the change of name, surname;
• In case of registration of the change of name, surname by proxy – a proxy form and an ID card of a person acting as proxy.
• A money order in the amount of $50 USD written out to the Consulate General of Georgia in NY

Note: Any document issued by the authorities of any other country must be verified in a due manner, certified by an Apostille (List of issuing authorities of apostilles).

A special rule applies to court decisions of a foreign country, which, upon certification, are subject to acceptance by the Supreme Court of Georgia.

Note: Any document issued by the authorities of any other country may be filed in Georgian, English or Russian. If the translation is provided by respective bodies of the foreign country, certification procedures indicated above will also apply to the translated copies of documents.

The registration of name and surname change and the issue of respective certificate are part of one and the same procedure. Name and surname change must be reflected in certain civil status acts.