With no hesitation, it is safe to say that Georgia is a perfect place to get married, offering an unforgettable experience whether you are of Georgian citizenship or not. The flexibility of the process allows you to have a ceremony in a Public Service Hall as well as outdoors, moving the ceremony to any location of your desire. The bureaucratic side of marriage is extremely simple and fast. So, can we already say, “And they lived happily ever after?”
Well, not quite yet. Let’s dive into the breakdown of the marriage registration process first, and then we can move to this line.
Who can get married in Georgia?
Georgian legislation does not distinguish between citizens and non-citizens when it comes to marital rights. If non-citizens reside in the territory of Georgia legally, they enjoy the same rights as Georgians, despite their citizenship. Hence, they can marry both citizens of Georgia or other individuals with no specific limitations.
The general requirements for individuals to register a marriage in Georgia are the following:
- Both of the betrothed should be 18+ years old at the moment of applying for registration.
- Marriage is allowed only between representatives of the opposite sex, according to Georgian legislation.
What documents are required to get married in Georgia?
The bureaucratic aspect of marriage is usually the most stressful and unpleasant part. However, if you decide to marry in Georgia, it will not be that stressful and won’t take too much time, letting you focus on more enjoyable preparations. All you need is:
- A joint written application of the marriageable persons, which can be obtained at the Public Service Hall.
- Passports of the marriageable persons: A translation of the passport is not required if the data in the document is written in the Latin alphabet. Otherwise, it is necessary to duly notarize and apostille the Georgian translation of the passports. This can be done in your country of residence or in Georgia.
- Passports of 2 witnesses: The requirements for witnesses are similar to those for the ones getting married—they should be of legal age, and their documents should be translated and notarized if necessary.
- Proof of the termination of the previous marriage (if applicable): This document should also be translated, notarized, and apostilled.
What does it cost to get married in Georgia?
Excluding the prices of document translation and legalization, getting married in Georgia may cost you nothing at all, as the Public Service Hall offers several different options:
- Marriage registration in the Public Service Hall or a Community Center (without a special ritual service) – free of charge.
- Marriage registration in the Public Service Hall or a Community Center (with a special ritual service) – GEL 75 / USD 27.
- Marriage registration at the wedding hall with a special ritual service (on weekdays) – GEL 135 / USD 49.
- Marriage registration at the wedding hall with a special ritual service (on weekends) – GEL 225 / USD 81.
Note: If you choose an option that requires a service fee, the payment will be made along with the submission of the documents.
The process of marriage registration
So, you gathered all the documents, picked the place and the type of ceremony, but what’s next? How does the process happen in practice?
- You start by going to the Public Service Hall. This is where you submit your application, including the joint statement and the rest of the documents, and pay the service fee if required.
- The agency then checks your application, all the documents, and whether there are any impediments to marriage.
- On the same day you submitted the application, you receive a message from the Public Service Hall, setting the day of the ceremony, whether it’s held in the Service Hall or outside the building.
- You get registered on the scheduled day.
What can be an impediment to marriage?
While the restrictions in Georgian legislation are not unusual and rather follow common practice, it is still relevant to note them.
Marriage cannot be performed:
- Between individuals, at least one of whom is married to a third person.
- Between linear ascendants and descendants.
- Between biological and non-biological siblings.
- Between an adoptive parent and adoptee.
Wrapping Up
If you always wanted to get married without the stress of getting every document right and spending too much time and money running from one governmental institution to another, Georgia is the perfect place to come. Georgia offers an inexpensive, quick, and convenient marriage registration process—all you basically need is your passports and two friends as witnesses. Now we can say it:
And they lived happily ever after!
P.S. Are you ready to make your dream wedding in Georgia a reality? At PB Services, we specialize in organizing all the necessary legal documents to ensure your marriage registration goes smoothly. Let us handle the paperwork so you can focus on your special day. Contact us today to start planning your perfect wedding in Georgia!
