Do you need a notary to buy property in Georgia?
Often not. Unlike many European countries, Georgia does not require a property sale contract to be signed before a notary. Ownership passes when a written contract is registered in the Public Registry, and the parties' signatures can be certified at the registry itself, in practice at a Public Service Hall. Notaries still play a large part in property deals, though: some documents can only be certified by a notary, many buyers use a notary's deposit to pay safely, and foreign documents and translations usually pass through a notary's office.
This explainer sets out when a notary is required, when one is simply useful, and what the official tariff says a notary may charge.
When is a notary legally required?
- A power of attorney. The registry may certify signatures on a sale, but not on a power of attorney, a will or a marriage contract; those need a notary.
- A private mortgage loan. A mortgage securing a loan agreement must be notarised, unless the lender is a commercial bank, a micro-bank or a microfinance organisation.
- A mortgage with a certificate. A mortgage issued with a Certificate of Mortgage must be notarised.
- A notarial writ of execution. If the parties to a mortgage agree, a notary can issue a writ that allows enforcement without going to court.
Separately, property belonging to a child can only be disposed of with a court's consent, whoever certifies the signatures.
When is a notary useful even if not required?
- The notary's deposit. You pay the price into the notary's deposit account and it is released to the seller after you are registered as owner. Notaries' deposits are held in nominal accounts at banks.
- Translations. A notary certifies the translator's signature on a Georgian translation, or the translation itself if the notary knows both languages.
- Foreign documents. A notary accepts foreign documents only with an apostille or legalisation, which makes the notary's office a natural checkpoint for papers from abroad.
- Copies. Certified copies of passports, contracts and extracts for a bank, a residence permit or a later sale.
- A complex deal. Several sellers, a seller abroad or an inherited flat benefit from a notary's checks before the registry stage.
Our guide to safe payment compares the notary deposit with bank escrow.
What does a notary charge?
Notarial fees are set by Government Resolution No 507. The tariff is binding only where notarial form is required for the deal to be valid; where it is not, as with a sale contract, the fee may follow the tariff or be agreed between the notary and the client. Fees are calculated on the value the parties declare, converted from foreign currency at the National Bank rate on the day of payment, and they do not include VAT.
| Declared value, GEL | Fee |
|---|---|
| 20,001-100,000 | GEL 122.50 + 0.3% of the amount above 20,000 |
| 100,001-500,000 | GEL 362.50 + 0.2% of the amount above 100,000 |
| 500,001-1,000,000 | GEL 1,162.50 + 0.1% of the amount above 500,000 |
| Above 1,000,000 | GEL 1,662.50 + 0.05% of the amount above 1,000,000 |
A one-sided transaction pays half, and the fee is capped at GEL 10,000. Lower bands apply to values under GEL 20,000.
A worked example
A flat priced at $100,000, converted at GEL 2.624 per dollar, has a declared value of GEL 262,400. The fee for certifying the sale is GEL 362.50 plus 0.2% of GEL 162,400, which is GEL 324.80, for a total of GEL 687.30, plus VAT if the notary is registered for it and a GEL 5 fee to the electronic notarial register. If you only need the signatures certified, the cost is a few lari per signature. The exchange rate in the example is an assumption; the notary uses the rate on the day you pay.
Fixed fees for common services
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Certifying a signature | GEL 6 for a one-page document, falling to GEL 2 for longer ones |
| Certifying a translator's signature | The same scale as a signature |
| Certified copy | GEL 4 for one page, less per page for longer documents |
| Power of attorney | GEL 18 from an individual, GEL 30 from a company |
| Will | GEL 16 |
| Writ of execution | GEL 140 |
| Deposit | A quarter of the transaction rate, at least GEL 4 a month |
| Visit outside the office | Up to GEL 35 extra |
Language and interpreters
Notarial acts are performed in Georgian. If a party does not know Georgian, the notary must involve an interpreter, and must refuse to act if the language is not understood and no interpreter is available. Bring an interpreter you trust, or ask the notary's office in advance whether it can arrange one, and read the Georgian document's translation before you sign. For a power of attorney you will use abroad as well as in Georgia, ask for a bilingual text.
How to find a notary
The Notary Chamber of Georgia publishes a map and a list of notary offices on notary.ge, and visits can be booked through my.gov.ge. Every notarial act is entered in the electronic notarial register. We found no general online notarisation in the law; remote services have been limited, and an online power of attorney has been available only to Georgian citizens or persons known to the notary.
Public Service Hall or notary: which to use for the sale?
For a simple sale between two parties who are both present, signing at the Public Service Hall is usually the cheaper and faster route: the registry certifies the signatures and registers the transfer in one place. A notary adds value when the deal is less simple: when one party signs through a representative, when the price goes through a deposit, when documents from abroad must be checked, or when you want the contract and the parties' documents checked by a notary before anyone signs.
What a notary checks
A notary does more than witness signatures. Before certifying a deal, the notary identifies the parties, checks that a representative's power of attorney is valid and covers the deal, refuses foreign documents without an apostille or legalisation, and makes sure that a party who does not speak Georgian has an interpreter. Every act is entered in the electronic notarial register, which gives a lasting record of what was signed and by whom. A notary does not inspect the flat, value it or check the developer's permit; those remain your checks.
Mortgages: bank or private lender
If you borrow from a Georgian commercial bank, a micro-bank or a microfinance organisation, the mortgage does not have to be notarised; the bank's own procedure applies. A loan from a private lender secured by a mortgage must be notarised. For such loan mortgages the tariff sets a flat fee by value: GEL 50 up to GEL 5,000, GEL 100 up to GEL 20,000, GEL 150 up to GEL 50,000, GEL 200 up to GEL 100,000 and GEL 500 above that. If the parties agree, the notary can also issue a writ of execution, which allows the lender to enforce without going to court, for GEL 140.
What a typical purchase spends at the notary
For a buyer signing in person at the Public Service Hall and paying by bank transfer, the notary may not be needed at all. A buyer who signs through a representative pays for the power of attorney, GEL 18 plus translation and, if signed abroad, an apostille. A buyer who uses a notary's deposit pays a quarter of the transaction rate, at least GEL 4 a month. And a buyer who has the whole sale certified by a notary pays the transaction fee, about GEL 687 on a $100,000 flat at the official tariff, unless a different fee is agreed. Each of these is small next to the price, but worth knowing before you choose a route.
A notary is not your lawyer
A notary acts for the legality of the deal, not for one side of it, and does not negotiate the price or the clauses on your behalf. If you want someone to review the contract for your interests, check the developer, or advise on the residence permit and tax, that is a lawyer's work. You can use both: a lawyer to prepare and check, a notary or the Public Service Hall to certify.
Booking a notary and what to bring
You can book a visit to a notary through my.gov.ge or call the Notary Chamber's hotline on 2 206 777. Bring your passport, the documents for the deal with their apostilles and Georgian translations, the registry extract, and, if you do not speak Georgian, an interpreter, or ask the office to arrange one. Ask in advance how long the appointment will take and which fee will apply, so that nothing is left to discuss at the table.
Frequently asked questions
Is a notary required to buy a flat in Georgia?
No; a written contract registered in the Public Registry is enough, and signatures can be certified at the registry.
When must I use a notary?
For a power of attorney, a will, a marriage contract, a private mortgage loan or a notarial writ of execution.
How much does a notary charge for a sale?
On the official tariff, about GEL 687 for a $100,000 flat, plus VAT if applicable; the fee can be agreed for sales.
Is there a maximum fee?
Yes, GEL 10,000 for a transaction.
Does the notary speak English?
Acts are in Georgian; if you do not speak it, an interpreter must take part.
Can I sign before a notary online?
We found no general online notarisation; remote options have been limited to Georgian citizens or persons known to the notary.
What is a notary deposit?
An account where the notary holds the price until registration, then pays the seller.
How much is a power of attorney?
GEL 18 from an individual, plus translation if needed.
Sources
- Civil Code of Georgia (Articles 69, 183, 289, 300, 311.1), Legislative Herald of Georgia (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Law of Georgia on Notaries (Articles 6, 38, 51, 52, 55), Legislative Herald of Georgia (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Government Resolution No 507 on notarial fees, Legislative Herald of Georgia (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Instruction on the Public Registry, Minister of Justice Order No 487, Legislative Herald of Georgia (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Map of notaries, Notary Chamber of Georgia (accessed 18 October 2026)
- Notary's deposit account becomes more protected, Notary Chamber of Georgia (accessed 18 October 2026)
Change log
- - Explainer published from the Civil Code, the Law on Notaries, Resolution No 507 and the Notary Chamber.