Apostille vs. Embassy legalisation for Georgia
Georgia joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 2007, which simplifies document legalisation for individuals and businesses. As a result, UK documents only need an apostille to be recognised in Georgia, rather than the longer embassy legalisation process. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Legalisation Office handles all apostille requests from the UK. Whether you have a birth certificate issued in Plymouth or a company document for use in Tbilisi, the apostille serves as international proof of the signature's authenticity.
For document legalisation for Georgia, you must start by obtaining the correct version of your papers. Public records like birth, marriage, or death certificates should be fresh certified copies ordered from Plymouth Register Office at Derriford Park. The office works by post, so you don't need to risk sending your originals. Certified copies show all the standard details but are issued with an official stamp, making them suitable for the apostille process. Commercial and educational papers follow different routes but share the same final step of receiving the apostille stamp.
The Plymouth → Georgia route step by step
The path to getting your apostille from United Kingdom to Georgia begins with preparing the right version of your document. If you have a civil record like a birth certificate issued in Plymouth, contact Plymouth Register Office directly to order a fresh certified copy by post. This means you keep your original safe at home while the certified copy goes through the legalisation process. The register office mails these copies directly or to your preferred address, usually taking a few days to arrive.
Once you have your certified copy or original company document ready, send it with your application to the Legalisation Office in Milton Keynes. Include a form that specifies Georgia as the destination country, plus the standard fee per document. The office checks the signature against their records and attaches the apostille certificate, which is a unique numbered stamp on the back of your document. For paper work that requires translation, Georgia usually asks for it to be done after the apostille is in place.
Cost & processing for this route
The cost to get an apostille for Georgia varies between two service tiers. The standard postal service has an official fee per document, while a faster next-day option offers a small discount for registered business customers. Processing times depend on demand, ranging from up to 25 working days to a couple of weeks for standard service. If your document needs additional verification from another UK authority before the apostille can be issued, you should allow for extra handling time.
After receiving the apostille, you must arrange for the entire document to be translated into Georgian by an official translator. The translated version should include a copy of both the original text and the attached apostille certificate. Some scenarios may require notarisation or additional local stamps in Georgia, so check with the specific organisation receiving the document. Each document type follows its own set of rules, making it important to know exactly what you need for an apostille for Georgia before starting the process.