Criminal Record Certificate from Georgia: How to Get It, Apostille It and Translate It
Criminal record certificate from Georgia for work or residence abroad: where to get it, when it needs an apostille, how it is translated, how recent it must be.
- criminal record certificate Georgia
- police clearance certificate Georgia
- criminal record certificate translation Tbilisi
- nasamartlobis cnoba
- nasamartlobis cnoba apostilit
Contents
A criminal record certificate from Georgia, also called a police clearance certificate, is one of the standard documents for working, studying or settling abroad. Employers, visa sections and immigration offices ask for it together with an apostille and a translation into their own language, and most want it to be recent.
This guide covers where the certificate comes from, the order of apostille and translation, and the mistakes that send it back.
Who issues it and how to request it
The certificate is issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia. Most people request it at a Public Service Hall; it can also be ordered online through the state services portal, my.gov.ge. The fee and the waiting time depend on how quickly you need it, so check the current options with the Public Service Hall before you plan your deadlines.
If you are abroad
You can ask a representative in Georgia to request it for you with a notarized power of attorney, or apply through a Georgian consulate. Ask them in advance what they need from you.
When you need it
- Work visas and employment contracts abroad, including seasonal work
- Residence permits and citizenship applications in another country
- University admission and some professional registrations
- Adoption and guardianship procedures
Apostille, then translation
- Get the certificate in Georgian.
- Get the apostille at the Public Service Hall, if the destination country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. Countries outside it need consular legalization instead.
- Translate the certificate and the apostille into the official language of the destination country.
- Have the translation notarized. Ask the receiving office whether it also wants an apostille on the translation.
More on the apostille itself in our apostille guide.
What to prepare, by destination
| Purpose | What you usually need |
|---|---|
| Work visa in an EU country | Certificate + apostille + notarized translation into that country's language |
| Residence permit or citizenship abroad | Recent certificate + apostille + notarized translation |
| A country outside the Apostille Convention | Certificate + consular legalization + translation, as the embassy specifies |
| A foreign certificate for use in Georgia | Certificate apostilled in the issuing country + notarized Georgian translation |
Mistakes that get it returned
An old certificate
Many offices only accept a certificate issued within the last three to six months. Request it close to the date you apply, and translate it straight away.
An untranslated apostille
The apostille is part of the document. A translation that leaves it out is incomplete.
Names that do not match the passport
Your name in the translation must match the Latin spelling in your passport exactly. Send us a copy of your passport with the certificate.
A translator the country does not accept
Some countries accept only translations by their own sworn translators. If you are unsure, ask the receiving office before you order.
Price and turnaround
The certificate is usually one page, plus one for the apostille. Translation from Georgian into English or Russian costs 22.5 ₾ per page, and into German, French or Italian 30 ₾; all languages are on our prices page. Notary certification is added on top, and the price calculator shows the total. The translation is usually ready the same day.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I order the translation without coming to Georgia?
- Yes. Send a scan of the certificate and its apostille; we email a scan of the notarized translation, and someone in Tbilisi can collect the paper original or we arrange a courier.
- Is the apostille translated too?
- Yes. It is translated and notarized together with the certificate.
- How long is the certificate valid?
- That is set by the office that receives it, usually three to six months from the date of issue. Check their rules before you request the certificate.
- Which language do I need?
- The official language of the country that asks for it: German for Germany, Greek for Greece, and so on. We translate into more than 20 languages.
- Can you translate a foreign criminal record certificate into Georgian?
- Yes. Once it has an apostille from the issuing country, we translate it into Georgian and notarize the translation for use in Georgia.
Summary
Request the certificate close to your application date, get the apostille at the Public Service Hall, then translate the certificate and apostille together and have the translation notarized. Match your name to your passport and check which translations the receiving country accepts. Send us a scan, and the translation is usually ready the same day.