Obtaining a Georgian Criminal Record Certificate Remotely
Georgia Assistant helps you obtain a Georgian criminal record certificate remotely under a power of attorney
290 $
5 days
Obtaining a Georgian Criminal Record Certificate Remotely with Georgia Assistant
The price includes:
translation of the power of attorney into Georgian, requesting the certificate from the Georgian Ministry of Justice, notarized translation of the certificate into one language, and mailing the document (delivery paid by the recipient)
Required documents:
power of attorney, passport photo, and email address
Obtaining documents from another country is often complicated because government agencies mainly work with physical originals. If you have already left Georgia, flying to Tbilisi for a single certificate is not cost-effective. Remote issuance of a criminal record certificate allows you to obtain the document without attending in person. An authorized representative completes the entire procedure, including translations and contact with the authorities, under a notarized power of attorney.
What Is a Criminal Record Certificate in Georgia?
An official criminal record certificate (known in Georgian as tsnoba nasamartleobis shesakheb) is a personalized government document confirming that an individual has no criminal convictions and is not wanted by the authorities.
Unlike most other official documents, it is issued not by the House of Justice but by the Service Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (LEPL Service Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs). The certificate is issued in electronic and/or paper form, exclusively in Georgian, and is protected by a unique digital code.
The service and document are available to everyone. Both foreign nationals and Georgian citizens who have lawfully stayed in the country can obtain a certificate.
What Is a Georgian Criminal Record Certificate?
A Georgian criminal record certificate (Tsnoba Nasamartleobis Shesakheb) is an official document confirming that an individual has no criminal convictions and is not wanted in connection with a criminal investigation in Georgia.
An important difference in the remote procedure is that the application is submitted not to the police (Ministry of Internal Affairs) but to the Georgian Ministry of Justice. The authority issues the paper document in Georgian. Each certificate is protected by a unique barcode and QR code for authenticity checks. The underlying government database contains records of Georgian citizens and foreign nationals who held residence permits or were registered in the country.
Why and Who Needs a Georgian Criminal Record Certificate?
The document is most frequently requested by foreign nationals who lawfully lived in Georgia for more than six months and now need to formalize their immigration status in another country. Under international standards, migration authorities and banks may check applicants’ criminal histories in their previous countries of residence.
People who need this certificate can broadly be divided into two groups:
- Foreign nationals. They need it for residence permits in third countries, long-term visas (for example, to the United States or EU), and KYC compliance checks when opening bank accounts.
- Georgian citizens. Local residents need it for lawful employment abroad, immigration procedures, or admission to foreign universities.
When Is Remote Issuance Necessary?
Remote ordering is a practical solution when visiting Tbilisi in person is impossible. Three typical situations are:
- You are already settling in another country, and the local migration authority or consulate has given you a strict deadline to provide documents.
- The cost of return flights to Tbilisi is much higher than the cost of arranging the document remotely.
- You need a complete document package with notarized translation and international delivery to your current country of residence, without spending time traveling yourself.
How to Obtain a Georgian Criminal Record Certificate Remotely
A remote request requires you to authorize a trusted person to act on your behalf and access your personal information.
The Ministry of Justice does not disclose citizens’ personal information following verbal requests from third parties. The procedure therefore requires formal documentary authority. It includes checking the applicant’s documents, filing an application, tracking its processing, and collecting the original paper certificate.
Required Documents and Conditions
The representative in Tbilisi must receive a full document package before starting the request. Technical errors or incomplete scans can cause the application to be rejected:
- Original notarized power of attorney. It must explicitly authorize the representative to act for the applicant before the Georgian Ministry of Justice, House of Justice, or Ministry of Internal Affairs Service Agency and to file applications and collect criminal record certificates.
- Copy of the applicant’s passport. Foreign nationals must provide a clear scan of the photo page of their international passport so that details can be matched to the power of attorney and translated. Georgian citizens provide a copy of their identity card.
- Email address. This is used to register the application in the government’s information system and track its status.
How to Legalize a Power of Attorney for Use in Georgia
The Ministry of Justice will accept a document notarized abroad only if it has been properly legalized. Requirements depend on the country where the applicant is physically located:
- Powers of attorney from CIS countries (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan). Under the simplified document recognition procedures provided by Article 13 of the Minsk Convention, a Russian-language power of attorney does not require an apostille. The original is sent to Georgia, where a local notary certifies the signature of the qualified translator who translates it into Georgian.
- Powers of attorney from Hague Convention countries (EU, United States, Turkey). Documents notarized in these countries must bear an apostille from the competent authority in the country of issue. Without it, the Georgian Ministry of Justice will not recognize the power of attorney. In Tbilisi, both the text of the document and the apostille stamp are translated.
- Powers of attorney from other countries. If the issuing country has not joined the Hague Convention, full consular legalization is required. The document is first certified by that country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then by the Georgian consulate there, and only then sent to Tbilisi.
Apostille and Legalization
A document issued by Georgia’s Ministry of Justice gains legal effect abroad only after the appropriate international recognition procedure. The process is similar to legalization of a power of attorney and depends on the destination country.
- EU countries, the United States, and the United Kingdom. If you plan to submit the document in a Hague Convention member country, you need an apostille. The stamp can be obtained at the House of Justice in Tbilisi. The Georgian original itself must be apostilled before being translated into the destination language.
- Russia and CIS countries. Legalization is also covered by the Minsk Convention. No additional international stamps are required on the certificate. Russian authorities accept it, although a notarized translation from Georgian is required.
- Countries outside the Hague Convention. Other states may lack reciprocal document recognition arrangements with Georgia or may not accept apostilles. Legalization then involves several stages: certification by Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs followed by certification at the relevant diplomatic mission.
Timeframes and International Delivery
The remote procedure depends on courier delivery times because government agencies work with original paper documents. The overall process usually takes from several days to a couple of weeks.
- First, the original power of attorney must physically reach Tbilisi. An electronic version is not sufficient. Mailing the document typically takes several days to one week.
- Once the original arrives, the administrative procedure begins. It takes exactly five business days. During this period, the power of attorney is translated into Georgian and notarized, the certificate is requested from the Georgian Ministry of Justice, and an official translation into the required language is prepared.
- Finally, the completed document package is packed and handed over to a postal or courier service for delivery to your country of residence. Return delivery time depends on the transport company you choose.
Obtaining a Criminal Record Certificate Remotely with Georgia Assistant
If you are abroad, you can order a Georgian criminal record certificate remotely. Georgia Assistant completes the procedure on your behalf under a notarized power of attorney. You do not need to visit Tbilisi.
The service costs USD 290 and takes five days. International courier delivery of the original is charged separately.
The price includes:
- Translation of your power of attorney into Georgian (required for government submissions).
- Requesting and obtaining the certificate from the Georgian Ministry of Justice.
- Notarized translation of the completed certificate into one foreign language of your choice.
- Handing the document package to a courier or postal service for dispatch.
To get started, provide a notarized power of attorney authorizing our representative, a digital copy (scan or clear photo) of your international passport, and an email address.
Our lawyers specialize in Georgian migration law and have obtained several thousand such certificates. We charge a fixed fee, guarantee confidentiality of personal information, and provide customer support in Russian, Georgian, and English.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Within Georgia, the document has legal validity for only 15 calendar days from its date of issue. If submitted to authorities in another country, its validity depends on local law, typically ranging from three to six months.
No, not if you are abroad. The Georgian Ministry of Justice issues the paper document to the applicant in person or to their official representative. A power of attorney is mandatory for remote issuance.
Certificates issued by Georgian consulates abroad have limitations: under the law, they cannot be apostilled. If the destination country requires an apostilled document, it must be obtained directly from Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs or Ministry of Justice.
Any foreign national who lawfully stayed in Georgia (for example, by holding a residence permit or registering in the country) may request a certificate indicating whether they have criminal convictions for the period of residence.
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