Planning a Wedding in Georgia For Foreign Couples

A wedding is always very exciting, but when it comes to getting married in another country, the stress level can be off the charts. You don’t understand the language, the bureaucratic system, where to go and who to approach – such adventures are not for every couple. It is especially sad when couples have to go through this not of their own free will, such as wanting to marry in a more exotic location, but because of circumstances.

Couples from Muslim countries such as the UAE, Qatar and others are often faced with this. But the reason, of course, is not always the strictness of religious laws, the reasons for forced marriage abroad may be different, but they all have one thing in common – the desire to find a country where you can register your marriage without too much trouble and as quickly as possible. It is for such couples that Georgia is the ideal place to marry.

To plan a wedding in this country, you will need some guidance and answers to a number of important questions. So, let’s get started:

Can all foreign nationals get married in Georgia?

Despite the super liberal policies of the local government, there are still some restrictions for marriage. You cannot get married in Georgia if:

• You are in the country illegally.
• One or both partners are under 18 years of age.
• You or your partner is already in a valid marriage.
• Someone in the couple is legally incompetent, or both.
• Your couple is homosexual, meaning you are of the same sex.
• You and your future spouse are related by blood, e.g. you are related by marriage and sister, have the same father and mother.

All other categories of foreign citizens can register their marriage in Georgia.

What documents do I need to wed in Georgia?

The list is actually minimal:

• A passport – the passport you use to travel to another country. Check to see if it has expired. Also, keep in mind that you may not be allowed into some countries if you have less than a certain amount of time left before it expires, such as six months.
• Certificate of divorce or death of your spouse, if you are not getting married for the first time.
• Translation of all these documents into Georgian. The translation must be notarized and apostilled.

What are the requirements for getting married in Georgia?

In order to marry you need to:

• Submit an application to the House of Justice.
• Pay the state fee.
• Receive confirmation of the possibility to legalize the relationship (can take less than 24 hours).
• Come in person (both partners) to the ceremony and sign.
• Have two witnesses (if they are not Georgians, they also need a passport and its translation).

What to do after registration with the local authorities?

Once your marriage is officially concluded, you need to get a marriage certificate. Your next step involves legalizing this document in your home country or your country of residence.

In order to find out how to do this, you need to contact the consulate or authorized bodies in your country and find out the procedure. Also get information on this subject, you can get from the specialists of the wedding agency “Shu Wedding”.

Which is faster: getting married at the embassy or in Georgia?

Some foreigners living in another country have the opportunity to wed not according to local laws, but according to the laws of the country of their citizenship in the embassy. But, you should know that not every country or even every mission provides such services. Also, the process can be complicated by lengthy bureaucratic costs. In any case, very few embassies will be able to offer you the legalization within 24 hours.

If you come to Georgia, you can easily make it in a day. You can fly in the morning and fly out in the evening being legally married.

Are there any religious or national restrictions for getting married in Georgia?

You should know that in this country, getting married is a legal process, not a religious rite. Therefore, your religion and nationality are irrelevant to local law.

If you want to have a religious union as well, you can look for a religious institution of your denomination in Georgia and perform the ceremony before or after the official marriage registration.

Georgia is one of the best and easiest options for a quick wedding for foreigners. Thousands of couples from all over the world register their marriages here.