Remote Property Purchase in Georgia

Legal Mechanism of Remote Acquisitions

Remote property acquisition in Georgia is a fully legal, standardized process recognized by the Ministry of Justice and the National Agency of Public Registry (NAPR). Non-resident buyers can complete every step of a transaction—from preliminary contract execution to final title registration—without physical presence in the country. The process relies on appointing a trusted representative via a designated Power of Attorney (POA).

Drafting and Validating the Power of Attorney

To empower a legal representative, lawyer, or agent in Georgia, the buyer must draft a POA specifying exact permissions, such as signing purchase agreements, registering title ownership, and handling municipal or utility filings.

• Hague Convention Countries: If the buyer’s home country is a signatory to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention, the POA must be notarized locally and stamped with an Apostille.
• Non-Hague Countries: The POA must undergo full consular legalization through the Georgian embassy or consulate in the buyer's state of residence.

Once received in Georgia, the POA must be translated into Georgian and certified by a local public notary before it can be used at NAPR or banking institutions.

Registration with the Public Registry (NAPR)

Georgia features a centralized, digital real estate register operated by NAPR. The appointed representative presents the translated POA, identity documents, and the signed purchase contract (Sales and Purchase Agreement) to NAPR. Registration options range from standard processing to same-day expedited services. Once processed, an official extract is issued electronically, containing a unique barcode and verification code, eliminating the need for physical paper title deeds.

Financial Settlement and Cross-Border Transfers

Funds are typically transferred directly from the buyer’s overseas bank account to the seller’s account or the developer’s designated escrow/operational account in Georgia. For off-plan purchases, payments are made according to a pre-agreed construction milestone schedule. Advertised purchase prices for primary market developments automatically include Georgia's 18% Value Added Tax (VAT), preventing unexpected tax surcharges at closing.

An investor based in Germany wishes to purchase a secondary-market apartment in Tbilisi valued at $160,000 USD. The investor drafts a Power of Attorney granting a local legal counsel the authority to negotiate and sign on their behalf. The investor notarizes the POA in Frankfurt, obtains an Apostille, and couriers the document to Tbilisi. The lawyer translates and notarizes the document locally, conducts a NAPR title search, signs the bill of sale, and registers the investor as the sole owner at NAPR. The buyer wires $160,000 USD directly to the seller's Georgian bank account. The investor subsequently uses the property extract showing a value over $150,000 USD to apply for short-term residential status.