Why Georgia: World's Fastest Marriage Registration

I'm Marco Rodriguez, your travel and destination wedding specialist at VOWLY. For individual international couples who meet deadlines or bureaucracy problems in their home country, the answer is often: "How soon can we get married easily and without hassle?" I have repeatedly said Georgia to that question. This amazing country has restructured its marriage procedure to be among the fastest and easiest in the whole world.

It's time to crunch the numbers, and figure out why Georgia is the optimal choice of a couple who want a legitimate and very quick marriage.

Why Georgia is the Speed Champion

The main reason for Georgia's success is the things it doesn't ask for. Contrary to the majority of countries, Georgia has cut out the main bureaucratic hurdles for international couples.

You will NOT need:

• A Certificate of Non-Impediment (CNI): There is no need to obtain a document from your home country's authorities to prove that you are single.
• Your Birth Certificates: This is a precious time-saving process.
• A Residency Permit: You can enter Georgia and marry without any residency requirements.

The one-day marriage feature is made possible by this document scarcity which becomes a very standard option.

The Marriage Registration Process Step-by-Step

Marrying in Georgia is a simple, chronological operation. You can either apply in advance for a trouble-free fast ceremony or a same-day registration if you are on the money.

Here is how to do it:

1. Document Preparation: The first thing to do is that you and your partner get your valid passports. If any of you has marital ties with someone else, you will need the final divorce decree or the death certificate of your previous spouse.
2. Translation and Notarization: All non-Georgian documents must be translated into Georgian and notarized. This is a crucial step that VOWLY can help manage to avoid any errors.
3. Application Submission:

• Advance Application: Submit your documents days or weeks ahead of time. You'll get an SMS the day before your ceremony that will help make the wedding day a simple 30-minute affair.
• Same-Day Application: Truth be told, if you submit your documents in the morning, it can be done in one day (before 12:00 is best) at a location like ZAGS Uznadze in Tbilisi. In 4-5 hours, you will receive an SMS approval and you can have your ceremony the same evening.

1. The Ceremony: You will be in the venue of your choice from the free common hall at the House of Justice to a beautiful, private ZAGS (Registry Office), or even an off-site location of your choice. You and your two witnesses will sign the official documents.
2. Receive Your Certificate: The official Georgian marriage certificate is presented to you right away after the ceremony.

Required Documents A Simple Checklist

The required documents are quite intriguingly limited.

For All Couples

• Valid Foreign Passports: The same documents you used to get into the country.
• Passports of Two Witnesses: If you are traveling alone, a wedding organizer such as VOWLY can provide witnesses.

(#### If Applicable)

• Divorce or Death Certificate: If you've previously been married, the original final document is required. The legalization requirement depends on the issuer of the document:
• CIS Countries (e.g., Ukraine, Kazakhstan, etc.): Only a notarized copy is sufficient, no apostille needed.
• Hague Convention Countries (e.g., USA, UK, Germany, Israel): The original document must have an apostille.
• Non-Hague Countries (e.g., UAE, Qatar): The two-stage process of consular legalization is a document that needs both an initial government stamp and one more stamp.
• Power of Attorney: This applies when a third party, like VOWLY, submits your application on your behalf.

From Application to Global Recognition A Timeline

Georgia's speed stretches well beyond the marriage ceremony. The entire process, from application to receipt of a valid document everywhere, is astonishingly effective.

• Marriage Registration: The entire procedure can be finished in as little as a single day.
• Apostille/Legalization: After the wedding, your certificate should be legalized for it to be used abroad. A House of Justice can do that quickly.
• Apostille (for Hague countries): Takes 1 to 8 business days, depending on the service you choose.
• Consular Legalization (for non-Hague countries): This two-stage process takes an additional 2 to 5 working days after the initial government stamping.

In the worst case, time taken ranges from 3 to 15 business days for the application to the reception of the fully legalized marriage certificate. Unusual delays in translation of non-standard languages or the involved complexity of consular procedures can cause some delays.

Significant Note for Same-Sex Couples

While the Georgian process is hospitably open without hurdles for all nationalities, bear in mind that same-sex marriages are not yet legally acknowledged according to the Georgian law.

Your Fast Track to a Global Marriage

Georgia gives a distinctive combination of speed, simplicity, and cost-effectiveness. It is the kind of system that makes it possible to get two people together without the pain points caused by bureaucratic issues. Your wife or husband will be carrying the Georgian marriage certificate which is widely recognized after it is apostilled or legalized.

Don't wait! If you want your overseas marriage to materialize quickly, get on board with VOWLY.