Buying Property · Registration · Public Registry · Updated: September 2026
Property Registration in Georgia
Property registration in Georgia is the final legal step of a purchase, after which the buyer's ownership is reflected at the National Agency of Public Registry (NAPR). The registration system is fairly simple and fast: standard registration takes 4 business days, expedited registration 1 business day, and with the urgent service registration can be completed on the day of filing. But that speed doesn't remove the main rule: before registering, you need to check not just the apartment, but the seller's basis of ownership, any restrictions, mortgages, obligations and the contract's terms.
13 min read
In Short
Property registration, in numbers
standard registration — 4 business days
expedited registration — 1 business day
urgent registration — same day
a Public Registry extract, ordered online, in 1 business day
These are NAPR's current fees for registering the creation, change or termination of a right to real estate. An electronic extract costs GEL 13 for 1 business day, or GEL 52 for same-day issue.
Where property is registered in Georgia
Rights to real estate are registered by the National Agency of Public Registry — NAPR, which operates within Georgia's Ministry of Justice.
It's the Public Registry's data that establishes:
- who the registered owner is
- which property belongs to them
- the property's cadastral code
- the registered area
- the basis on which the right arose
- whether a mortgage or other rights and obligations are registered
An official Public Registry extract's structure contains information about the property, the owner, the underlying document and any registered rights or encumbrances.
How apartment registration works, step by step
We check the property before signing the contract
This matters more than the registration procedure itself.
Before any money changes hands, you need a current Public Registry extract, matched against the property you're being sold. We check:
- the owner
- the cadastral code
- the area and purpose of the property
- the basis on which ownership arose
- any mortgage and registered obligations
- public-law restrictions
- whether the seller matches the registry's data
NAPR separately offers a service providing information on registered rights, obligations, public-law restrictions and tax liens/mortgages.
We agree the sale and purchase contract
At minimum, it needs to clearly define the parties to the deal, the property, the price and payment terms, the terms of transfer, and other terms material to the specific deal.
NAPR has official sample contracts, including a standard Purchase Agreement, an installment purchase contract, and a mortgage purchase contract. But a template contract is only a starting point.
- the handover date
- the finish condition
- the area and how it's recalculated
- the payment schedule
- the parties' liability
- termination terms
- registration of obligations
- the terms of the future ownership registration
When buying from a developer, additional terms matter especially:
We sign the documents
After the property is checked and the contract is agreed, the parties sign the documents needed to register the transfer of rights. NAPR also offers a service confirming the parties' signatures on the deal submitted for registration — the official fee is GEL 7.
In many standard deals, registration goes through the Public Registry without a separate classic notarization of the contract, though requirements depend on the deal's structure, the parties' representatives and their documents.
We file the documents for registration
Once the deal is signed, an application to register the change of ownership is filed. The buyer chooses the processing speed:
So you usually don't have to wait several weeks for ownership to be registered, as in many other countries.
| Registration time | State fee |
|---|---|
| 4 business days | GEL 150 |
| 1 business day | GEL 270 |
| Same day | GEL 350 |
We settle with the seller
This is one of the most sensitive moments of the deal.
The fact that the contract is signed doesn't by itself mean the buyer should unconditionally hand over the full amount to the seller before ownership is registered. The payment order needs to be set out in advance.
Georgia also has an escrow deal mechanism: NAPR describes a scheme where the buyer's money is temporarily held by a bank and transferred to the seller after the buyer's ownership is registered. If registration doesn't go through, the funds are returned to the buyer under the contract's terms. NAPR lists a fee of GEL 35 for this escrow service.
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We agree not only the apartment's price in advance, but also a safe sequence: check → contract → registration filing → payment → confirmation of ownership.
We get the ownership registered
Once the procedure is complete, the new owner's details appear in the Public Registry. The final document the buyer cares about is a current registry extract. It needs to be checked once more for:
- the owner's full name
- the cadastral code
- the address
- the area
- the type of right
- any registered obligations and encumbrances
Only after that can the deal be considered complete from a registration standpoint.
How much a Public Registry extract costs
For an extract in English, NAPR lists an additional fee of GEL 26.
| Request method | 1 business day | Same day |
|---|---|---|
| Online | GEL 13 | GEL 52 |
| Standard request | GEL 20 | GEL 75 |
Can a foreigner register property in Georgia?
For ordinary residential property, a foreign buyer can be registered as owner on the same basis as anyone else.
But it's important not to conflate residential property with agricultural land: agricultural land is subject to separate restrictions and procedures.
So when buying a house, villa or land plot, we always check the land's designated use rather than relying on the seller's description.
What a cadastral code is
This is one of the key terms a foreign buyer will see almost right away.
A cadastral code identifies a specific property within the Public Registry system. The legal check is carried out against the property and its registered data.
"Apartment #125, such-and-such complex, 12th floor" isn't enough on its own.
You need to know exactly which property is registered and whether it matches the property you're actually buying.
What if the apartment is still being built?
The Georgian registry can also include units in buildings under construction — current NAPR extracts show a status of Ownership Area (Under construction) for individual apartments. But buying an off-plan apartment needs a different level of checking. You need to understand:
- what's registered right now
- who owns the land plot
- exactly what the buyer is acquiring at this stage
- what right or obligation is being registered
- when full ownership of the finished unit will arise
"I signed a contract with the developer" and "I'm registered as owner of a finished apartment" are not legally the same thing.Buying Property Under Construction: Opportunities and Risks →
What to check in the extract before buying
- 01
Owner
The seller genuinely needs the right to dispose of the property.
- 02
Cadastral code
It needs to match the exact property being bought.
- 03
Area
Compare the registry, the contract and the property's actual parameters.
- 04
Designated use
Especially important for land and non-standard properties.
- 05
Mortgage
Check whether the property is pledged.
- 06
Restrictions
Check registered restrictions and obligations.
- 07
Underlying document
See on what basis the seller obtained ownership.
- 08
The deal's history
If doubts arise, one recent extract may not be enough — the documents and the property's history need a deeper check.
How long the whole deal takes
If the property is already chosen, the documents are ready and the legal check found no issues, the state registration itself can take anywhere from a few hours to 4 business days, depending on the NAPR service chosen.
We don't rush the check just to get a fast registration.
Same-day registration is useful once the property has already been checked. The speed of the Public Registry by itself doesn't confirm an apartment is legally safe.
What can complicate registration
Not every deal fits the scenario "signed the contract, got the extract the next day." Extra checking is needed when:
- the apartment is mortgaged
- there are registered restrictions
- the seller acts through a representative
- there are several owners
- the property is in a building under construction
- the area or the property's data differ across documents
- a land plot is being bought
- payment is made in installments
- part of the deal is financed through a bank
So support isn't just about "taking documents to the House of Justice" — it's about building the right sequence for the deal in advance.
How we support property registration
- 01
We check the property
We get the registration data and check ownership and restrictions.
- 02
We check the seller or developer
We establish who has the right to dispose of the property, and on what basis.
- 03
We agree the deal's terms
Price, payment order, timelines and the parties' obligations.
- 04
We check the contract
So the actual agreements match what the buyer is signing.
- 05
We support the registration
We help complete the ownership registration procedure.
- 06
We check the final extract
After registration, we verify the new owner's and property's data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources and Relevance of Information
Last updated September 2026. Information is based on the current fees and regulations of the National Agency of Public Registry (NAPR), which operates within Georgia's Ministry of Justice. Requirements can change — it's best to verify a specific procedure's current status before the deal.
Continue Reading
The process, documents and cost of the deal.
The registry, the land plot and the contract.
Choosing a project and checking the terms.
What to check before buying off-plan.
The $150,000 threshold and conditions.
Purchase, rental and sale.
Already picked an apartment in Georgia?
If you found an apartment on your own — from a developer, an owner or another agency — that doesn't mean you have to start the search over. Send us the link or the property's details: we'll help you work out what's registered in the Public Registry, who owns the property, which documents need checking, how to structure the deal, and what alternatives exist in the same budget.
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