When ordering a document translation, one question comes up often: is an ordinary translation enough, should the translator or agency provide a certification, or do you need a notarized translation? The answer depends on more than the type of document. What matters most is where you will submit it and exactly which form the receiving organisation requires.
The safest step is to confirm the requirement in advance. Ask the recipient: who must certify the translation, what exactly must be certified, whether the original or a certified copy must be attached, and whether an apostille or legalisation is required. A written answer can save you from unnecessary expense and having to prepare the document again.
Three forms at a glance
| Form | What you receive | When it may be useful |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary translation | The text is translated into another language without additional certification | For information, internal use, or when the recipient does not require certification |
| Certification by a translator or agency | The translation is accompanied by a private statement, signature, or stamp | Only when the recipient confirms in writing that this form is acceptable |
| Notarial form | A specific notarial act prescribed by law is performed in connection with the translation | When the recipient explicitly requires a notarized form |
The term “certified” may refer to different requirements in different countries and organisations. In Georgia, an agency stamp or a translator’s signature is not, by itself, a notarial act. Choosing a label alone is therefore not enough.
What is an ordinary translation?
An ordinary translation is a professional rendering of a document from one language into another without additional official certification. It can be prepared as a PDF or Word file and, by agreement, can preserve headings, tables, and the document’s basic layout.
This form is often sufficient for information, work with a business partner, or preliminary preparation of an application. A high-quality translation does not, however, mean that a bank, university, embassy, or public authority will accept it without further formalities.
What does certification by a translator or agency mean?
A translator or agency may attach a private statement of accuracy, a signature, or a stamp to the translation. This is sometimes called a certified translation, but the official Georgian sources reviewed do not define it as one uniform, universal notarial category. The receiving organisation decides whether this version is acceptable.
If foreign instructions ask for a certified translation, request a sample or a written explanation from the recipient:
- who must sign the certification;
- what wording must accompany the translation;
- whether the signature must be notarized;
- whether an electronic copy is acceptable or a paper original is required.
Notarial certification can take two different forms
Under Georgia’s rules on notarial acts, if the notary knows both the language of the document and the language of the translation, the notary may certify the accuracy of the translation. If the notary does not know the language of the translation, the notary certifies the authenticity of the translator’s signature on the translator’s statement concerning the accuracy of the translation. The notarial certification text must show which particular act was performed.
Consequently, a “notarized translation” does not always mean that the notary personally checked the linguistic accuracy. In practice, it is important to read the notarial certification and confirm with the recipient whether certification of the authenticity of the translator’s signature is sufficient.
The translator must present evidence of qualifications to the notary unless accredited by a competent administrative authority to translate official documents for apostille or legalisation purposes. The notary must also warn the translator about the liability established for an incorrect translation.
According to the rules, the original document or a copy is attached to the translation, the translator signs the translation, and the documents are bound together. Confirm the exact materials required with the notary in advance. If you need this service, see our notarized translation service in Tbilisi.
When is a notarized translation required in administrative proceedings?
Under the General Administrative Code of Georgia, administrative proceedings are conducted in Georgian. If an interested party submits an application or another document drawn up in a non-state language, the party must submit a notarized translation within the period set by the administrative authority. A particular service may have its own rules or exceptions, so confirm the requirement directly with the relevant authority.
Requirements imposed by a court, embassy, university, bank, or foreign authority may differ. This article is a practical guide and does not replace the official instructions of a specific recipient or legal advice.
An apostille and legalisation are not forms of translation
An apostille, legalisation, translation, and notarial certification are separate procedures. According to Georgia’s Public Service Development Agency, an apostille or legalisation certifies the authenticity of the signature on a document, the authority of the signatory, and the authenticity of the seal or stamp — not the truth of the document’s contents.
For a document to be submitted abroad, confirm in advance which document requires an apostille or legalisation, at which stage the translation must be completed, and whether the organisation in the destination country accepts the form prepared in Georgia. The same rule does not apply to every document. Current official information is available on the official apostille and legalisation page.
Important agency limits when apostilling a translation
If a translation has been prepared with a notary certifying the authenticity of the translator’s signature, do not assume that the Agency will automatically apostille or legalise that notarial act. The current State Services Development Agency page and apostille rules list certain notarial acts certifying translation accuracy or conformity of a copy with the original as excluded. Before applying, provide the Agency with the full wording of the notarial endorsement and obtain written confirmation that the specific form is eligible for apostille or legalisation.
The Agency also offers translation of documents that are eligible for apostille or legalisation, but its current official list covers only eight languages: English, Italian, French, Spanish, Greek, Russian, German and Turkish. If a Georgian document is needed in another language, this limitation may make the process more complicated. It does not automatically make use of the document impossible: ask the receiving authority and the destination country whether they will accept the apostilled Georgian document with a separately prepared translation, and where that translation must be produced or certified.
The official sources do not state that these limits are caused by distrust of translators who work with or are registered with notaries. We therefore cannot present that motive as a verified fact. What can be stated accurately is the applicable exclusion, the Agency’s eight-language service, and the practical difficulty this may create for a client.
What should you ask the receiving organisation?
- Which language and form are required? Ask for the exact requirement in writing.
- Is a translator’s statement sufficient? If not, ask which notarial act is required.
- Must the original or a certified copy be attached?
- Is an apostille or legalisation required? Ask which document needs it and at what stage.
- Will an electronic file be accepted, or is a paper version required?
What should you send us for an assessment?
- a clear scan or photograph of every page of the document;
- the source and target languages;
- the receiving organisation and country;
- the recipient’s exact written requirement;
- the preferred spelling of each name, ideally based on a passport or a previous official document;
- the required digital or paper format and your requested deadline.
Do not crop seals, signatures, page numbers, or the reverse side if it contains a note. Send all related documents in full — this helps us assess the scope of work and the required form more accurately.
Send us the exact wording of the requirement
Send the document, languages, receiving country and organisation, their written requirement, and your requested deadline via WhatsApp or Telegram @cisi1212. The final price and possible delivery time are determined after we review the files, languages, volume, format, and any additional procedure required.
Official sources
- Instruction on the Procedure for Performing Notarial Acts, Article 70;
- Law of Georgia on Notaries;
- General Administrative Code of Georgia, Article 73;
- Rules for Apostille Certification of Documents;
- Notary Chamber of Georgia — notarial services;
- Public Service Development Agency — apostille and legalisation.
Sources checked on 22 September 2026.
Author: Tsisana Kalandia · Tsisana Kalandia's Translations — Tsisana Kalandia’s Translations