Business & Taxes
Buying Property in Georgia: The Complete Guide to the Purchase & Sale Agreement (+ Free Templates in English, Russian & Georgian)
Learn how the purchase and sale agreement works, when ownership actually transfers, foreign-ownership rules, taxes, and get free English, Russian, and Georgian contract templates.
Georgia is one of the easiest countries in the world to buy property in. Registration is famously fast and cheap, there is no purchase tax or stamp duty, and foreigners can own residential and commercial real estate outright. But there is one rule that trips up newcomers: in Georgia, ownership transfers when the sale is registered, not when the contract is signed. Get that sequence wrong and you have paid for a signature, not a home.
This guide walks through the purchase and sale agreement, the registration step at the Public Registry, the foreign-ownership limits on agricultural land, and the taxes (including the two-year capital gains exemption). Templates are below in English/Georgian, Russian/Georgian, and Georgian only.
Just looking for the templates? Grab them here:
The short version
Ownership passes on registration at the Public Registry (NAPR), not at signing. Structure payment around that.
Foreigners can buy residential and commercial property freely, but not agricultural land (that needs a Georgian company).
The contract must be written; sign before a NAPR registrar or a notary. If a party does not speak Georgian, a notary and certified translator are required.
Fees are tiny: roughly GEL 50 to 300 to register, no stamp duty.
Capital gains are exempt after two years of ownership; otherwise 5% on the gain.
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The one rule that matters most: registration is the transfer
In many countries, signing the contract makes you the owner. Not in Georgia. Here, title passes only when the buyer's ownership is registered with the National Agency of Public Registry (NAPR). Signing creates the obligation to transfer; registration completes it.
Practically, this means:
The safest deals register on the same day as signing, at a Public Service Hall.
If any money is paid before registration, protect it with escrow, a bank letter of credit, or payment on registration, not a bare deposit.
The contract should give the buyer the right to rescind and reclaim funds if the seller fails to complete registration.
Can foreigners buy property in Georgia?
Yes, with one exception:
Residential and commercial real estate: foreign individuals and companies can buy and own freely, on the same terms as Georgians (see can foreigners buy real estate in Georgia). No residency or special permit is required.
Agricultural land: foreign individuals, and companies more than 50% foreign-owned, cannot own agricultural land as freehold. The usual workaround is to buy through a Georgian LLC, or to acquire it by inheritance. Your contract should confirm the property is non-agricultural, or address the structure used.
Buying as an investment or for residency? Property can qualify you for residence by investment, and our guide to where to invest in Tbilisi covers the districts with the best upside.
What the purchase and sale agreement must cover
A sound agreement includes:
The parties and the property: full address, area, and cadastral code.
The seller's warranties: that they are the lawful owner and that the property is free of mortgages, seizures, liens, leases, tax debts and third-party claims.
Price and payment mechanics, tied to registration.
Transfer and registration: confirmation that ownership passes on NAPR registration, and who files.
Handover: a handover act with keys, condition, and meter readings.
Settlement of charges up to the transfer date.
Taxes and costs, and who bears them.
Eligibility / foreign-ownership confirmation.
Governing law, disputes, language, and signing formalities.
Due diligence before you sign
The single most important check is the extract from the Public Registry. It shows the current owner and any encumbrances: mortgages, court seizures, existing leases, or disputes. Pull a fresh extract immediately before signing, and have the contract state that the buyer has reviewed it. In a country where registration is the source of truth, the extract is your title search.
How much does it cost to register?
Georgia keeps this deliberately cheap and fast:
Registration fee: about GEL 50 for standard (a few working days), up to GEL 200 to 300 for same-day service.
Notary fee: up to roughly GEL 200, if you use a notary rather than signing before the registrar.
No purchase tax and no stamp duty on the transfer.
Decide in the contract who pays the registration and notary fees.
Taxes when buying and selling
Buying: no purchase tax, no stamp duty.
Annual property tax: modest, roughly 0.05% to 1% of value, and tied to household income thresholds, so many owners pay little or nothing.
Selling (capital gains): an individual seller is exempt from income tax if the property was owned for more than two years. Sold within two years, the gain (sale price minus cost) is taxed at 5%. The contract should note which party bears any applicable tax. For the full picture, see Georgia's property taxes.
Signing formalities: notary, registrar and translator
The agreement is written, and is either signed before the registrar at a Public Service Hall or certified by a notary. One rule protects foreign buyers specifically: if a party does not understand Georgian, a certified translator and a notary must be present at signing. This is exactly why the bilingual templates below exist, with a prevailing-language clause so everyone knows which text controls. For a Georgian-law contract, the Georgian version should usually prevail.
How to buy, step by step
Agree terms and pull a fresh Public Registry extract to check ownership and encumbrances.
Pick the template version: English/Georgian, Russian/Georgian, or Georgian-only.
Complete the property, price and payment clauses, structuring payment around registration (escrow or payment on registration).
Sign at a Public Service Hall or before a notary, with a translator if needed.
Register the buyer's title at NAPR. Ownership transfers here.
Take handover: keys, documents, and a signed handover act with meter readings.
Keep the registered extract in the buyer's name as proof of ownership.
Download the templates
Frequently asked questions
When do I actually become the owner?
When your title is registered at NAPR, not when you sign. Structure the payment so your money is protected until registration completes.
Can I buy an apartment in Tbilisi as a foreigner?
Yes. Foreigners buy residential and commercial property freely. The only restriction is agricultural land.
Do I need a lawyer or notary?
A notary is one route; you can also sign before the registrar at a Public Service Hall. If you do not speak Georgian, a notary and certified translator are required. A lawyer to check the extract and contract is strongly recommended.
How long does registration take?
From same-day (for a higher fee) to a few working days. Georgia consistently ranks among the fastest in the world for property registration.
Will I pay capital gains tax when I sell?
Not if you have owned the property for more than two years. Within two years, 5% applies to the gain.
Can I pay in US dollars?
Prices are often quoted in USD, but the transaction is registered in GEL and paid through a bank. State the currency clearly in the price clause.
Disclaimer. This guide and the attached templates are general information, not legal advice, and are based on the Civil Code of Georgia, the Law on the Public Registry, and current tax practice. Property deals carry real risk. Have the final contract, the Public Registry extract, and especially the Georgian-language text reviewed by a licensed Georgian lawyer before you rely on them.
Primary sources: Civil Code of Georgia and Law of Georgia on the Public Registry (matsne.gov.ge); NAPR registration practice; Georgian capital gains and property tax rules.
