A remote purchase revolves around a power of attorney: a notary in the buyer's country certifies it, the document is legalised and translated into Georgian, and a representative then signs the agreement and registers title at the Public Service Hall. Payments are safest by bank transfer or a letter of credit tied to title registration. Confirm the powers of attorney, fees and bank procedures as of the deal date — practice changes.
1. The overall scheme: what a deal without travel looks like
A remote purchase is the same transaction, only with a representative between you and the property. The sequence: select and verify the property remotely, prepare the power of attorney, agree the contract terms, pay through a bank, have the representative register title at the Public Service Hall, and take over the keys.
You usually need to travel once — for a viewing, if you want to see the property with your own eyes before the deposit. Everything else is paperwork.
2. The power of attorney: where to certify it and which powers to list
A power of attorney for a real-estate deal in Georgia is certified by a notary in the buyer's country, then legalised — apostille or consular legalisation depending on the country — translated into Georgian and presented together with the original. Alternatives are certification at a Georgian consulate or having the representative see a notary in Georgia. Confirm the exact procedure and the list of powers with a lawyer as of the deal date: practice and requirements change.
- Powers to purchase a specific property or a category of properties, and to sign the sale agreement.
- Powers to register title at the Public Service Hall and submit documents on your behalf.
- Powers to handle payments — only if agreed with your bank.
- A validity period covering the whole deal cycle, including possible delays.
3. Verifying the property before signing — higher, not lower, standards
Distance does not cancel due diligence; it raises the bar: you will not be able to confirm a single fact yourself. A fresh registry extract, checks on the seller and developer, contract analysis and an inspection with photo and video records are completed before anything except a non-binding letter of intent is signed.
The sequence is the ten points of our pre-deposit checklist; in a remote deal it is mandatory in full, not a la carte.
4. Money: how to pay from another country
The most protected option is a bank letter of credit that pays the seller after title registration is confirmed, or a direct SWIFT transfer after registration, not before. Cash 'through a representative' is the worst scenario: you lose control of the money and of the evidence at the same time.
Some Georgian banks open accounts remotely; if you need an account for residency or a mortgage, settle it before the deal. Check fees and currency-control rules with your own bank in advance — large amounts carry documentation duties on the source of funds.
5. Title registration and key handover
Title transfer is registered at the Public Service Hall (Public Service Hall) under the sale agreement; the representative files documents under the power of attorney, and you receive confirmation as a registry extract. Timing depends on the tariff — from one to several business days.
Key handover is formalised by a separate acceptance certificate recording the property's condition, meter readings and the set of keys. If the apartment goes straight into management, the management company signs the certificate.
6. Who to appoint as your representative
A representative under a power of attorney is not a formality but the person who will sign the largest contract of your life on your behalf. The seller's agent, a marketplace realtor or an acquaintance 'who happens to live in Batumi' is a poor choice: they have their own interests or no competence. The power of attorney goes either to a professional buyer's representative who answers for due diligence and negotiation on your side, or to a close, trusted person with the deal fully supervised by a lawyer.
What a buyer's representative does
GeoTrust accompanies remote deals end to end: prepares the power-of-attorney specification, verifies the property and the seller, negotiates the contract clause by clause, arranges a letter of credit or another protected payment, and registers title and key handover. The buyer takes part remotely and approves every document before it is signed.
Related questions
Do I need to fly to Batumi at all?
Not for the deal itself: the power of attorney, payments and registration are handled remotely. A trip only makes sense to view the property in person before the deposit; the alternative is an inspection by a representative with detailed photo and video records and a live video call.
How much does a power of attorney cost and how long is it valid?
The cost combines the notarial tariff of your country, apostille or legalisation, translation into Georgian and, if needed, courier delivery of the original. Validity is set by the text of the document — cover the whole deal cycle with a margin of several months. Exact figures depend on the country of issue.
Can the power of attorney be avoided entirely?
Sometimes, if the deal runs through a pre-agreed bank documentation flow and the digital channels of a bank present both in Georgia and in your country. But signing the agreement and registering title remotely without presence or a power of attorney is hard, so in practice the power of attorney remains the main instrument.
How do I protect myself if the representative turns out dishonest?
In three layers: a narrow specification of powers (only the specific property and specific actions), a protected bank payment scheme conditioned on registration, and control — every document is approved by you before signing. A broad power of attorney plus cash payments is a combination even experienced investors avoid.
Sources and official resources
Legal and tax details are confirmed by a specialised lawyer under the law in force on the transaction date.
Pre-deposit apartment check: the checklistSale and purchase agreement in GeorgiaTitle registration in Georgia