An agreement between co-owners
Cost sharing, right of first refusal and letting are best settled in writing, separately from the sale contract. Have a lawyer draft it.
Buying a flat in Georgia together. Two names, clear shares on the register.
In short
Couples can buy a flat in Georgia together and both be registered as owners. Decisions about the flat as a whole, such as selling or mortgaging it, are then taken jointly. Set out the shares in the sale contract, because registration follows it.
What joint ownership meansWhich matrimonial property regime applies to a German, Austrian or British couple is beyond this page. Take that question to a lawyer.
Finding a lawyerJoint ownership
What applies when two names are on the register.
Five points couples should know before registration. The main legal basis is Article 173 of the Civil Code.
Registration with shares
The National Agency of Public Registry registers on the basis of the sale contract. If the contract states the shares, for example half each, it is clear later who owns how much. If it states none, raise it before you sign.
Acting together
Each owner can dispose only of what belongs to them, so the flat as a whole can be sold or encumbered only jointly. If it is to be pledged or encumbered for the benefit of just one co-owner, Article 173 of the Civil Code requires the co-owners to agree.
Costs
Co-owners bear the costs of maintaining the property equally unless the law or a contract provides otherwise. If you want a different split, for instance by share, put it in writing.
Right of first refusal
A pre-emption right between co-owners exists only where the law expressly provides one or the co-owners agree it. If you want to keep an outsider from buying in, agree it in writing.
Signatures
Everyone being registered must sign, at purchase and later on a sale or mortgage. Anyone not travelling grants a notarised power of attorney with apostille and translation.
Process
Four steps to two names on the register.
Many co-ownership questions can be settled before you sign. What the registry then shows stands until a new registration changes it.
- 1
Agree the shares
Decide who gets which share, for example half each or in line with what each of you puts towards the price. Settle the costs and any right of first refusal in the same conversation.
- 2
Write the shares into the contract
Have both buyers entered in the contract with full name, passport number and share. Check the spelling of the names against the passports.
- 3
Both sign
Each buyer signs in person or through an attorney. A power of attorney from abroad is notarised, apostilled and translated into Georgian.
- 4
Check the extract
Pull the registry extract once registration is complete. It must show both names and the agreed shares. If anything differs, raise it with NAPR straight away.
When circumstances change
Separation, a death or one of you wanting to sell a share: what happens then depends on your agreement and on the applicable law. An agreement that covers these cases in advance saves a dispute later.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about buying together.
Registration, marriage, signatures and residence.
Can a married couple buy property in Georgia jointly?
Yes. Both can be entered in the registry as owners, each with a share. Foreigners face no restriction on buying flats, since the Constitution restricts only agricultural land. Set the shares out in the sale contract.
Does my partner have to be there when we buy?
Everyone to be registered must sign, in person or through a representative holding a power of attorney. The power of attorney is notarised, apostilled and translated into Georgian.
Can I sell my share on my own?
The flat as a whole can only be sold jointly. For the sale of a single share, take legal advice and check if you have agreed a right of first refusal between yourselves.
Do both owners qualify for a residence permit?
The Law on the Legal Status of Aliens requires ownership of property with a market value above USD 150,000 and extends the permit to spouses and children. The text does not say expressly how co-owned shares are counted. Check this before you buy with the Public Service Development Agency (sda.gov.ge), which decides the application.
What happens to a share if one of us dies?
The share passes to the heirs. Which succession law applies and how registration works depends on the case. A will and legal advice give the surviving owner clarity.
Last reviewed on 2 November 2026. Sources: Civil Code of Georgia, Art. 173 (common property) (matsne.gov.ge), Constitution of Georgia, Art. 19(4) (matsne.gov.ge, consolidated version), Law of Georgia on the Legal Status of Aliens and Stateless Persons, Art. 15 (matsne.gov.ge, version of 25 June 2026), Public Service Development Agency (sda.gov.ge): residence permits, National Agency of Public Registry (napr.gov.ge). This guide is not legal or tax advice.
Read next
More on ownership and signatures.
Inheriting and bequeathing, the residence permit and buying without travelling.
Agree the shares before you sign.
Settle shares and signatures between you before you reserve a flat.