When you need to sort something out in Georgia that hinges on language and knowing how things work locally — a doctor's appointment, the police, a bank, a notary, a marriage — what you need beside you is a person, not a dictionary. We're not a translation agency: we guide you through the Georgian system in a language you understand and, if needed, come along in person.
Who it's for
You've recently arrived or moved, you don't speak Georgian, and the matter has to be settled today. Your language isn't spoken everywhere, and government offices work in Georgian. At a moment like this you don't need a word-for-word translator, but someone who knows both the language and the local procedures: who interprets accurately on the spot, explains what's happening at every step and, if needed, picks you up and drives you there.
Over years of working in Tbilisi we've seen where people get stuck most often: the wrong ticket in the electronic queue, an incomplete set of documents, a translation without notarization, an apostille that should have been obtained back home. Half the problems are solved before the visit — through proper preparation, not heroics on the spot.
What we help with
Our assistance covers situations where a mistake costs money and lost days:
- Healthcare. Doctor's appointments, tests, dentistry, pregnancy and childbirth, pharmacies. We book, make calls, explain your situation to the doctor and translate the diagnosis without losing meaning — this is not a case where "roughly understanding" will do.
- Police and legal matters. Dealing with the police, traffic accidents, notaries, powers of attorney, court. Wording and procedure matter here — we interpret and tell you what happens next. The finer points of certifying papers are covered in a separate guide on translating and certifying documents.
- Marriage. Georgia is one of the easiest places to register a marriage: fast, minimal requirements, often on the same day. The ceremony is in Georgian, so an interpreter is a must.
- Bank, residence permit, official interviews. Opening an account and the bank interview — see the step-by-step guide how to open a bank account in Georgia; for legalization questions — residence permit in Georgia.
- Business. Meetings with partners, company registration, deal support — see registering a company or sole proprietorship.
Live interpreter or an app
A translator app helps in a café or at the market, but in a doctor's office or at a government counter it falls short for three reasons. First, context: a doctor doesn't speak in isolated words but with hints, follow-up questions and caveats, and that's exactly what a machine loses. Second, responsibility: when it comes to a diagnosis, a power of attorney or the wording in an official report, "something like that" isn't acceptable, while a real person will ask again and clarify. Third, procedure: half the value isn't in the translation but in having someone beside you who knows which ticket to take, which window is yours and what they'll ask next.
We combine interpreting with navigating the system. You're never left alone with a Georgian form and an electronic queue — we stand beside you, explain every step and make sure your documents are complete before your number is called.
How we differ from a translation agency
An agency sells words and hours: you go to them, get a page translated and are left alone with the queue, the ticket and a Georgian form. We sell an outcome for your specific task — from the first message to the stamp on the document.
| Criterion | Translation agency | Sakhva Travel assistance |
|---|---|---|
| What it sells | words, hours | the whole task, solved |
| Knowledge of the system | translates text | knows the clinics, banks and offices |
| Format | you go to them | we go with you, by car if needed |
| Tone | formal | human, in your language |
| Trust | one-off service | in Georgia since 2023, our own guide and driver |
Three typical situations
To make it clearer, here are typical requests — without names or details, but essentially the kind we get every week.
- A doctor's appointment. Someone with a chronic condition moves here and can't explain their medical history and medications to a cardiologist. We find a doctor, book the appointment, translate the history and prescriptions and make sure dosages and drug names are understood by both sides — this is where a translation error is most dangerous.
- Rejected by the bank. Since 2023 banks have been stricter, and applications are often turned down without explanation. We go to the bank interview together, help show your ties to the country (a lease, a residence permit, a contract) and interpret the compliance questions — often it's the live conversation that reverses the refusal.
- Marriage registration. A couple wants to get married in Tbilisi and doesn't know that the passport needs a notarized translation and that the ceremony is in Georgian. We prepare the documents in advance, interpret at the ceremony itself and guide them from the queue ticket to the certificate.
How to prepare before your visit
Most problems are solved not by heroics on the spot but by preparation. Before any official visit, take care of four things:
- confirm the exact service and the list of documents — not "roughly", but by the name of the counter;
- get a notarized translation in advance and, if needed, an apostille (for a foreign document it can only be obtained at home, before you arrive);
- use one consistent transliteration of your name across all papers;
- find out the fee amount and how to pay it, so you're not hunting for an ATM mid-process.
We go through this checklist with you before the visit — then the visit itself becomes a 20-minute formality instead of a lost day and a second trip.
What we do and don't do
Being honest about the limits of the service saves everyone time. We interpret, prepare and accompany: we gather the documents, explain the procedure, stand beside you at the appointment and at the counter, and guide you from ticket to result. We don't give legal opinions in place of a lawyer, don't make diagnoses in place of a doctor and don't promise that a government office will decide in your favor — the outcome depends on your documents and grounds, not on our wishes.
What we will do is tell you honestly in advance if something is missing or the chances are low — so you don't pay the fee for nothing. If the task goes beyond interpreting and assistance (for example, you specifically need a licensed lawyer or accountant), we'll say so plainly and, where possible, suggest whom to contact.
How it works
- Request. Describe your situation: what you need, where and when. A couple of sentences in your own words is enough.
- Clarification. We ask a few short questions, put together a list of documents and agree on the time and place.
- Assistance. We meet you on site or pick you up, interpret and guide you through the whole process — the queue, the counter, paying the fee.
- Result. The matter is settled on the first try; if needed, we help with translation and notarization.
Half of the "difficult" visits are actually simple — if you arrive with a complete set of documents and go to the right counter. That's exactly why we're there: so you don't have to go twice.
Formats and languages
Personal assistance at appointments; assistance with transfer; urgent same-day visits; phone interpreting for short remote help. Languages: Russian ↔ Georgian and English ↔ Georgian. Not sure which format suits you? Describe your situation and we'll suggest one.
Price
It depends on the situation, the duration and whether you need a transfer. We don't charge "per word" — we charge for a solved task. Tell us what you need and we'll quote a price in advance, with no surprises on the spot.
What's next — getting to know Georgia
Once the paperwork is behind you, you'll want to see the country, not just its offices. We drive you around Georgia ourselves: check out a private guide in Tbilisi or our ready-made day tours — Kazbegi, Kakheti, Mtskheta, at your own pace. That way the same person who helped with your documents will also show you the real Georgia.