A cemetery plot in Tbilisi - finding a free place, paperwork and the grave card in one day

Plot allocation in Tbilisi

Most Tbilisi cemeteries are municipal, and a new plot is allocated by the relevant city service or the cemetery administration. This requires the death certificate and the applicant's ID, and the fee for the plot is paid against a receipt. The family pays it directly to the cemetery, and it is not part of the price of our service.

The difficulty is that free places are unevenly spread. At the old central cemeteries new plots are hardly ever allocated, and families can be buried there only in a grave they already hold. At the large cemeteries, above all Mukhatgverdi, plots are allocated regularly, but conditions and prices depend on the section. Knowing these differences is what decides whether a family gets a good place quickly.

Factors the coordinator weighs when choosing

• Access: how close a car can get, and whether there is a steep path or steps. This matters at the funeral itself and even more in later years, especially for older relatives.
• Soil and terrain: in some sections water stands after rain or the slope slips, which later damages the headstone's foundation. We do not offer such places to families.
• Size: a single plot, a double plot for a spouse, or a large plot for a family grave where several people will be buried over time.
• Surroundings: trees, shade, the state of neighbouring graves, quiet. For some families this is the deciding factor.
• A future headstone: if the family is planning a large headstone or a railing, the plot and the section's rules must allow it.

A double plot for a spouse

For an elderly couple, the key question is often whether the surviving spouse will one day be able to rest alongside. That is what a double plot is for: it is registered at once, and the second half remains reserved for the family. A double plot costs more, but it spares the family a future permit to open the grave, a search for a new place and a second headstone, and one shared headstone carries both names. The coordinator will ask during the call whether you would like to consider this and show you the price for both options. A matching memorial is described on our double headstone page.

From the call to the grave card

1. The call: tell us which cemetery or part of town you prefer, whether you need a double plot, and any constraints, such as car access being essential.
2. Checking: the same day, the coordinator checks free plots with the administration and on site.
3. Options: the family receives two or three options on WhatsApp: photo, section, access, size and the plot fee.
4. Viewing: if the family wishes, we drive out together in our car to see the place.
5. Registration: once a choice is made, we arrange the grave card or permit, the family pays for the plot against a receipt, and the gravediggers begin preparing that evening.

Tbilisi cemeteries at a glance

• Mukhatgverdi: the city's largest cemetery, in the north-west, where fresh plots are released more often than anywhere else. Many sections can be reached by car, but the upper parts have steep slopes. From the eastern districts the drive takes up to an hour.
• Vashlijvari: a cemetery near Saburtalo and Vake. There are few new places, and availability is checked on the day, but for families it is very conveniently located.
• Old central cemeteries: Vake, Vera, Kukia and similar historic cemeteries hardly ever take new burials; the only option there is to reopen a grave the family already owns.
• Municipal cemeteries in the east: nearby options for families from Isani, Samgori and Varketili, where the number of places depends on the section.

Prices

Documents required

A new plot needs only a few papers, but each must be filled in precisely. The main one is the death certificate, which comes from the Public Service Hall, or House of Justice as the registry is commonly known; our coordinator usually collects it that same morning. Alongside it goes the ID of the family member in whose name the plot is registered and who will make decisions about it in future. For a double plot the administration sometimes asks for proof of marriage. We do not take originals from the family; copies are enough, and a power of attorney where necessary. Our death documents service covers the certificate itself.

The grave card or permit issued after registration is a very important document. It is what will prove the family's right to the plot in future, for example when a headstone is installed or another burial takes place. We recommend keeping copies with several family members and taking a photo of it.

Common mistakes when choosing a plot

• Thinking only about the funeral day: the family takes the nearest free place and later realises that the walk up from the car is too hard for an elderly mother.
• Overlooking the size: a single plot is registered, and later the family wants a headstone with two names and a railing, for which the plot is no longer big enough.
• Unofficial "middlemen": at the gates people sometimes offer "the best place" for cash with no receipt. Such a place may never have been officially allocated and can lead to disputes later.
• Rushing without photos: if at all possible, look at the place in photos or in person and only then sign.

Plot and headstone: worth thinking ahead

When choosing a plot, many families are not yet thinking about the headstone, which families typically put up around the first anniversary memorial. But it is better to consider it now: in some sections the height of headstones and the type of railing are restricted, and on slopes a heavy granite headstone needs an extra foundation. When sending options, the coordinator notes for each one what kind of headstone and railing can go there.

A new plot or another family's grave

Sometimes close friends offer to bury the deceased in their own family grave, for example a godparent's or a friend's. This lowers the cost, but two things are worth bearing in mind: decisions about such a grave will in future be made by another family, and changes to the headstone or railing are possible only with their consent. The coordinator will explain the pros and cons of both options honestly. If you do have a grave of your own family, see opening a family grave.

Choosing a place in advance

Some people, especially older people, those living alone or those with a serious diagnosis, think about their resting place ahead of time to lift that burden from their children. At many cemeteries it is difficult to register a plot during one's lifetime, but a double plot at a spouse's funeral or a family plot effectively offers that possibility. If this is the question on your mind, we will explain, in a calm and confidential conversation, what is possible under the current rules and how to put your wishes on record so that your family knows exactly what you want. Our funeral pre-planning page goes into more detail.

Village cemeteries and the regions

In villages, the question of a place is usually settled locally, with the community, a municipal representative or the church, and formal registration is often not required. If the family is in Tbilisi and has lost touch with the village, the coordinator rings the local people in charge, clarifies the rules and tells the family what is needed. In regional towns with municipal cemeteries the procedure is similar to Tbilisi's.

Frequently asked questions