How to issue a power of attorney abroad

If there's no possibility to return and finish affairs in your home country, a power of attorney can help resolve issues. Let's figure out how to get this document abroad.

Can a power of attorney be issued abroad?

We've already discussed, how to rent a car abroad — now let's talk about the legal intricacies of issuing a power of attorney. Abroad, you can issue a power of attorney for any actions that are permitted in Russia with this document. Otherwise, you will issue the document in vain and will not be able to use it. The most convenient and economical way to issue a power of attorney abroad is to contact the Consulate of the Russian Federation. To issue notarized documents at the consulate, you need to:

1. Submit an electronic application on the website of the Consular Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
2. After registering the application, make an appointment for a personal visit. Familiarize yourself with the visit rules in advance — they may differ in various countries.

It's best to ask the consulate about the necessary documents, but usually the standard set is as follows:

• valid international passport;
• internal passport, if its data is mentioned in the text of the power of attorney;
• passport details of the authorized person (it is advisable to have a copy or scan of the passport with you);
• power of attorney sample (can be found on the consulate's website);
• receipt for consular fee payment.

Consular fee amount:

• 30 dollars for issuing to a close relative: spouse, parent, brother or sister;
• 60 dollars for issuing to any other person or legal entity.

By issuing a power of attorney through a Russian consulate abroad, you save money and nerves: the document does not need to be translated or legalized, as it will be issued in Russian and ready for use in Russia. All that remains is to send the power of attorney to your home country by courier mail. Information is entered into the register on the website of the Federal Notary Chamber within seven working days. The downside of contacting the consulate is the long appointment process, which can take up to two months.

Issuing a power of attorney in CIS countries

It is easiest to issue a power of attorney in the countries participating in the Minsk Convention: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Although Georgia also participates in the convention, documents from this country sometimes raise questions. To ensure everything is in order, it's better to affix an apostille to Georgian documents.

An agreement is in force between the countries of the Minsk Convention, which simplifies all legal matters. It will also be easier to issue a document in countries with which Russia has concluded bilateral agreements on legal assistance: Albania, Hungary, China, the Republic of Cyprus.

Three steps to issue a power of attorney in these countries:

1. Prepare an application in Russian — a sample is available on the consulate's website. Enter information about yourself and your representative according to your passport and international passport data.
2. Find a local notary office. Documents will be certified immediately if Russian is one of the official languages of the country and the notary is proficient in it (as, for example, in Kazakhstan). In other cases, you will need a translator to draw up the power of attorney in the local language.
3. Translate the document and certify the authenticity of the translation to use it in Russia.

Issuing a power of attorney in countries participating in the Hague Convention

Let's figure out how to issue a power of attorney abroad for Russia if you are in the USA or have found out, which countries issue Schengen visas, and moved to Europe. In countries participating in the Hague Convention, which include 124 states, including the USA and most EU countries, you have two options.

Through the consulate

A consular power of attorney does not differ from one issued in Russia. It is drafted in Russian and complies with the country's legal standards. 

To issue a power of attorney through the consulate:

1. Submit an online application and make an appointment. To do this, leave an application on the website of the Consular Department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
2. Pay the consular fee. The amount depends on the chosen authorized person, but usually it is 30 dollars for a document for a close relative, 60 dollars in other cases.
3. Visit the consulate. Come on the appointed day and do not forget your documents.

You will need:

• passports — internal Russian and international;
• representative's passport details;
• power of attorney sample in Russian;
• receipt for fee payment.

The consulate may supplement this list and ask you to send documents a few days before the appointment. If all papers are in order, the power of attorney is certified and entered into the register, and you receive the coveted document.

Through a local notary

If there's a long queue at the consulate, or you don't live in a central city, there's no consulate nearby, and it's difficult to get to, you can contact a local notary. However, such a power of attorney will need to be legalized — this can be done through apostille.

An apostille is an international stamp confirming the legality of a document outside the country. Each state designates a separate body responsible for apostille. For example, in the USA, it is the Secretary of State, and in Germany, it is the Regional Court. Keep this in mind and find out in advance who is responsible for apostille in your country. After receiving the apostille, information about it is entered into the card index.

How to issue a power of attorney with an apostille in another country:

1. Contact a notary or another specialist performing their functions. In some countries, documents can be certified by judges and lawyers. Find out who can help in your case.
2. Translate the power of attorney. A legal specialist only certifies documents in their own language. Contact a professional translator to get a high-quality translation.
3. Certify the power of attorney with the chosen specialist.
4. Legalize the document — affix an apostille. After this, it is ready to be sent to Russia.

Issuing in other countries

In this case, full legalization of documents will be required. First, you need to obtain a power of attorney, and then have it approved at the Russian consulate. Here's how to do it:

1. Prepare the power of attorney. A template can be found on the website of the Russian consulate, but you need to draw up the document in the official language of the country.
2. Contact a notary or another specialist to certify the document.
3. Affix the certification seal — this usually requires contacting the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
4. Submit the document to the Consulate of the Russian Federation. Pay the fee and legalize the power of attorney.

For this, prepare a package of documents:

• application;
• internal passport and international passport;
• power of attorney subject to legalization;
• receipt for fee payment.

The process can take several months, but after receiving the power of attorney, you can immediately send it to your representative. We wish you the fastest document processing and minimal bureaucracy!