Contents
Power of Attorney or Authorisation: Which Do You Need?
A guide to legal representation in Greece before public authorities and in notarial transactions
- Authorisation: a private document, valid only for routine administrative tasks.
- Power of Attorney: a notarial deed — mandatory for property transactions and banking.
- The original deed remains with the notary; your representative receives certified copies.
- Signing from abroad is possible via a Greek Consulate or a foreign notary with Apostille.
- Revocation requires a formal notarial act — verbal instructions have no legal effect.
Greek law draws a clear line between two instruments of legal representation: the Authorisation and the Power of Attorney. The distinction is not procedural. It determines whether your representative can legally act on your behalf. Property buyers from abroad, members of the Greek diaspora, and Golden Visa investors encounter this choice routinely. Choosing the wrong document does not delay a transaction — it ends it. Banks and land registries do not accept substitutes. If you also need to register a Greek tax number and bank account, that process runs in parallel.
1. Authorisation — The Simple Written Mandate
An Authorisation is a private document used for everyday administrative tasks. It is specific in scope, drawn up to authorise one or more defined actions.
Legal Nature
A private agreement between the principal and the representative. It carries no notarial force and is not registered in any public record.
Scope of Mandate
Strictly limited to routine administrative matters: collecting a registered letter, requesting a certificate from the tax authority (AADE), or arranging a utility connection.
Execution & Form
The principal's signature must be certified — either digitally through the government portal (gov.gr) or in person at a Citizens' Service Centre (KEP).
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Document Custody
The principal hands the signed original to the representative, who submits it to the relevant authority. In most cases, the receiving authority retains the original in its file.
2. Power of Attorney — The Notarial Deed
A Power of Attorney is a formal public document — a notarial deed — carrying enhanced legal force. It is the mandatory instrument for complex, consequential, or ongoing legal acts.
Special or General Power of Attorney
Special Power of Attorney
Authorises specific, named acts — for example, the purchase of a particular property at a defined price, or the acceptance of a specific inheritance. The scope is narrow and explicit.
General Power of Attorney
Confers full authority over the principal's assets and affairs. Used when the representative must act across multiple matters, or when the full range of acts is not yet known.
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Custody & Certified Copies
The signed notarial original is never handed to the parties. It remains permanently in the archive of the notary who drew it up. To enable the representative to act, the notary issues official certified copies (ακριβή αντίγραφα). These copies carry the full legal force of the original and are the documents submitted to banks, land registries, and third parties.
Revoking a Power of Attorney
Verbal or written instructions to your representative carry no legal force. To revoke a Power of Attorney — unless the deed itself sets an expiry date — you must execute a formal notarial deed of revocation and have it served on the representative by a bailiff.
3. Comparison
The table below summarises the key differences between the two documents.
| Feature | Authorisation Simple Written Mandate |
Power of Attorney Notarial Deed |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Nature | Private document | ✓ Public notarial deed |
| Property & Banking | ✕ Invalid — Rejected | ✓ Mandatory |
| Signature Certification | gov.gr or KEP | Before a notary or consul only |
| Scope of Mandate | Single administrative act | Special or general; complex acts |
| Document Custody | Representative submits to authority | Original held by notary; certified copies issued |
| Revocation Method | Destruction of document / natural expiry | Notarial deed of revocation + service by bailiff |
4. When Is a Power of Attorney Legally Required?
For the following situations, a notarial Power of Attorney is required by law. A simple Authorisation is not accepted by public authorities or banks, and carries no legal force for notarial transactions under the Civil Code.
Proceeding with a property purchase in Greece? The Power of Attorney is one step in a larger process. For the complete document checklist, costs, and the role of the notary from start to finish, see: Property Transfer: The Complete Guide →
- Property transactions: Every purchase, sale, parental grant, or gift of real property requires a notarial Power of Attorney. The property must be described specifically in the deed — vague formulations ("for every lawful act") are insufficient and will be rejected. For the full document checklist and procedure, see the Complete Guide to Property Transfers in Greece.
- Inheritance matters: Accepting or renouncing an inheritance, filing inheritance tax declarations, and managing an estate all require notarial representation.
- Loans and mortgagesSigning a loan agreement or mortgage on behalf of another person requires an explicit notarial mandate.
- Judicial representationFor certain formal acts in civil proceedings — such as the appointment of a liquidator — a notarial mandate is required. Routine representation before a civil court may be covered by an Authorisation.
- Opening a bank accountGreek banks require a Power of Attorney before permitting a representative to open an account or conduct significant banking operations.
- Golden Visa: When the investor cannot attend the final signing, or for the submission of the Golden Visa application itself, a Power of Attorney with specific, explicit authorisations is required — including for the AFM registration that precedes the application.
5. Signing a Power of Attorney from Abroad
For foreign nationals or Greeks resident abroad, executing a valid Power of Attorney without travelling to Greece is possible through two recognised routes. The right choice depends on your country of residence and the urgency of your transaction. If you also need to obtain an AFM from abroad, that process can run concurrently.
Greek Consular Authority
The Consulate issues a deed directly enforceable in Greece, requiring no Apostille and drawn up in Greek. Book an appointment and bring the draft prepared in advance by your Greek notary.
Foreign Notary + Apostille
A local notary in your country can draw up the deed, but it must meet Greece's strict content requirements, carry the Hague Convention Apostille stamp, and be accompanied by a certified translation.
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Complete guide to signing from abroad: Documents, Apostille procedure, the “Foreign Trap,” and the prescribed draft text — see: Power of Attorney for Residents Abroad →
6. Frequently Asked Questions
An Authorisation is a private document with evidentiary value but limited scope of use. A Power of Attorney is a public notarial deed required for specific acts; it remains in force until formally revoked and is the mandatory instrument for property and banking matters.
No. Greek law requires a Power of Attorney — a notarial deed — for all property transfers. Presenting an Authorisation at a land registry or cadastral office results in rejection. The deed must also describe the property explicitly; vague or general formulations are not accepted.
The original deed remains permanently in the notary's archive. Your representative receives official certified copies (ακριβή αντίγραφα), which carry the same legal force as the original and are submitted to banks and public authorities. This is standard notarial practice, required by law to secure the integrity of transactions.
Yes. You can execute a Power of Attorney at the Greek Consulate in your country, or before a local foreign notary, provided the document carries an Apostille stamp and is accompanied by a certified translation. The most reliable route is the Greek Consulate, which issues a deed directly enforceable in Greece without requiring an Apostille or certified translation.
Only through a formal notarial deed of revocation, which must be served on the representative by a bailiff. Verbal instructions, messages, or emails to your representative do not constitute lawful revocation. Until formal service of the revocation deed, the representative retains the legal authority to act.
Summary
The choice between an Authorisation and a Power of Attorney determines the legal validity of everything that follows. For transactions where error carries real consequence — property transfers, significant banking operations — there is no margin for the wrong instrument. The safest course is to involve the appropriate professional from the outset.
If you are at the stage of purchasing property in Greece, the Power of Attorney is typically the first step. For the complete picture of subsequent documents and the role of the notary in the transaction, see the Complete Guide to Property Transfers →
For the complete guide to Powers of Attorney in Greece — legal framework, types, costs, and step-by-step procedure — see: Power of Attorney in Greece: The Complete Guide.
For the complete guide to signing from abroad — documents, Apostille procedure, and the prescribed legal text — see: Power of Attorney for Residents Abroad.
For the complete property transfer procedure in Greece — costs and the role of the notary — see: Property Transfer: The Complete Guide.
