Listen to this page
Press play to listen.
The recording could not be played. Please try again later.
The content of a power of attorney is decisive
A power of attorney specifies the actions the authorised representative may perform. If the authority is defined too narrowly, the representative cannot carry out the required action; if defined too broadly, more authority than necessary is delegated.
Before a power of attorney is issued, its intended purpose must therefore be clarified. Some countries and institutions require particular wording for specific transactions.
Order of preparation
The commonly followed order is as follows:
- The power of attorney is issued by a notary in Türkiye
- A sworn translator translates it into the target language
- The translation is certified by the notary
- An apostille is obtained on the document; if the destination country is not party to the Hague Convention, consular legalisation is carried out
The order may vary according to the destination country. Some countries prefer powers of attorney to be issued directly at their own consulates.
The option of issuing it at a consulate
If you are abroad, you can have a power of attorney for use in Türkiye issued at the Turkish consulate in your country of residence. A power of attorney issued this way is directly valid in Türkiye and requires no further legalisation.
In the opposite direction, a power of attorney issued in Türkiye for use abroad requires a certification chain.
Common mistakes
- Defining the authority incompletely, leaving the representative unable to complete the transaction
- Spelling the first name and surname differently from the passport
- Providing incomplete or incorrect identity details for the representative
- Obtaining an apostille only on the translation, rather than on the original
- Assuming the power of attorney is valid indefinitely — some institutions require one issued after a particular date
Points checked during translation
When translating a power of attorney, legal terms are rendered using their equivalents in the target legal system. Where an institution has no equivalent, an explanatory expression is preferred and the original term is retained in parentheses.
The notary's details, instrument register number, and dates are reproduced in full; this information is used to verify the document.
Frequently asked questions
What information should I prepare for a power of attorney?
The representative's identity details, a description of the transaction to be performed, and the country where the document will be used. A suitable power of attorney cannot be prepared without these three pieces of information.
Does a power of attorney have a validity period?
If no period is specified in the power of attorney, the general principle is that it remains valid until revoked. However, some institutions may request a document issued after a particular date.
This content is for information purposes. The documents and procedures required by institutions may change; we recommend confirming the requirements with the relevant institution before applying.
