Power of Attorney in Greece - Types and Legal Use

When you need legal representation from another person, you have to obtain the power of attorney in Greece.Our Greek lawyers can present the situations in which this document can be useful.

Quick Facts
Entities that can be granted with the power of attorney	individuals and companies
Types of powers of attorney (POA)	– simple power of attorney, – power of attorney signed by a notary, – power of attorney containing the apostille, – general judicial power of attorney
Age requirements for the entity that gives the power of attorney (yes/no)	Minimum 18 years old
Other requirements/ documents to be fulfilled by the donor	– personal information, – certificates, – current residential address, – certified translation in the case of foreign donors, – tax identification number
Requirements for the proxy (the entity that receives the POA)	Personal details: – address, – e-mail, – date and place of birth, – other similar information
Institutions where the document can be signed	The notary public or a consular mission
Fees charged for the issuance of the POA in Greece	EUR 50 per sheet (1 sheet = 2 pages) at Greek consulates; EUR 60 per sheet including one certified copy
Law regulating the POA	The Greek Civil Code
The elements of the POA	– who is the donor, – who is the proxy, – the legal matter (or matters) for which the proxy has the legal right of representation, – the address and other identity elements of the two parties, – the signature of the donor
Issuance of a copy of the POA (yes/no)	Yes
Participation of a translator when preparing the POA (for foreigners who do not speak Greek)	Yes
Common usage of POA for commercial matters	Representation for: – signing contracts, – company formation matters, – obtaining licenses and permits, etc.
Common usage of POA for personal matters	– property sale, – legal matters deriving from family legislation, inheritance law, etc.
The validity of a POA	It depends on the type of POA: it can be valid for a single legal action or for a long period of time, even years
Preparing the POA in the home country if the POA is necessary in a foreign jurisdiction (yes/no)	Yes, by addressing to the Greek diplomatic missions in the home country

What is a power of attorney?

The power of attorney in Greece represents a legal document through which a person, be it an individual or a company, gives the power of being represented by another person. The document can also be signed to provide a set of rights to our lawyers in Greece.

What are the conditions for signing the power of attorney in Greece?

Below, our Greek lawyers list some of the main requirements imposed by law to those who want to sign this document:

first, it is necessary to meet the age requirements in order to be able to give the power of attorney to another person;
the document must always be signed in person, and the person granting the power of attorney must be in person in the place where the document will be signed;
the power of attorney in Greece must be signed before a Greek notary or a Greek consular authority, or before a foreign notary with an apostille and certified translation (for most legal acts, e.g. property transactions);
for those who do not understand the Greek language, when preparing the power of attorney, a translator or an interpreter must participate in this procedure, and this is a mandatory requirement, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic.

What is the minimum age for signing a power of attorney?

The person who gives the power of attorney in Greece to another person must have an age of at least 18 years old, which is also a requirement applicable to the person who will act on behalf of that person.

What are the fees charged for signing a power of attorney?

the fee charged for the issuance of the POA is EUR 60 per sheet (we refer here to the fee charged by the Greek authorities, in this case, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs);
a fee of only EUR 15 is charged in the case of those who need a POA for collecting salaries or pensions;
a copy of the Greek power of attorney is charged with a fee of EUR 10.

What are the main categories of POA in Greece?

First of all, the main distinction regarding the power of attorney refers to its purpose. Thus, the Greek law distinguishes between the following 2:

limited power of attorney;
general power of attorney.

What is the purpose of a limited POA?

A limited POA allows the third party to represent the donor only in specific tasks that are stipulated in the document.

Who can sign a POA?

POAs in Greece can be signed by individuals who need to be represented in a personal matter or by the representatives of companies, who need legal representation in various situations. The document can be used in front of various Greek institutions.

Who are the main parties signing a POA?

The POA is a legal document that is signed by a donor (or principal) and by a proxy.

The infographic below presents basic information on the Greek power of attorney:

What is a donor?

The donor refers to the person who wants togive the right to be legally represented by another person/entity.

What information should the donor stipulate in the POA?

The donor should provide details on the following:

name and surname;
the donor’s parents names and surnames;
the occupation;
the birthdate;
the place of birth;
the passport/ID number and the date when the document was issued;
the residential address;
the Greek tax identification number;
a contact number.

Can the POA be signed by more donors?

Yes, this document can be signed by more donors, not just one. This can happen in cases where more individuals have ownership rights on a property, for instance, and they want to authorize a third party, such as our team of lawyers in Greece, to represent them in a legal matter concerning the respective property.

What is a proxy?

A proxy refers to the person who receives the power of attorney – this can be a family member, a lawyer in Greece or another party that the donor wishes to conclude a certain legal activity on his or her behalf.

What information must be provided by the proxy in Greece?

When completing the power of attorney in Greece, the proxy must present the following information:

the name and surname, as it is written in the Greek identity card or the Greek passport;
the names of the parents of the proxy;
the occupation of the proxy;
the Greek identity number (or the tax registration number);
the residential address of the person, which has to be the address where the person is registered with the local authorities;
the power of attorney should also evidence data on the proxy’s identity card, such as the number of the document, the place and the institution which issued the document, etc.

We invite you to watch a short presentation on the Greek power of attorney:

In what situations can I use a POA?

The POA can be used for a variety of situations that must be resolved by individuals or companies alike. Below, you can find out some of the ways in which this document can be use:

collecting various types of incomes in the name of the donor;
dealing with legal matters related to property management;
selling and purchasing various assets, including real estate property;
managing a person’s assets, debts and other financial obligations, etc.

Can the POA be sent by e-mail?

No. It is not possible to send a POA via e-mail. The document must be signed in person and, in some cases, it can be sent via postal/courier services, in the form of a certified copy (for instance, in the case of POAs signed at Greek consular missions).

Can I obtain more certified copies of the POA?

Yes, if you need more than just one certified copy of the POA you have signed, you are entitled to receive more copies.

What is the main rule of law regulating Greek POAs?

Obligations related to the POA derive from the Greek Civil Code.

Please contact our law firm in Greece for more information.