Power of Attorney

Power of Attorney in Greece, from Wherever You Are

A properly drawn Power of Attorney lets us act for you in Greece — buying a property, accepting an inheritance, progressing a Golden Visa — without your needing to make repeated journeys. Here is how it works, honestly, including what it can and cannot do.

Independent Greek counsel, in English. We draft the scope, guide the signing, and tell you in advance which steps, if any, still need you in person.

"Do I have to fly to Greece?" — the honest answer.

It is the question almost every overseas client asks first. The honest answer is: usually, most of it can be done without you — but not quite all of it, and not by magic. The instrument that makes it possible is a notarised Power of Attorney, drafted with the right scope and properly authenticated, authorising us to act for you on defined matters.

Many steps may be managed through a notarised Power of Attorney, subject to acceptance by the competent notary, authority, bank or registry. That last phrase matters: a Power of Attorney is not a master key. The body receiving it — a notary, a public authority, a bank, a registry — decides whether to accept it, and may require its own form or decline one that is too narrow or improperly authenticated. Getting the scope and the authentication right is precisely the lawyer's job.

And some acts simply require you in person. The clearest is the biometric appointment for a Golden Visa residence permit, which requires physical presence in Greece. We tell you at the outset which steps, if any, apply to your matter — so there are no surprises late in the process.

How a Power of Attorney is made and signed

Two routes are common, and we prepare the wording in advance for either, so the document carries the correct scope for your matter.

At a Greek consulate

You sign before a Greek consulate in your country. The Power of Attorney is produced in the form Greek authorities expect and is ready for use in Greece, without a separate apostille step.

Before a local notary, with Apostille

You sign before a notary where you live; the document is then authenticated with an Apostille and officially translated into Greek. Often the more convenient route where a consulate appointment is hard to obtain.

Specific, not sweeping

We generally draft a specific Power of Attorney, listing the acts authorised for your matter, rather than a broad general one. A focused Power of Attorney is more readily accepted and limits risk to you.

Drafted before you sign

We prepare the wording first, so that what you sign already carries the correct scope and authentication path. A Power of Attorney drafted as an afterthought is the one that gets refused.

What it can do — and what it cannot

Commonly handled under a Power of Attorney

  • Obtaining a Greek tax number (AFM)
  • Opening a Greek bank account, where required
  • Conducting due diligence on a property
  • Signing the notarial deed of purchase or acceptance
  • Registering the acquisition or inheritance
  • Filing tax declarations and progressing a Golden Visa application

Where limits apply

  • The biometric appointment for a residence permit requires physical presence in Greece
  • A notary, authority, bank or registry may require its own form, or decline a Power of Attorney that is too narrow, outdated or improperly authenticated
  • Certain acts may call for a fresh or specially worded Power of Attorney
  • Acceptance always rests with the receiving body — a Power of Attorney is not a guarantee of acceptance

How we proceed

01

Define the matter

We establish what you need done in Greece, and therefore exactly which powers the document must carry.

02

Draft the scope

We draft the Power of Attorney with the correct, specific scope and tell you the signing route — consulate or notary-plus-Apostille.

03

You sign & authenticate

You sign by the chosen route; where needed, the document is apostilled and officially translated into Greek.

04

We act for you

With the Power of Attorney in force, we carry out the authorised steps in Greece and keep you informed throughout.

What is your Power of Attorney for?

A Power of Attorney is a means, not an end — it serves a matter. If yours concerns buying property in Greece, an inheritance you have received, or a Golden Visa application, each has its own page — and in each, the Power of Attorney is the mechanism that lets us act for you from abroad.

Ask about a Power of Attorney

Tell us what you need handled in Greece. A supervising partner will review it and respond personally, usually within one business day, with the scope of Power of Attorney required, the signing route, which steps (if any) still need you in person, and the fixed fee.

There is no obligation, and nothing here creates a lawyer–client relationship until terms are agreed in writing.

Ready to provide your details?

If you already know you wish to proceed, a detailed Power of Attorney personal-details form is available on our homepage — look for the "PoA Form" button at the top of the page. It gathers the fuller information needed to begin preparing the instrument. Either route reaches us; use whichever suits you.

Please do not upload documents here. A short description is enough. After initial contact, we provide access to the Secure Client Portal for confidential document exchange. Documents are not exchanged by WhatsApp.

Or contact us directly

Phone: +30 210 363 6035

WhatsApp: +30 697 827 6455 (first contact and scheduling only)

Email: [email protected]

By submitting this form you agree that Hellenic Law Firm may contact you regarding your enquiry. Submissions are reviewed under Athens Bar Association confidentiality. We do not share your details with third parties.

Common questions about Powers of Attorney

Can I handle matters in Greece without travelling there?

In many cases the bulk of the work can be handled remotely. Many steps may be managed through a notarised Power of Attorney, subject to acceptance by the competent notary, authority, bank or registry — commonly the tax number, bank account, due diligence, signing the deed and registration. Some matters still require your presence; most notably, the biometric appointment for a Golden Visa residence permit requires physical presence in Greece.

How do I sign a Power of Attorney for use in Greece?

Either before a Greek consulate in your country, which produces a document ready for use in Greece; or before a local notary, after which it is authenticated with an Apostille and officially translated into Greek. We prepare the wording in advance so it carries the correct scope.

What can a Power of Attorney not do?

Its acceptance rests with the receiving body — a notary, authority, bank or registry may require its own form or decline one that is too narrow, too old or improperly authenticated. Certain acts also require you in person; the biometric appointment for a residence permit is the clearest example. We identify any such steps at the outset.

Should it be general or specific?

Usually a specific Power of Attorney, drafted for the particular matter and listing the acts authorised, is preferable to a broad general one — it is more readily accepted and limits risk. We draft the scope to cover what your transaction genuinely requires, and no more.

Does a Power of Attorney let you access my money?

It authorises defined legal acts, not unsupervised control of your funds. Purchase monies are transferred bank-to-bank under your instruction, and the scope is limited to the matter at hand. We are members of the Athens Bar Association and act under its professional and confidentiality obligations.