Apostille on power of attorney: what is it, why is it needed and how to get
It is a special stamp that is affixed to official papers and confirms their authenticity and legal validity in the member states of the Hague Convention. Apostille simplifies the process of legalization of documents, eliminating the need to undergo a long and complicated procedure of consular legalization. Apostilizing a power of attorney is necessary if you will use it outside the country in which it was issued. This may be of concern in the following cases:
- Execution of transactions with real estate or other assets abroad.
- Opening bank accounts or conducting financial operations in foreign banks.
- Appealing to foreign authorities.
- Participation in courts outside the Russian Federation.
- Obtaining documents from foreign government agencies.
How to issue an apostille for a power of attorney?
In accordance with Russian law, an apostille for a power of attorney is affixed only to notarized papers, i.e. the original certified by a notary or a copy thereof. The procedure is as follows:
- Contact a notary public to issue a power of attorney. The notary must be duly authorized to perform notarial acts in the region where the document is issued.
- Appeal to the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation or its territorial bodies.
- Payment of the state duty through a bank.
- In 5-7 business days, get your finished papers.
It is also worth mentioning that apostilization can only be done at the place of issuance. For example, if a power of attorney is issued by a notary in Moscow, it can be apostilled only at the Main Department of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation in Moscow.
Also, notary translation into a foreign language is likely to be required, as the notary only issues documents in Russian. In this case, it is better to contact a professional office, such as BetterLetter. Our company will be a "one-stop shop" for you – we will apostilize the power of attorney, make notarized copies, translate into one or more foreign languages.
Urgent apostille
Our company provides an urgent apostille service in 1 business day. This may be essential in cases where quick legalization of a document is required for urgent matters. Write us via messenger or email for an estimate of the cost and timeframe of a rush order.
Benefits of working with BetterLetter
- Fair prices. We have clear pricing without hidden fees.
- We provide a complete solution. We will take care of all the hassle of preparing and filing documents, you will not need to waste your time visiting a notary public and the Ministry of Justice.
- Notarization and translation. We can notarize copies, make translations into foreign languages.
- Online order. No need to personally attend our office, the application can be submitted via email or messenger.
Requirements for apostille of power of attorney
In order to easily affix an apostille, the power of attorney must meet the following minimum requirements:
- be drawn up in accordance with the provisions of Russian law;
- be signed by the principal and notarized;
- have all necessary information specified: full name of the principal and the authorized person, date of issue, validity period, information on the powers of the authorized person.
If the power of attorney does not meet these requirements, the apostille may be refused.
List of Hague Agreement countries
An apostille affixed in accordance with the Convention shall be recognized in all countries that have acceded to it. By the end of May 2024, there are already more than 120 of them, including all countries of the European Union, the United States, Japan, and China. A full list of states that have acceded to the Hague Convention can be found in our article.
