Why You Need a Notary Public for Property Abroad
When an Irish resident buys or sells property in another country, the foreign conveyancing process almost always requires documentation authenticated by an Irish notary public. The most common requirement is a notarised power of attorney (also called a poder notarial in Spanish, or procuration in French) authorising a local lawyer to act on your behalf in the property transaction.
Property Transactions by Country
Spain
Buying property in Spain as an Irish resident requires a NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero). Your Irish notary can prepare a power of attorney in the Spanish form required for the transaction. The document must be apostilled and, in many cases, translated into Spanish by a certified translator.
Portugal
Portuguese property transactions require a NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal) and typically a power of attorney in Portuguese form for remote closings. Your Irish notary can prepare the documentation in co-ordination with your Portuguese advogado.
France
French property law requires a notaire (French notary) for all property transactions. If you are resident in Ireland, you may need an Irish notary to authenticate identity documents and powers of attorney in the French legal form.
USA
Some US states require notarised documentation from foreign property owners. An Irish notary public can prepare and certify documentation for US real estate transactions.
What Documents Are Typically Needed
- Power of attorney (in the form required by the destination country)
- Certified copy passport
- Proof of address (certified)
- Marriage certificate (if property is jointly owned by spouses)
- Company documents (if purchasing through a company)
Book a Notary for Your Property Transaction
Find a notary public in your county using Legal Index Ireland. Contact them early — property transactions abroad can have tight deadlines and the notarial process, combined with apostille, takes at least a week from appointment.