Power of Attorney in Nepal: Types and Notarization Rules

A Power of Attorney (POA) in Nepal is a legal instrument that authorizes one person (the agent or attorney-in-fact) to act on behalf of another person (the principal) in specific legal, financial, or personal matters. Nepalis living abroad frequently require a Power of Attorney to allow a trusted family member or lawyer in Nepal to manage property, banking, legal proceedings, or business matters on their behalf. Hamro Notary at Chabahil, Kathmandu, drafts, witnesses, and notarizes all types of Power of Attorney documents accepted by Nepali courts, land revenue offices, banks, and foreign embassies.

What Is a Power of Attorney in Nepal?

In Nepal, a Power of Attorney (Wakalatnama or Adhikar Patra in Nepali) is a formal legal document that gives a named person the authority to make legally binding decisions and take actions on behalf of the person granting the power. The scope of authority can range from very broad (general POA) to very specific (special POA limited to one transaction). Without a properly notarized POA, a third party cannot legally represent you before Nepali land revenue offices, banks, courts, or other institutions.

Types of Power of Attorney in Nepal

General Power of Attorney (Samagra Wakalatnama)

A General POA grants broad authority to the agent to act on the principal’s behalf across multiple matters — managing property, handling banking, conducting business, and representing in legal proceedings. General POAs are used when the principal is abroad for an extended period and needs someone to manage all their Nepal affairs.

Special/Specific Power of Attorney (Vishesh Wakalatnama)

A Special POA grants authority for a specific transaction or limited set of transactions — for example, only for selling a specific piece of land, or only for collecting a specific payment. The Special POA expires once the specific transaction is completed. Land Revenue Offices (malpot) in Nepal require a Special POA for property sale and purchase transactions involving a representative.

Durable Power of Attorney

A Durable POA remains in effect even if the principal becomes mentally incapacitated. In Nepal’s legal framework, this is a less commonly used but legally valid type, particularly relevant for estate planning and eldercare situations.

Limited/Restricted Power of Attorney

A Limited POA restricts the agent’s authority to specific actions within specific time periods. For example, a limited POA might authorize the agent to collect one specific salary payment or sign one specific contract.

Requirements for a Valid POA in Nepal

For a Power of Attorney to be legally valid and accepted by Nepali institutions and courts:

• Principal’s identification: The principal’s full name, citizenship number or passport number, and permanent address
• Agent’s identification: The agent’s full name, citizenship number, relationship to the principal, and address
• Scope of authority: Clearly defined powers being granted — property address (if for property), bank account details (if for banking), specific actions authorized
• Time limitation (recommended): Specifying when the POA expires reduces the risk of misuse
• Principal’s signature: Signed by the principal in front of the Notary Public (if in Nepal), or in front of a Nepali Embassy/Consulate official (if abroad)
• Notary certification: The Notary Public’s stamp, signature, and registration number certifying the principal’s identity and voluntary execution
• Witness signatures: Some land revenue offices and banks require two witnesses in addition to the notary certification

The POA Notarization Process at Hamro Notary

Visit Hamro Notary at Naramaya Bhawan, Chabahil (Sunday–Friday, 9 AM–6 PM) and describe what you need the POA for. We advise on the appropriate type (General vs Special) and draft the POA language accordingly.

Provide the citizenship card or passport of both the principal (you) and the agent (the person receiving authority), along with any relevant details — property registration numbers, bank account details, or specific transaction details as required.

Review the drafted POA carefully. Ensure all names match your ID documents, the scope of authority is exactly what you intend, and there are no errors in property details or transaction specifications.

Sign the POA in the Notary Public’s presence. Bring witnesses if required by the institution where the POA will be used (land revenue office, bank). The notary administers the oath and witnesses your signature.

Hamro Notary applies the official stamp, signs the certification, and registers the POA in the notary’s register. The POA is now a legally valid notarized instrument.

Power of Attorney for Use Abroad

Nepalis working or studying abroad sometimes need a POA authorizing someone in Nepal to act on their behalf, or a POA authorizing someone abroad to act for them in a foreign country’s processes. Requirements vary:

• POA for use in Nepal (executed abroad): Must be signed before the Nepali Embassy or Consulate in the country where the principal is residing. Some Nepali institutions also accept POAs notarized by a foreign country’s notary if they are properly authenticated (MoFA attested + embassy legalized)
• POA for use abroad (executed in Nepal): Signed and notarized in Nepal by Hamro Notary; then usually requires MoFA attestation and the destination country’s embassy attestation in Nepal before it is accepted abroad

Revoking a Power of Attorney in Nepal

A POA can be revoked by the principal at any time by:

• Executing a written revocation notice and having it notarized
• Notifying the agent in writing of the revocation
• Filing the revocation with any institution that was relying on the POA (bank, land revenue office, court)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I give a Power of Attorney to my spouse for property management while I work abroad?

Yes. A General or Special POA can authorize your spouse (or any trusted adult) to manage your property, banking, and legal affairs while you are abroad. This is one of the most common uses of POA in Nepal. Bring both your and your spouse’s citizenship cards to Hamro Notary to execute the POA before you leave Nepal.

Does a Power of Attorney need to be registered with the Land Revenue Office?

For property sale and purchase transactions, Land Revenue Offices in Nepal require the POA to be registered with them before they will process the transaction. Registration at the Land Revenue Office is a separate step after notarization. Hamro Notary notarizes the POA; you (or your agent) then present it to the relevant Land Revenue Office for registration.

How long is a Power of Attorney valid in Nepal?

Nepal law does not impose a universal fixed validity period on a POA. The validity is determined by the terms written in the POA itself. If no expiry is stated, the POA remains valid until revoked or until the death of either the principal or agent. For specific transactions, build in an expiry date to protect yourself against open-ended authority.

Can I email a scanned copy of the notarized POA to Nepal from abroad?

Scanned copies are generally not accepted for legal transactions — the original notarized POA (with physical notary stamp and signature) must be presented to banks, land offices, and courts. Send the original by courier (DHL, FedEx) from abroad, or have Hamro Notary prepare the draft and you execute the original before the Nepali Embassy in your country.