How to certify a power of attorney by a Czech notary for use in other countries
Here we focus on certifying the document with a Czech notary, which is the quickest option. If you would like to learn more, we have more information here on how to certify a power of attorney from the Czech Republic for use abroad.
Any other types of documents (declarations, consents, contracts, etc.) can be certified in the same way as described below – the procedure and the requirements are the same. However, in the text that follows we will use the power of attorney as an example.
Proceed as follows:
- Prepare the text of the document you will be certifying. Below you will find information on where to obtain the text of a power of attorney for certification with a Czech notary for use outside the Czech Republic. The document can be drafted directly in the language of the country where it will be used.
- Adjust the text of the power of attorney to meet the requirements of a Czech notary. Below you will find information on how to adjust the text of the power of attorney for the Czech notary – more specifically, comments on the wording that Czech notaries reject, how to modify the text, and how to ensure the text does not raise any issues. This is actually very important.
- Find a notary to perform the certification. This type of certification can be carried out by any notary in the Czech Republic. Some may decline for subjective reasons (notaries have the right to do so – sometimes they are cautious about foreign-language documents). Still, you should be able to find one in any reasonably sized Czech city. For example, in Prague we recommend the offices of Mgr. Štěpán Nývlt and JUDr. Miloslav Peterka at Na příkopě 12, Prague 1, (entrance from Panská Street; they share an office), as well JUDr. Sylva Kotrbová at Politických vězňů 5, Prague 1. All are excellent notaries who we highly recommend. Again, many other notaries in Prague and across the Czech Republic can handle the certification as well.
- Visit the notary to have your signature certified. Make sure you bring the text of the document already prepared and printed out, along with an ID that meets Czech notary requirements. While the office can print the document for you on site, we recommend arriving with it already printed. This avoids taking up the notary’s or their staff’s time with printing – we simply believe it is a nice courtesy.
- If necessary, obtain an apostille for the document. We have a detailed guide on whether an apostille is needed for a notarized Czech power of attorney, but we recommend getting an apostille in EVERY case – even if your specific country does not formally require it. You can also use our website to check if an apostille is needed for a particular country and find information on where to obtain an apostille for a power of attorney from a Czech notary (refer to the information for notarial documents; you will need the Notarial Chamber of the Czech Republic as provided in the link)
These are all the steps. Once this is done, the power of attorney is ready to be sent to the place where it will be used.
Additional recommendations for certification and use of the document:
- A Czech notary’s certification stamp can be in Czech or in English (as you request on site). The apostille stamp is always bilingual (both Czech and English). A common question is which language to choose. In the country where the document will be used, you will likely need to have these stamps translated into the local language. While it is easier to find a translator for English, we recommend having the stamp done in Czech. The reason is that the authorities in the destination country often expect the notary’s stamp to be in the language of the country where the document was certified – i.e., in Czech. If the stamp is in English, they may question why a Czech notary used an English stamp, leading to unnecessary complications. Therefore, if the document is intended for use in a reasonably large city where a Czech translator is available, we recommend getting the stamp in Czech. On the other hand, a stamp in English may be understood in many cases without translation. If possible, it is a good idea to check with the destination country about their preference.
- When using the document abroad, you may be asked to provide a translation of the certification stamps themselves. We recommend using a translator based in the country where the document will be used. While you can certainly have this done in the Czech Republic by a locally licensed translator, sometimes the authorities in the destination country respond with: “We cannot verify your translator’s Czech license and therefore cannot accept the translation.” For this reason, we strongly recommend arranging the translation with a translator who is located and licensed in the country where the document will be used.
- The Czech notary’s stamp includes a QR code. Scanning the QR code takes you to the website of the Notarial Chamber of the Czech Republic. The website displays basic information confirming that the document was certified, including the type of the document, who certifies it, and for whom. Unfortunately, the information is entirely in Czech. However, this can still serve as proof in the destination country that the document was properly certified in the Czech Republic.
Where can I find the text of a power of attorney for notarization in the Czech Republic?
We are assuming you are certifying a power of attorney (or similar document) in the Czech Republic for use outside the country.
Short answer: Obtain the document text from the region where you will actually use the Czech-certified power of attorney – ask a local lawyer or a notary in that country, ideally even the specific city where the document will be used. The best-case scenario is getting it directly from the person (again, a lawyer or notary) who will be working with the document on the other end. This is the best way to ensure the text will be accepted. It is highly unlikely that anyone in the Czech Republic would know the text requirements of another country or be able to prepare a suitable text.
Detailed explanation:
When you get a power of attorney notarized in the Czech Republic, you can have it certified directly in the language of the destination country – for example, in English or another language. Czech notaries certify the signature on the power of attorney and are permitted to do that on documents in foreign languages. This allows you to have the document certified in the required language without needing a complicated translation into Czech. That said, Czech notaries do not work with foreign languages and cannot draft documents; there is no point in asking them to do so. You must arrive at the notary’s office with the text already prepared, including all the details of the principal and the attorney-in-fact in the text.
Typically, there is a specific place (country, region, city) where the document certified in the Czech Republic will ultimately be used, and often there is a specific notary or lawyer who will handle the transactions or actions based on the document. The best approach is to request the document text directly from that person (the lawyer or notary). They often have templates available, or they can draft a text specifically for your case (which I suspect would not be costly). You can then have that document certified by a Czech notary.
The end goal is for the document to be accepted by the person who will be using it outside the Czech Republic. So the smart move is to ask the person directly for the text – or at least check with lawyers or notaries in the same region who know the text requirements. If you are dealing with a government office or a bank, they often have standard forms you can work from. It is also worth asking people who have previously certified similar documents and dealt with the same situation.
In our view, trying to obtain the document text from someone in the Czech Republic is a mistake. It is highly unlikely that anyone in the Czech Republic can draft a text and guarantee that it will be accepted abroad, in the country of use. That is why our key advice is to request the text from the place where it will be used – this is the best way to ensure it gets accepted.
This is exactly why we do not draft powers of attorney or other documents. We simply cannot know the requirements of the person who will later work with the certified document outside the Czech Republic; we have no way of knowing what is in their mind.
How to adjust a power of attorney: what Czech notaries will NOT accept
Although Czech notaries can certify documents in a foreign language, they never do so without reviewing the text. They examine the text, typically using automatic translation tools. Powers of attorney often contain wording that a Czech notary cannot accept, and such wording needs to be corrected.
This refers to wording in the document that implies responsibility on the notary’s part – responsibility which, logically, they cannot assume. In such cases, the text of the document must be adjusted so that the meaning is preserved while removing the notary’s responsibility for those provisions.
Czech notaries absolutely DO NOT accept wording that implies:
- The notary explained to you any provisions of foreign law or their consequences (such as articles from another country’s Civil Code). Understandably, a Czech notary is unable to do this. The text should be revised to make it clear that the signatory understands the relevant legal provisions, without holding the notary responsible for explaining them (for example, “I am aware of Articles 1, 2, and 3 of the Civil Code of COUNTRY, and I understand their legal consequences”).
- The notary read the power of attorney aloud to the signatory. A Czech notary obviously cannot do this. We suggest changing the wording to something like: “I personally prepared the text of this power of attorney, and it reflects my interests and intentions.” This makes it clear that the signatory understands the document.
- The text of the power of attorney was drafted based on the signatory’s statements. This wording indirectly suggests that the Czech notary drafted the document in the foreign language based on the signatory’s statements – which, of course, is not possible. Change it to something like: “I personally prepared the text of this power of attorney; the information has been correctly entered by me.” This keeps the same idea.
Other cases may arise (use common sense), but hopefully you understand the idea: the text of the document should not impose on the Czech notary any responsibility that they logically cannot take on (such as explaining foreign laws, reading the text aloud, or drafting it in a foreign language).
Additional recommendations for the text (not mandatory, but strongly advised):
- In the heading of the power of attorney, include the place and the city of certification, for example: “Czech Republic, Prague”.
- Write the date in the heading as words (spelled out), as this can be quite important.
- When signing, print your full name and then add your signature, for example: “John Johnson, signature” – this is a good practice.
These are the key points to keep in mind. If you engage us to assist with the entire process, we will `handle ALL of these aspects in the document text. We know how to do this so that the document meets the requirements of the place where it will be used while also leaving the Czech notary with no questions.
Frequently Asked Questions about powers of attorney from the Czech Republic
How is possible to certify a power of attorney in Czech republic for use abroad in 2026?
If you need to arrange a new power of attorney in the Czech Republic to be used outside the country, there are two main options:
- Certification through the consulate of the country where the document will be used. To be clear, this is the best option; however, some consulates have long waiting periods. Appointments for this procedure are often booked many months in advance.
- Certification through a Czech notary with apostille. A more efficient option is to have the power of attorney certified by a local notary in the Czech Republic. This is an excellent alternative to the consulate and, in fact, perhaps the only viable alternative. Czech notaries can certify the documents in foreign languages, which makes the process much easier. The document can be prepared directly in the language of the country where it will be used. Documents issued by a Czech notary are legally valid outside the Czech Republic as well. Some countries accept a Czech notary’s certification without an apostille, but many countries still require an apostille. Our website has a dedicated form to check whether an apostille is required for the country where you plan to use the power of attorney. Overall, we STRONGLY recommend getting an apostille in every case, even when it is not formally required. Very often, the receiving party will still insist on it, especially if the document relates to the transfer of property. We have a full guide how to certify it with Czech notary on the same page of our website where you are.
What is required for certifying a power of attorney with a Czech notary
Three basic things are required to certify a power of attorney with a Czech notary:
- The principal (the person issuing the power of attorney) must be present in person. This means the principal must attend the notary’s office to sign the document in person. The notary will check your ID and then stamp the document to confirm that the signature is yours.
- An identity document confirming that the principal is legally staying in the Czech Republic. The notary is required to verify that the person issuing the power of attorney is staying legally in the Czech Republic. You must have a document that permits legal stay in the Czech Republic – such as a Czech temporary or permanent residence permit (ideally a Czech-issued document), or at least a document from another EU country that permits the person to be present in the Czech Republic. If it turns out that such a document is not available or not suitable, the notary will not call the police (do not worry), but by law they must check that the person is legally present in the Czech Republic.
- The text of the power of attorney. You need to show up at the notary’s office with the document already prepared and printed out. The notary will not prepare anything or even print it for you – they just perform the certification. Check out our information on where to get the text. We can help make the necessary adjustments and corrections, and revise the text to ensure the Czech notary has no issues. However, you will need to obtain the base text of the document yourself. If you need assistance, contact us – we will figure out how to proceed and clarify the situation for you.
Nothing else is required – only these three items. Nothing is needed from the attorney-in-fact (the person to whom the power of attorney is granted); neither they nor any copies of the documents are needed.
Is an apostille required for a Czech power of attorney in 2026?
It depends on the country where the power of attorney will be used. For some countries, an apostille is required; for others, it is not required – it varies. Our recommendation: if your document has been certified by a Czech notary, we recommend getting an apostille in all cases, even just to be safe.
On our website, there is a special tool to check whether an apostille is required for a power of attorney from the Czech Republic for a specific country (you will get a detailed explanation for each case).
Detailed information for anyone interested: Formally, the need for an apostille on a Czech power of attorney depends on the destination country (the country where the document will be used). Some countries require an apostille for a notarized power of attorney from the Czech Republic, while others do not; this varies country by country. However, in our experience and based on the actual use of these documents in practice (in the destination country), an apostille is often required – even if formally it is not required for that country. If the receiving party requires an apostille, challenging them is extremely difficult and often impossible. Therefore, we strongly recommend obtaining an apostille for powers of attorney from the Czech Republic, even when formally it is not required. This will save you from having to return the document to the Czech Republic to have it apostilled later – it is better to play safe from the start.
We should also note that if the power of attorney is certified directly at the consulate of the country where it will be used, then no apostille is required.
For which purposes is possible to certify a power of attorney with Czech notary?
In practice, a Czech power of attorney can essentially be drafted for anything. The most common cases we come across are:
- Sale of real estate (apartments, houses, land, etc.) and signing purchase agreements.
- Management of movable property (vehicles), including the right to sell, register, and deregister, cross borders with the vehicle, and transit through a country.
- Any declarations or documents related to inheritance.
- Representation of interests before any government authorities or organizations.
- General powers of attorney for various situations and representation in different organizations.
- Powers of attorney on behalf of a legal entity (company) to represent its interests, such as in banks or government bodies.
Notarized copies of personal documents, such as passports.
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