In short
- Romanian citizens can have a power of attorney authenticated at a Romanian embassy or consulate.
- A power of attorney signed before a foreign notary must then be apostilled or superlegalised.
- The document must identify the principal and the agent and state the exact purpose of the mandate.
- Consulates do not conclude sales, donations or other acts of disposition — the representative does that in Romania.
Three ways to sign it abroad
Romanian embassy or consulate
Available to Romanian citizens. You attend in person with a valid identity document; the power of attorney is drafted in Romanian and states its exact purpose.
Romanian notary public
If you can be in Romania, a Romanian notary public can authenticate the power of attorney. Law 36/1995 also allows notarial acts by Romanian diplomatic missions and consular offices.
Foreign notary public
A power of attorney signed before a notary in your country is used in Romania after it is apostilled (Hague Convention states) or superlegalised.
What the power of attorney should contain
- Identification data of the principal (you) and of the agent (your representative in Romania)
- The exact purpose of the mandate — for example selling or buying a specific property, a court case, or company formalities
- A valid identity document of the principal when signing
- For foreign-notary documents: the apostille or superlegalisation, and any translation required by the Romanian authority that receives it
Apostille or superlegalisation
In states party to the 1961 Hague Convention abolishing the requirement of legalisation, a foreign notarial document receives an apostille from the competent authority of that state. In other states the document is superlegalised. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists both routes for powers of attorney made before a foreign notary.
Frequently asked questions
Official sources
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Notarial acts at Romanian embassies and consulates
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Superlegalisation procedure
- National Union of Public Notaries — Law no. 36/1995 on public notaries
General legal information, not legal advice. Each situation requires individual review. Cabinet de Avocatură Pantilimon Rikhárd-Árpád, based in Târgu Mureș.