Most international buyers complete their Spanish purchase without ever standing in a notary’s office. The instrument that makes this possible is the power of attorney — here is how it works.
What is a power of attorney?
A power of attorney — in Spanish a poder notarial (literally “notarial power”) — is a notarised document in which you authorise a named person, typically your lawyer, to carry out specific legal acts on your behalf. It is the standard tool that lets international buyers run a Spanish purchase from home, without flights timed around notary appointments. A property POA is limited and specific: it lists exactly which acts are covered (NIE application, bank account opening, signing the purchase deed for an identified transaction, tax filings, utility contracts). You are not handing over general control of your affairs.
What can Mojo’s Legal Department do with your POA?
- Apply for your NIE number
- Open and operate your Spanish bank account for the purchase
- Sign the reservation, arras and title deed on your behalf
- File and pay the purchase taxes (ITP or IVA/AJD)
- Register the deed at the Land Registry
- Set up utilities, community, IBI and waste-fee direct debits
How do you grant a POA — and what does it cost?
| Where you sign | How it works | Mojo Price (excl. 21% IVA) |
| In Spain | Signed before a Spanish notary in one short appointment | 180 € per person (private) / 400 € (company) |
| Abroad | Signed at a notary in your home country (or Spanish consulate) with apostille and, where needed, official translation | 600 € (private and company) |
Each buyer grants their own POA, so the 180 € private fee is per person (a couple buying together signs two). Signing in Spain is simplest — many clients grant the POA during a viewing trip, and everything after that happens remotely. If you sign abroad, the document needs The Hague apostille to be valid in Spain; Mojo’s Legal Department prepares the bilingual text so the foreign notary only needs to certify your signature.
Is a power of attorney safe?
Used correctly, yes — and it is how the majority of international purchases on the Costa del Sol are completed. Three safeguards matter:
- Grant it to a regulated professional, not a private individual
Mojo’s Legal Department’s lawyers are colegiado members of the Spanish bar.
- Keep it specific
The POA should cover the property transaction — not unlimited general powers.
- It is revocable
You can cancel a POA at any time before a notary
The alternative — flying in for every signature — is not safer; it simply makes you the courier of your own paperwork.
Related Guides
- What Is an NIE Number and How Do You Get One?
- What Happens After Completion?
- Legal Department