How to Obtain a Power of Attorney to Buy a Property in Brazil

A step in our property-buying guide: what to arrange before someone signs for you at closing. This page helps you prepare for that decision; our Real Estate Power of Attorney service explains how we can help with drafting, signing coordination, and representation.

Having someone represent you at a real estate closing in Brazil takes preparation. A power of attorney, called a procuração, gives that person authority to act in your name. What they can do depends on the wording and the form of the document.

Reviewed by Luciano Oliveira, Esq., LL.M. · October 2026

Powers of attorney must be made according to very specific steps dictated by law and regulations in Brazil. The notary preparing the deed and the property registry checking it may raise different questions about the document. Do not prepare or sign a POA for a property purchase without advice from a lawyer licensed in Brazil.

The catch is timing. A power of attorney prepared without local guidance tends to show its problems at the worst possible moment: wording the cartório (notary or registry office) rejects on closing day, a missing apostille, or wording that does not cover a step the deal actually needs. From abroad, fixing it can cost you the closing date. Start early so your lawyer can identify and address these issues before you commit to a closing date.

1. What to arrange before closing

There is no guarantee that a POA will be accepted simply because you followed a checklist. The offices must apply the relevant rules; their decisions are not unrestricted. Have your lawyer confirm the required form and wording with the notary and property registry before you sign.

• Decide who will sign. Tell your lawyer whether you expect to attend personally or need someone to represent you.
• Share the transaction details early. Provide the property reference, intended representative, where you will sign, and proposed closing date.
• Confirm the route before booking appointments. Have the proposed wording and signing requirements checked with the professionals receiving the document in Brazil.
• Allow time to resolve questions. Confirm what still needs to be completed before relying on the POA for closing.

You may not even need a power of attorney. Where the applicable requirements are met, a foreign buyer abroad may be able to take part in the act remotely by videoconference through Brazil’s e-Notariado system, which is sometimes the better route. Either way, you will need a Brazilian CPF to acquire property.

2. e-Notariado: attend the closing remotely

Oliveira Lawyers can help foreign citizens obtain an e-Notariado digital certificate. The certificate is issued by an authorized Brazilian notary. It allows you to identify yourself and sign through Brazil’s online notarial platform.

When the notary confirms that the requirements are met, you may be able to attend the closing by videoconference and sign the deed remotely, including from abroad. You take part yourself, rather than giving someone else authority to sign for you. This may remove the need for a POA for that signing.

Your lawyer should coordinate the required documents, identification checks, digital certificate, and appointment with the notary in advance. Having the certificate does not mean every transaction is ready for remote closing. The deed and supporting documents still need to be checked, and the purchase still needs to be registered at the property registry.

Learn more about our e-Notariado assistance.

3. Give only the powers the purchase needs

A general authorization is not enough for every property transaction. Your lawyer should identify the property and the acts the representative needs to carry out. These may include signing the deed, paying agreed amounts, and arranging registration.

Discuss a price limit, an end date, and whether the representative may appoint someone else. Do not include authority to sell, mortgage, borrow, or handle unrelated assets merely because it appears in a template. Ask your lawyer to explain any wording you do not understand before signing.

4. Preparing and authenticating a POA abroad

Where the apostille route applies, confirm the required notarial form before arranging for the POA to be notarized and apostilled in the country of origin, then translated into Portuguese by a sworn translator in Brazil. An apostille does not fix missing powers or the wrong kind of document. Where the convention does not apply, consular legalization may be needed; an exemption may also apply. Confirm any required registration in Brazil.

Check which signing route is available

• A Brazilian notary: ask about signing in person or, if the requirements are met, remotely through e-Notariado. The notary must confirm identity, signing arrangements, and whether it is the correct office for the act.
• A Brazilian consulate: this may be available to Brazilian citizens and eligible foreign residents of Brazil. A CPF alone does not establish eligibility. Check the responsible consulate’s current requirements before booking.
• A notary in another country: have your Brazilian lawyer check the proposed document and local signing method first. A foreign signature notarization is not automatically equivalent to the public instrument required for the Brazilian transaction.

When the act requires a public instrument—a document formally drawn up by an authorized official—the POA must meet the corresponding form requirements. Do not assume that adding an apostille makes any POA acceptable. Confirm the route before paying for notarization, authentication, translation, or courier delivery.

For the broader process of preparing and authenticating a POA abroad for use in Brazil, see “Drafting and Authenticating a POA – Power of Attorney – Abroad for Use in Brazil”. It includes explanations and videos for the different steps.

5. Check the POA again before it is used

Have your lawyer confirm that the signed version matches the agreed draft, the powers still apply, and the receiving offices have the required original, official copy, or electronic file. Signing the POA does not itself buy the property or transfer ownership.

Before your representative signs the deed, ask your lawyer to review the actual signing version. Do not let the representative accept unseen certificates or agree to unexpected wording that shifts document checks or risks to you without legal advice.

Related video: How to Check Property Records in Brazil

This related video explains property-record checks, not how to prepare a power of attorney. Those checks remain important even when someone else signs for you.

Related steps in the buying guide

To learn more about purchasing real estate in Brazil, check our How to Buy Properties in Brazil guide.

Learn about the advantages of buying real estate in Brazil in our Why Buying Real Estate in Brazil guide. Find opportunities and decide where to buy using our Know Where to Buy Real Estate in Brazil guide.

Before you rely on these steps

This content is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For legal issues or decisions of any kind, the reader should retain and consult legal counsel. You should not act or rely on the information on this website without first seeking the advice of an attorney. The determination of whether you need legal services and your choice of a lawyer are very important matters that should not be based on websites or advertisements.

Sources

Checked October 15, 2026: Colégio Notarial do Brasil — digital deeds and powers of attorney; Brazilian Civil Code, articles 108, 657, 661 and 682–686; Brazilian Consulate in Houston — POA questions; Brazilian Consulate in Orlando — foreign applicants; CNJ National Notarial Rules; and CNJ guidance on unsupported expiry requirements. Requirements must be checked for the particular document and transaction.