Power of attorney
A signed document that lets another person, the attorney, act in your name. In Cyprus the signature must be certified before the Land Registry, EAC and others accept it.
Updated 12 Oct 2026How it works
A power of attorney (in Greek, πληρεξούσιο) names a person, the attorney, who may act for you. A general power of attorney gives wide powers, such as managing your property and signing contracts. A special power of attorney covers one specific act, such as a single sale or lease.
How it is made depends on where you sign it:
- In Cyprus, you sign it in front of a certifying officer, who certifies your signature. The officer confirms who signed, not what the document says.
- Abroad, you usually sign it before a notary public, and the notary's signature is then confirmed with an apostille under the Hague Convention. In a country outside the Convention, ask the Cypriot embassy or consulate how to have it certified.
When an attorney files an application with the Department of Lands and Surveys (DLS) for you, the power of attorney is deposited at the District Lands Office, with the signature certified. The DLS charges €50 to deposit a general power of attorney; a special one is deposited free of charge.
The Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) accepts an official authorisation or a power of attorney certified by a certifying officer when someone applies on your behalf, and treats it as valid for 5 years (EAC).
Why it matters when you rent
Owners who live abroad often give a relative or a property manager a power of attorney to sign tenancy agreements, collect rent and deal with utilities. Tenants use one too, for example so that someone else can transfer the electricity account while they are away.
If an attorney signs the lease for the owner, ask to see the certified power of attorney and the attorney's ID, and check that it covers letting the property. Whether a particular power of attorney is enough for a transaction depends on its wording, so check with a lawyer if in doubt.