A special power of attorney to sell a property in Venezuela from abroad
Tu Espacio Ccs, more than 20 years in Caracas · Updated September 16, 2026 · 3 min
This guide is a translation of the Spanish original, which is the version our partner lawyer reviews. Leer el original en español
Short answer
You have two routes: sign a special power of attorney at a Venezuelan consulate, which needs no apostille, or sign it before a notary in the country where you live and have it apostilled. In September 2026 the consulates in the United States, Chile and Canada are still not open, so from those countries the route is the notary with an apostille. The power has to be special to that sale, with the exact description of the property and its registry details.
In this guide6 sections · 3 min read
Consulate, or local notary with an apostille
| Point | Venezuelan consulate | Local notary with apostille |
|---|---|---|
| Where it is signed | At the consular section | Before a notary in the country where you live |
| Apostille | Not needed | Yes, in the country where it is signed |
| Translation | It is drawn up in Spanish | If it is not in Spanish, a sworn translator in Venezuela translates it |
| When it makes sense | Where the consulate handles notarial acts | Where the consulate is closed or the appointment takes too long |
Venezuela has been part of the Apostille Convention since 1999, as have Spain, the United States, Chile, Colombia and Canada, so a power of attorney apostilled in any of those countries is valid in Venezuela.
What the power of attorney must say
- That it is a special power of attorney, with specific powers. A general mandate is not enough to sell.
- The exact description of the property, with the details of the title deed: registry office, number and folio.
- The full identification of whoever grants the power and whoever receives it.
- The power to sell, set or accept the price, sign at the registry and receive the payment, if that is what you want to delegate.
- If the property was inherited, also the powers for the SENIAT procedure: the estate’s RIF, the inheritance tax return and collecting the clearance certificate.
Vague wording is the most common reason a registry rejects a power of attorney. Have a Venezuelan lawyer draft it, even if you sign it abroad.
Consulates in September 2026
| Country | Situation | Route for the power |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, Vigo and Tenerife are open | Consulate |
| United States | Closed; reopening authorised with no date | Notary with apostille |
| Chile | No consular service since July 2024 | Notary with apostille |
| Canada | Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver closed | Notary with apostille |
| Colombia | The embassy in Bogotá lists notarial acts | Consulate, confirming the appointment |
The consulate in Barcelona, for example, publishes the procedures for granting and revoking a special power of attorney on its official page.
What it costs
The official consular fee schedule is Resolution DM 103, published in Official Gazette 42,485 of 18 October 2022. It sets 60 dollars for any other declaration or act and 90 dollars for legalisations. It has no line of its own for the power of attorney.
Some consulates publish different amounts for the special power of attorney, and exchange rates make them vary between countries. Ask for the exact amount when you book. If you go through a local notary, add the notary’s fees, the apostille and the translation.
Step by step
- Ask a lawyer in Venezuela for the draft power of attorney, with the property’s registry details.
- Choose the route: the consulate if it is open in your country, or a local notary if not.
- Sign the power. If it was before a notary, have it apostilled in the country where you signed.
- Send the original to your attorney in Venezuela. If it is not in Spanish, have a sworn translator translate it.
- Your attorney gathers the documents to sell and signs at the registry with the buyer.
If you change your mind: revoking the power
A power of attorney can be revoked, and the consulates have a procedure for it. Tell your attorney in writing and, if there was already contact with a buyer, tell them too. A power revoked halfway through the sale means starting again, so choose carefully who you give it to.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell my house in Venezuela without travelling?
Yes. You grant a special power of attorney at a Venezuelan consulate or before a notary in your country with an apostille, and your attorney signs the sale at the registry.
Does a power of attorney granted in the United States need an apostille?
Yes, if you sign it before a local notary. With the Venezuelan consulates in the United States closed to the public in September 2026, that is the route available.
Does a general power of attorney work for selling?
It is not advisable. To sell you need a special power of attorney, with the exact description of the property and the express power to sell it.
How much does a power of attorney cost at the Venezuelan consulate?
The official 2022 consular fee schedule sets 60 dollars for acts with no line of their own and 90 for legalisations, although some consulates publish other amounts. Confirm with the consulate when you book.
9 dated sources
- HCCH: estado del Convenio de la Apostilla (opens in a new tab) · June 30, 2026
- Curadas: gestionar bienes en Venezuela desde el exterior (opens in a new tab) · September 15, 2026
- Consulado de Venezuela en Barcelona: poder especial (sin fecha, consultada) (opens in a new tab) · September 15, 2026
- Acceso a la Justicia: nuevos aranceles consulares (opens in a new tab) · October 27, 2022
- Consulado de Venezuela en Bilbao: aranceles consulares (sin fecha, consultada) (opens in a new tab) · September 16, 2026
- El Nacional: reactivación de sedes consulares en Estados Unidos (opens in a new tab) · September 14, 2026
- The Clinic: reactivación de consulados entre Chile y Venezuela (opens in a new tab) · July 31, 2026
- El Diario: embajadas y consulados cerrados (opens in a new tab) · April 29, 2026
- Cedré Abogados: cómo vender un inmueble heredado (opens in a new tab) · January 14, 2026