Power of Attorney in BiH – Practical Guide (7 Most Common Situations)

Everything you need to know about power of attorney — types, mistakes, certification from abroad — clearly explained for citizens and diaspora.

Note: This page is informational. Punomoc.com does not provide legal advice — for specific cases consult a lawyer or notary.

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When do you actually need a power of attorney?

You need a power of attorney when you want another person (representative, attorney-in-fact, proxy) to conduct business on your behalf. In practice, it usually comes down to these 7 situations:

  • General power of attorney: when broader authorization is needed for multiple actions (but it's often better to be more specific)
  • Real estate: buying/selling, management, contracts, cadastre/land registry
  • Vehicle: sale, transfer/deregistration, signing purchase agreement, collecting documents
  • Banking matters: cash withdrawal, transactions, accounts, bank authorizations
  • Legal matters in BiH: representation before institutions, administrative procedures and collecting decisions
  • From abroad: when signing power of attorney outside BiH (embassy/consulate or notary + apostille)
  • Embassy/consulate: situations where certification or use is tied to consular procedures

General vs special power of attorney (why institutions reject documents)

One of the most common reasons why institutions in BiH reject power of attorney is that the text is not precise enough for the task the representative needs to perform.

General power of attorney gives broad authorization to the representative (e.g., "to conduct all banking business on my behalf"). In some situations institutions accept it, but increasingly they require a more detailed version.

Special (specific) power of attorney precisely states what the representative may do (e.g., "to sell vehicle make X, registration number Y, chassis number Z on my behalf").

Recommendation: In practice, be as precise as possible in describing authorizations, without entering into legal interpretations. If unsure, check institution requirements before certification or consult a lawyer.

Power of attorney from abroad: embassy or notary?

If you are outside BiH and need to certify power of attorney for use in BiH, in practice there are two most common options:

Certification at BiH embassy/consulate

  • In practice often the simplest solution
  • Appointment usually required
  • Costs vary

Certification at local notary (apostille)

  • More accessible in most countries
  • Often requires apostille and/or translation
  • Check if institution in BiH accepts this form

Note: Requirements differ depending on the country where you reside and the institution in BiH. In practice, we recommend contacting the institution before certification and checking what exactly they accept.

Original, copy or scan?

Another place where problems arise: the document format the institution requires.

Original certified power of attorney

In practice, most institutions (especially banks, police, courts) require the original certified power of attorney with stamp and signature. Scan or regular copy are often not accepted.

Certified copy

Some institutions accept certified copy of the original (notary/court confirms that the copy is faithful to the original). However, this is not universal.

Electronic/scanned version

In practice rarely accepted for formal procedures. Can serve for information purposes, but not for completing the procedure.

Important: Before sending the document, check with the institution whether they require original, certified copy or accept digital documents. This often saves time and costs of re-certification.

Most common mistakes (and how to avoid them)

These are the most common mistakes that in practice lead to rejection or return of power of attorney:

1. Incomplete personal data

Mistake: Missing ID number, document number, address or other identification data.

How to avoid: Enter complete data of grantor and representative (first and last name, ID number, date and place of birth, address, ID card/passport number).

2. Too broad or too narrow description of authorizations

Mistake: "May conduct all business on my behalf" (too broad) or description without key details (where, with whom, what exactly).

How to avoid: Be specific: state the institution/body and actions the representative may perform, without excessive limitation.

3. Missing date or validity period

Mistake: No issue date or duration period.

How to avoid: Always state issue date. Also recommend a period (e.g., "valid 12 months") as some institutions only accept recent powers of attorney.

4. Missing place and date of signature

Mistake: Document is signed but missing place/date of signing.

How to avoid: Add "Place and date: [city], [date]" immediately before signature.

5. Name mismatch with documents

Mistake: First/last name does not match exactly with ID card/passport.

How to avoid: Enter data exactly as written on valid document.

6. Missing substitution clause (if needed)

Mistake: You want representative to be able to transfer authorizations to another person, but this is not stated.

How to avoid: If you want substitution, state it clearly in the power of attorney text.

7. Assumption that all institutions accept the same power of attorney

Mistake: Using the same power of attorney for bank, police and court without checking.

How to avoid: In practice requirements differ — check with institution before certification.

Quick checklist before certification

Before going to notary or embassy, check that you have everything needed:

  • Complete personal data of grantor (first and last name, ID number, date and place of birth, address, document number)
  • Complete personal data of representative (first and last name, ID number, date and place of birth, address, document number)
  • Clear and precise description of authorizations (what representative may do)
  • Date and place of power of attorney issuance
  • Validity period (e.g., 12 months, or specific date)
  • Substitution clause (if you want representative to be able to transfer authorizations)
  • Valid ID card or passport (for certification)
  • Checked with institution what exactly they accept (original/copy, period, format)
  • Know where you will certify (notary, court, embassy) and what the costs are
  • If abroad: checked if institution in BiH accepts apostille/translation

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Frequently Asked Questions

Must power of attorney be certified by a notary?
In practice, most institutions in BiH require power of attorney to be certified by a public notary or municipal court. Requirements may differ depending on institution and type of business.
Can I use the same power of attorney for all institutions?
In practice, many institutions accept general power of attorney, but some require specified (special) power of attorney that precisely states authorizations. We recommend checking specific institution requirements before certification.
How long is power of attorney valid?
Validity period of power of attorney is determined by grantor. Power of attorney can be time-limited (e.g., 6 months, 1 year) or unlimited. Some institutions only accept powers of attorney issued in a certain time period (e.g., last 3 months).
Can I certify power of attorney at BiH embassy or consulate?
Yes. In practice, if you live abroad, you can certify power of attorney at BiH embassy or consulate. You can also use apostille-certified power of attorney from local notary, depending on BiH institution requirements.
Should power of attorney be translated to English or another language?
For certification at BiH institutions, document should be in one of official BiH languages (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian). If certifying power of attorney abroad, check if official translation is needed.
Can representative transfer authorizations to another person?
In practice, it depends on power of attorney text. If you want to allow representative to transfer authorizations (substitution), this must be clearly stated in power of attorney. If not stated, assumption is representative cannot transfer authorizations.
Can I use copy of power of attorney or must it be original?
Depends on institution. In practice, many institutions require original certified power of attorney, while some accept certified copy. We recommend checking institution requirements before sending document.
Is this legal advice?
No. Punomoc.com provides technical assistance and document content preparation. This guide provides practical information based on general practice. For specific legal situations and interpretation of regulations, consult a licensed lawyer.

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Punomoc.com provides content preparation and technical assistance. For specific legal situations consult a lawyer.