UK Power of Attorney for Argentina: When You Need One and How to Get It Right

A poder (power of attorney) is a legal document that authorises someone in Argentina to act on your behalf. British expats need one in several common scenarios:

• Buying or selling property while in the UK
• Signing a lease before arriving in Argentina
• Opening or managing bank accounts remotely
• Obtaining a CUIT (tax ID) without being physically present
• Handling immigration paperwork if you cannot attend Migraciones
• Signing contracts (employment, services) before arrival

For related context, see UK Divorce Certificate Apostille for Argentina: When You Need It and How to Get It.

Types of poder

Poder general: broad authorisation covering a range of acts. Your representative can act for you in most legal, financial, and administrative matters. More flexible but carries more risk — you are trusting someone with wide authority.

Poder especial: authorisation for a specific, defined act (e.g., "to buy the property at Calle Gorriti 1234, Palermo, CABA" or "to apply for my CUIT at AFIP"). More limited but safer. the representative can only do what the poder specifies.

For property transactions, Argentine escribanos almost always require a poder especial that names the specific property and transaction.

Route 1: Argentine consulate in London

The simplest option for British residents. The Argentine Consulate General in London (65 Brook Street, W1K 4AH) can execute a poder directly:

1. Book an appointment at the consulate

2. Bring your passport and the details of the person being authorised (their full name, DNI or passport number)

3. Describe the purpose. the consulate staff will draft the poder in Spanish

4. Sign before the consul. who acts as a public official equivalent to a notary

5. Receive the poder — already in valid legal format for Argentine use

Cost: approximately £50-100 per document. Time: same-day in most cases.

The consular poder does not need a separate apostille because it is issued by an Argentine state official. It is directly valid in Argentina.

Route 2: UK notary + apostille

If the consulate is inconvenient or the schedule does not align:

1. Draft the poder in Spanish (your Argentine lawyer can provide the text)

2. Sign before a UK notary public. the notary certifies your identity and signature

3. Apostille the notarised document via the FCDO Legalisation Office (same process as for birth certificates etc.)

4. Have the apostilled poder translated by a CTPCBA translator in Argentina (if the UK notary's certification is in English)

Cost: £100-200 for the notary + £30 for the FCDO apostille + ARS 15,000-30,000 for translation. Time: 1-3 weeks total.

This route is more expensive and slower than the consular route but may be necessary if you need the poder urgently or cannot visit the consulate.

Who to grant the poder to

Your apoderado (representative) should be someone you trust absolutely:

• Your Argentine lawyer — for property and legal matters, this is standard
• Your Argentine accountant — for tax and CUIT matters
• Your escribano — for property-specific transactions
• A trusted Argentine friend or family member — for administrative tasks
• A relocation agent — if using a professional relocation service

Never grant a poder general to someone you do not know well. The risk of misuse is real.

Revoking a poder

A poder can be revoked at any time by the person who granted it. Revocation must be:

1. Executed in the same format as the original (consular or notarial)

2. Notified to the apoderado

3. Registered if the original was registered (e.g., with the Colegio de Escribanos)

If your circumstances change (you arrive in Argentina, the transaction completes, or you no longer trust the representative), revoke the poder immediately.

Common British expat scenarios

Buying a flat from the UK: grant a poder especial to your Argentine lawyer or escribano to sign the boleto (preliminary contract) and escritura (deed) on your behalf. You wire the funds; they handle the signing.

Getting a CUIT before arriving: grant a poder especial to your Argentine accountant to apply for your CUIT at AFIP. They submit the application with your passport copy and the poder.

Setting up a flat rental: grant a poder to a friend or agent to sign the lease, pay the deposit, and receive the keys before you arrive.

Not legal advice. Powers of attorney create significant legal authority. Have the poder reviewed by an Argentine lawyer before signing, especially for property transactions.

Worth reading next

• UK Divorce Certificate Apostille for Argentina: When You Need It and How to Get It
• Moving to Argentina from the UK: A Practical Guide
• Apostilling UK Documents for Argentina: Costs, Timelines, and What to Watch Out For