How to give power of attorney in Thailand for a UK property purchase

You have found the perfect apartment in London and the offer is accepted, too. Then comes the solicitor’s email: some documents need your signature and they need to be signed properly.

You are either in Bangkok or Chiang Mai. Flying all the way to London just to sign a few papers isn’t on the cards.

You may not need to. A power of attorney lets a UK solicitor sign specific documents for you. This guide shows you how to sign UK property documents from Thailand, step by step. It sits alongside our wider guide to buying property in London from Thailand.

A power of attorney isn't the only option. Some buyers sign the documents themselves in front of a witness and send the originals by courier. Your solicitor will tell you which route suits your purchase.

What a power of attorney does in a UK purchase

You sign a document naming someone to act on your behalf. You are the donor. They are the attorney. In a purchase, that is usually your conveyancing solicitor or a named person at their firm.

The attorney signs the contract and any deed you must sign in your name. Before registering the purchase, HM Land Registry checks three things on the power. It must have been properly executed as a deed. It must still be in force when the document is signed. And it must have covered the action taken.

General or specific power of attorney

A general power of attorney gives someone wide-ranging authority to act on your behalf. Under the Powers of Attorney Act 1971, the standard form allows them to do almost anything you could legally authorise an attorney to do.

A specific power is narrower. Under this, you can limit a power to one transaction or one named property. For you, that means the apartment you are buying and the documents you have to sign for it.

If the paperwork goes astray or is ever misused, the damage stops at one purchase. For this, specific is an ideal choice. Ask your solicitor whether to add an end date or whether to revoke the power once you complete.

There's another reason to keep the choice simple. A power created under another country's law brings extra work. Land Registry asks for a certified copy, a verified translation if it isn't in English and a legal opinion from a lawyer in that country. A power drafted by your UK solicitor under English law usually avoids all that.

How to give power of attorney from Thailand, step by step

Appoint your UK solicitor

Appointing a UK solicitor from Thailand starts like any other instruction. They will want proof of your identity before they act. You will need to tell them early that you will be signing from Thailand.

If you're opting for a mortgage, tell them the same. Lenders can have their own rules on powers of attorney, so ensure you check this before signing. They draft the power, limit it to your purchase and send it over for you to read. Ensure you read it properly and ask about anything unclear.

Sign in front of a notarial services attorney

You have to complete the signing in front of a notarial services attorney and not on your desk. Thailand doesn’t have notaries public in the usual sense. So the Lawyers Council of Thailand registers certain Thai lawyers for this instead. Bring your passport and the unsigned documents and sign only once they are watching. If you sign too early, you may need to redo the document.

Get it legalised at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Next, go to the Department of Consular Affairs, part of Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which runs the country’s document legalisation service. Legalisation is the Thai government’s check on the notarial services attorney’s signature and seal. Your solicitor will inform you if this step is needed.

Courier the original to your solicitor

Ship the signed original document via a tracked courier and pass the tracking number to your solicitor. The Land Registry needs the original power of attorney or a properly certified copy. Your solicitor can sort the certified copy once the original arrives.

The power must also be dated before the deed it’s used for and still valid on that date. Your solicitor will time it around the transfer.

What the Apostille Convention changes

As of October 2026, Thailand’s rules are set to shift. It deposited its instrument of accession to the Hague Apostille Convention on 30 June 2026 and accession takes full effect on 28 February 2027. Reports indicate that accession can replace chain legalisation with a single apostille process.

Other member countries have until 30 December 2026 to object to Thailand joining. If the UK does not object, apostilles should work as normal for documents sent here.

In this case, timing matters. Before 28 February 2027, the legalisation route above applies. After that, an apostille is expected to take over for documents going to the UK.

Common mistakes that slow things down

You can avoid a few things. Do not sign anything before your solicitor sends final instructions.

Make sure the names and passport details match the draft.

If in any case an original document is needed, do not share a scanned copy.

Get the paperwork right the first time

This guide offers a general overview of the process. Your UK solicitor can advise on the specific requirements for your purchase. They also help ensure all necessary documents are in place.

At Benham and Reeves Thailand, we help buyers navigate the London property market with clarity. Our London property buying advisory services help you understand where a power of attorney fits into the buying process.

For guidance tailored to your circumstances, speak with our Thailand team.