Buying Italian property from abroad: how the procura (power of attorney) works

How to grant one from abroad

Two main routes: sign a procura before an Italian consulate (which acts as a notary), or sign before a local notary in your country and have it apostilled under the Hague Convention, with a certified Italian translation. The Italian notary handling your deed will tell you exactly which form they need — ask them first, not last, because consular appointments can take weeks.

Special vs general: always special

A procura speciale authorizes one specific act: buying that property, at up to that price, on those conditions. That's what you want. A procura generale hands over broad powers over your affairs — almost never appropriate for a property purchase. Insist the text names the property, caps the price, and specifies what the attorney may and may not agree to.

The language question

If you don't understand Italian, the deed itself normally requires a bilingual text or a sworn interpreter (artt. 54-55 L. 89/1913) — but here's a practical point: if your attorney-in-fact understands Italian and signs in your place, the deed can proceed in Italian, which often simplifies and cheapens the closing. Many foreign buyers use the procura route precisely for this.

Costs and timing

Budget a few hundred euros: consular fees or foreign notary + apostille + certified translation, plus the Italian notary's handling. Start at least 3-4 weeks before the planned deed date. And keep the original: banks and the notary will want to see it, not a scan.

Before you sign anything remotely

Distance makes buyers skip the reading. Don't: everything binding happens in documents you can upload to us from anywhere in the world — compromesso, visure, draft deed. Plain-English report in a minute, wherever you are.

Related guides

• The rogito: what actually happens on closing day in Italy
• 15 questions to ask the Italian notary before you buy
• What is a compromesso? Italy's binding preliminary contract, explained