Guides · From abroad
Living abroad with affairs in Portugal: what can be handled by power of attorney
By André Filipe Soares, Trainee lawyer
November 2026 · 3 min read
You live in Paris, Geneva or Toronto, but your life in Portugal hasn't stopped: there is a rented-out house, a letter from the Tax Office, a tenant who has stopped paying, a document that needs to be requested. Dealing with all this from a distance, without knowing who to turn to, is a constant source of worry.
The good news is that most of these matters can be handled by a representative in Portugal, with a suitable power of attorney. This guide shows what you can delegate, what requires you to be present and how to choose who represents you.
What can be handled by power of attorney
| Area | Examples |
|---|---|
| Tax Office | Applying for and updating your tax number (NIF) and address, municipal property tax (IMI), replying to notices, tax returns and certificates |
| Property | Buying, selling, gifts, registrations, regularisation, BUPi and updates at the Tax Office |
| Rentals | Tenancy agreements, notifications to the Tax Office, collecting rent, rent updates and eviction procedures |
| Inheritances | The Tax Office report, divisions and sales, releasing assets |
| Debts and collection | Recovering money owed to you in Portugal, for example through the payment order procedure (injunção) |
| Contracts | Preparing, reviewing and signing contracts on your behalf |
| Documents | Civil, land and commercial registry certificates, and other official documents |
Some institutions, such as certain banks, have their own requirements for accepting powers of attorney. So the text of the power of attorney should be designed around what needs to be done.
What requires your presence
In inheritances, it is important to distinguish the application and preparation by an attorney from the personal declarations on which the Portuguese declaration of heirs (habilitação de herdeiros) is based. These must be made by those who are legally qualified: the cabeça-de-casal (the person who administers the estate) or, in the relevant route, three declarants with no legal impediment. Representation does not replace those declarations.
Nor does a power of attorney give professional competence to someone who does not have it. Out-of-court representation is distinct from court mandates and from the compulsory representation by a lawyer that applies in some proceedings, which are subject to the rules of each process.
How to choose who represents you
Many families give the power of attorney to a trusted relative or neighbour. That works for simple things, but it has risks: the person may not know the procedures, may not have the time or, in more delicate cases, may have their own interests in the matter.
A professional representative offers other guarantees:
- they know the procedures and the deadlines;
- they are bound by professional ethics rules and professional liability insurance;
- they account for their work and keep you informed at every step;
- they must prevent conflicts of interest and tell you the limits of what they can do.
Your office in Portugal
At MGPS International we are the point of contact in Portugal for many families who live abroad. You can come to us for a specific matter, or have us as your standing representatives, with regular follow-up of your affairs.
We handle tax, property, rentals, inheritances, debt collection and documents, in Portuguese, French or English, by video call, WhatsApp or email. And when the matter involves land, our team includes a cadastral technician who is a qualified BUPi technician.
Do you have outstanding matters in Portugal? Use the initial assessment and tell us what you need. We will tell you what can be handled by power of attorney and prepare the right text.
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice for any specific case.
