This is the most important page on this site for a Bissau-Guinean in the United States. Because there is no consulate here, a power of attorney letting a relative act in Guinea-Bissau is often the only way a passport, a civil certificate, a property matter or an inheritance moves at all.
Quick facts
The catch is that the instrument itself has to be legalised, and the consular step cannot be performed here. Establish the full route before drafting, usually with the notary in Bissau who will use the document.
Fees breakdown
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. notarisation | $5–$25 per signature | First step |
| State and federal certification | $3–$25 plus $20 | Before any consular step |
| Consular legalisation | Not available here | Ask about Lisbon or Dakar |
| Portuguese translation | Per page | Usually required |
| Notary’s fees in Bissau | Agreed with the office | Drafting and completion |
Land is the other complication. Guinea-Bissau applies both statutory and customary tenure, and a family holding is far more likely to fall under the latter, where decisions involve the community rather than an individual.
How to proceed
- Ask the notary or lawyer in Bissau for the wording and the acts to authorise.
- Ask them how the document should be legalised given there is no post here.
- Establish whether the land is titled or held under custom.
- Collect the identity details of everyone named.
- Complete the U.S. certifications only once the route is agreed.
- Courier the original and keep a scan.
Required documents
- Bissau-Guinean passport or identity card.
- The wording supplied from Bissau, in Portuguese.
- Full details of the person receiving the authority.
- Land or case references as they appear in the records.
- Civil certificates where the act depends on them.
- Correspondence confirming the legalisation route.
Where to enquire
At the Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, and with a notary in Guinea-Bissau.
Additional notes
Agree the route before drafting
A perfectly drafted document that cannot be legalised is worthless. Settle that question first.
Name a reliable person
Where a power of attorney substitutes for a consulate, the choice of who holds it matters more than usual.
Titled or customary
Establish which applies before granting authority over land.
Revocation
Revoking requires a further instrument through the same difficult route, so keep the authority narrow from the start.