Power of Attorney in Nepal 2026: Types, Process, Notarisation & Revocation Guide

Every year, thousands of Nepalis abroad lose months — and sometimes property — because a single document was drafted loosely or executed in the wrong place. A power of attorney is the fix, but only when it is written, witnessed, and authenticated exactly the way Nepal's offices expect.

In Nepal a power of attorney is called a Mukhtiyarnama or, for court matters, a Warisnama. It lets someone you trust act in your place — sell land, run a case, operate a bank account, or sign a deed — under rules set by the National Civil Procedure Code 2074 and the National Civil Code 2074.

This guide explains every type of power of attorney in Nepal in 2026 — which law governs it, the documents you need, how it is drafted, notarised or authenticated, how NRNs execute one from abroad, and exactly how to revoke it.

What Is a Power of Attorney in Nepal?

A power of attorney is a written authorisation that lets one person act legally in another's place. The person granting it is the principal (mukhtiyar dine); the person receiving it is the agent or waris. Once executed properly, the agent's acts within the stated powers bind the principal as if they had acted themselves.

Two Nepali terms appear constantly. A Mukhtiyarnama is the general power-of-attorney instrument for civil, financial, and property matters. A Warisnama is the term used when the authority is to represent someone in a court case. Some lawyers also use Adhikrit Warisnama for an authorised representative with wide powers.

People use a POA for very practical reasons — an NRN selling family land, a businessperson travelling during a deal, an elderly parent delegating bank operations, or a litigant who cannot attend every hearing. The document is only as strong as its drafting, which is why power of attorney drafting is a core notarial service.

Key takeaway: A power of attorney lets a trusted waris act for you — but its strength depends entirely on precise wording, proper witnessing, and the right authentication under Nepali law.

Which Laws Govern Power of Attorney in Nepal?

This is where most online guides go wrong by citing a single law. Three legal instruments actually apply, depending on what the POA is for.

• National Civil Procedure Code 2074 — governs a POA to represent a party in court. Sections 144 to 155 set out appointment, eligibility, authorised powers, property authority, and termination.
• National Civil Code 2074 (Muluki Civil Code) — governs agency, contracts, and the execution formalities of deeds and a Mukhtiyarnama for civil and commercial acts.
• Notary Public Council Act 2063 — governs notarisation itself: who may notarise, and how a notary public certifies the document. See our explainer on the Nepal Notary Public Council.

Under Section 144, a party to a lawsuit may appoint a waris through a formal POA to appear in court, file documents, give statements, and handle the case. Section 145 sets who is eligible to act. These provisions are why a litigation POA is verified at the District Court, not just notarised.

Key takeaway: A court POA is governed by the Civil Procedure Code 2074 (Sections 144–155); a property or civil POA by the Civil Code 2074; while the Notary Public Council Act 2063 governs notarisation of an ordinary POA.

Types of Power of Attorney in Nepal

Choosing the right type matters — an overly broad POA is a risk, and an overly narrow one gets rejected for the very act you needed. The main categories are:

For most people the real choice is general versus special. A special power of attorney is safer because it limits the agent to exactly one task — sell this plot at this minimum price. A general power of attorney is convenient but hands over wide control, so it should be used only with someone you fully trust and ideally time-limited.

Key takeaway: Use a special POA for a single transaction and a general POA only for long-term, trusted delegation — and always cap it with a clear expiry and defined powers.

What Makes Nepal's Power of Attorney Different?

If you have made a POA in the US, UK, or Australia, do not assume the same document works in Nepal. Several requirements are distinct to Nepali law, and missing them is the most common reason a foreign-made POA is rejected here.

• It must be drafted by a registered lawyer on traditional Nepali paper (Nepali Kagaj). A POA typed on plain paper abroad is routinely refused.
• Signatures and thumb impressions of both parties are required — not signatures alone.
• Authentication is by a judge or a Nepali mission, not just a notary. An ordinary POA can be notarised, but an authorised POA (property or court) must be authenticated before a District Court judge in Nepal, or a Nepali ambassador or consul general abroad.
• Revocation needs a newspaper notice. Cancelling a POA requires publishing notice in two national daily newspapers — a public step few other systems demand.
• Foreign nationals cannot use the embassy route. Nepali missions will not attest a POA for foreign nationals — including people of Nepali origin who have given up citizenship, even with an NRN card. They must execute it before a District Court inside Nepal.

Key takeaway: Nepal requires a lawyer-drafted POA on Nepali paper, signed with thumb impressions, and authenticated by a District Court judge or a Nepali mission — a notary alone is not enough for property or court powers.

Who Can Grant and Who Can Be Appointed?

Any competent adult of sound mind can grant a power of attorney. The principal must understand what they are signing and grant it freely — a POA signed under pressure or without capacity is open to challenge.

Nepali law also disqualifies certain people from being appointed as the agent. A person generally cannot be appointed if they owe outstanding dues to the government (unpaid court fees, fines, or penalties), have been convicted of forgery, fraud, corruption, or an offence involving moral turpitude, or are a defaulter before the court. One practical exception applies: these disqualifications do not stop you from appointing a member of your own joint family.

The agent must also be eligible under Section 145 of the Civil Procedure Code 2074 for court matters. In practice, the agent should be an adult, identifiable by citizenship, and not disqualified by a conflict of interest in the same matter. For litigation, parties often appoint a Nepal Bar Council advocate rather than a relative, because a lawyer is bound by professional duty.

A recurring caution from real cases: choosing the agent badly causes more losses than any drafting error. Several property sales by NRNs have gone wrong because a relative with a broad POA acted beyond the owner's intent. Name a trustworthy agent, and narrow the powers.

Documents Required for a Power of Attorney

The exact set depends on the purpose, but the core documents are consistent:

• Citizenship certificate of the principal (and passport, for NRNs)
• Citizenship certificate of the agent / waris
• Recent passport-size photographs of both parties
• The POA drafted by a registered lawyer on traditional Nepali paper (Nepali Kagaj), stating the parties, powers, duration, and conditions
• Signatures and thumb impressions of both the principal and the agent
• At least two competent witnesses with their citizenship and signatures

Purpose-specific additions are common. For a property POA, attach the land ownership certificate (Lal Purja) and the latest land-tax receipt. For a court POA, attach case details. For an NRN, add the passport and proof of residence abroad. Where documents are in another language, a certified translation in Nepal should accompany the file.

Under the Civil Code 2074, deeds and a Mukhtiyarnama generally require at least two witnesses, and documents involving value above NPR 50,000 that are not registered with a government office may need ward office attestation. Getting these formalities right at drafting stage prevents rejection later.

How to Make a Power of Attorney in Nepal: Step-by-Step

The process is short when the document is drafted correctly the first time.

Step 1: Define the Purpose and Powers

Decide precisely what the agent may do — sell a named property, operate a specific bank account, or run a particular case. Vague powers cause rejection or misuse; specific powers protect you.

Step 2: Draft the Document on Nepali Paper

The POA must be prepared by a registered lawyer on traditional Nepali paper, name both parties, state the exact powers, set a duration, and list any conditions or revocation triggers. Drafting in both Nepali and English is wise for cross-border use. Our legal document drafting service prepares POAs to the wording offices actually accept.

Step 3: Sign With Witnesses and Thumb Impressions

Both parties sign the POA and add their thumb impressions, before at least two competent witnesses who provide their own citizenship details and signatures.

Step 4: Notarise or Authenticate — Depending on the POA

This is the step people get wrong. An ordinary POA for routine acts can be notarised by a notary public under the Notary Public Council Act 2063. An authorised POA — for property or court matters — must instead be authenticated before a District Court judge if you are in Nepal, where the principal and agent submit a joint application with the original document. If you are abroad, that authentication is done by a Nepali embassy or consulate.

Step 5: Register Where Required

For immovable property, the authenticated POA is registered at the Land Revenue Office (Malpot) so the transaction can proceed. For litigation, the court verifies it before allowing representation. Ordinary POAs for routine acts often need notarisation only.

Need this done without a rejected trip to the office? Send your details to our notary in Kathmandu →

Key takeaway: Draft on Nepali paper, sign with thumb impressions before two witnesses, then notarise an ordinary POA — or, for property and court powers, authenticate before a District Court judge or Nepali mission and register at the Malpot.

Power of Attorney for Property and Land in Nepal

Property is the most common — and riskiest — use of a POA. Under Section 154 of the Civil Procedure Code 2074, a person who cannot personally appear may authorise an agent to specify, sell, distribute, exchange, gift, or register immovable property.

A property POA is an authorised POA, so it must be authenticated before a District Court judge (or a Nepali mission, if you are abroad) and then registered before the Land Revenue Office will act on it. The agent then signs the sale or transfer deed (rajinama) at the Malpot on your behalf. Because the stakes are high, a property POA should always be a special power of attorney naming the exact plot, the minimum acceptable price, and a firm expiry date.

Key takeaway: A property POA under Section 154 must be authenticated before a District Court judge and registered at the Malpot, and it should be narrowly drafted — specific plot, price floor, and expiry — to prevent misuse.

Power of Attorney for Court Cases

When you cannot attend court, Section 144 lets you appoint a waris to represent you, and Section 153 allows an authorised agent to file or defend a case, withdraw a claim, or enter a settlement. The court verifies the POA and the agent's identity before allowing representation.

For litigation, the original document is essential — courts reject scanned or photocopied POAs for representation. This is the type most often used by Nepalis abroad who need a case run at home.

Power of Attorney for NRNs and Nepalis Abroad

This is the highest-stakes scenario, and the one where scope matters most. If you live abroad and cannot travel to Nepal, you grant a power of attorney for NRN use so a trusted agent can act here.

The usual sequence is:

1. The POA is drafted in Nepal by a registered lawyer, on Nepali paper, to the exact powers you need (we prepare this for you, in Nepali and English).
2. You appear in person and execute it abroad before the Nepali embassy or consulate — only the Ambassador, Consul General, or Head of Mission can attest it. This step is completed by you at the mission, not by us.
3. Any onward government attestation, or apostille if your country requires it, is a separate step you arrange directly with the relevant authority.
4. The original is couriered to your agent in Nepal, where registration at the Malpot or verification at the court is completed. For the wider cross-border workflow, see our guide on documents notarised and translated for international use.

One critical limit: Nepali missions will not attest a POA for foreign nationals — including people of Nepali origin who have given up citizenship, even those holding an NRN identity card. If that is your situation, the POA must be executed before a District Court inside Nepal instead.

Our role is the Nepal side: drafting the document correctly on Nepali paper, providing certified translation and verification, and preparing certified true copies once the executed original arrives. We do not perform embassy attestation or apostille — those are handled by the mission or competent authority abroad.

Key takeaway: An NRN POA is attested only by the Nepali Ambassador or Consul General abroad; foreign nationals cannot use this route and must execute before a District Court in Nepal. We draft the document and handle the Nepal-side notarial work.

How Long Is a Power of Attorney Valid?

A POA stays valid until one of a few things happens: the task is completed, the stated time period expires, or it is revoked. A special POA naturally ends when its single purpose is fulfilled. A general POA continues until cancelled, which is exactly why an expiry date is wise.

It is good practice to set a defined duration — for example, valid for six months or until a named transaction completes. Banks and the Malpot are more comfortable acting on a POA that has a clear, current validity window.

How to Cancel or Revoke a Power of Attorney

You can revoke a power of attorney, and the law sets out exactly when authority ends. Under Section 155 of the Civil Procedure Code 2074, a POA terminates when:

• The specific task is completed or the time period expires;
• The principal cancels it by publishing a notice in two national newspapers;
• The principal or the agent dies before the task is finished;
• The agent resigns by giving written notice and returning the original POA to the principal.

The newspaper-notice requirement surprises many people, but it is what protects you — it puts third parties on notice that the agent can no longer act. To revoke cleanly, publish the notice, inform the institutions that relied on the POA (the Malpot, bank, or court), and retrieve the original document.

Key takeaway: A POA ends on completion, expiry, death, the agent's written resignation, or the principal's cancellation by notice in two national newspapers — always notify the relevant office when you revoke.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

In our experience drafting and notarising powers of attorney in Kathmandu, the same errors recur:

• Powers too broad — a sweeping general POA where a special POA would do, inviting misuse.
• No expiry date — an open-ended POA that keeps working long after it should.
• Skipping registration — a property POA that was notarised but never registered at the Malpot, so the transaction stalls.
• Notarising when authentication was needed — a property or court POA only notarised, never authenticated before a District Court judge or Nepali mission, so it is rejected.
• Wrong execution location for NRNs — signing before a local notary abroad instead of the Nepali mission, so the document is not accepted in Nepal.
• Using a photocopy — courts and the Malpot require the original for representation and registration.

Key takeaway: Narrow the powers, set an expiry, authenticate property and court POAs before the judge or mission, register property POAs at the Malpot, and always keep the original safe.

Conclusion: Get the Wording Right Before You Sign

A power of attorney is one of the most useful — and most abused — documents in Nepali law. Done well, it lets you sell land, run a case, or manage money from anywhere in the world. Done loosely, it hands a stranger the keys to your assets.

The difference is almost always the drafting. Name the agent carefully, state the exact powers, add an expiry, draft it on Nepali paper, sign with thumb impressions before witnesses — then notarise an ordinary POA, or authenticate a property or court POA before a District Court judge or Nepali mission and register it at the Malpot.

That is precisely the work we do every day. As Nepal Bar Council advocates we draft general, special, property, and court powers of attorney, notarise the documents that call for it, translate them for cross-border use, and prepare certified true copies — worded to be accepted the first time. Speak with our notary advocates in Kathmandu about your power of attorney →

Reviewed by: The Legal Team at Notary Kathmandu — Nepal Bar Council registered advocates

Last reviewed: April 2026