Being far from home is never easy especially if you are working abroad. Not only does it create a long-distance relationship between you and your loved ones, but also, it affects some legal aspects of your life such as when you need to obtain or sign pertinent documents in the Philippines, but you can’t because of your work in Qatar.
Good thing, the Philippine Embassy in Qatar offers services that can help you with such cases and one of these services is the notarial acknowledgment of documents to be used in the Philippines. One of these documents is the Special Power of Attorney.
What is a Special Power of Attorney?
A special power of attorney, also known as an SPA, is a legal document that allows members of your immediate family (spouse, children, parents, or grandparents) to act as your representative in the Philippines and obtain or sign documents on your behalf. It is referred to as a Notarized SPA when the OFW signs the SPA in the Philippines before traveling overseas, while it is referred to as a Consularized SPA when the OFW executes and signs the SPA in the Philippine Embassy abroad.
The most typical reason for getting a special power of attorney is to be able to proceed with legal transactions involving finances or the like without the presence of the OFW concerned due to his/her work abroad or due to his medical condition. For example, an OFW wishes to take out a loan or buy a house in the Philippines but is unable to sign documents due to his or her employment abroad. He or she only needs to sign a Special Power of Attorney so that a member of his or her immediate family can sign and transact on his or her behalf.
For Filipinos who are based in Qatar and need to get a legal notarized document or Special Power of Attorney (SPA), we have outlined the guidelines below on how you can apply for an SPA at the PH Embassy in Doha.
Requirements
The following are the requirements for the notarial of Special Power of Attorney:
• Personal appearance of the person signing/executing the document
• Photocopy of valid Philippine passport
• Original documents
• Fee: QR100 per document (cash payment only)
How to File for a Special Power of Attorney
- Ask your representative from the Philippines to prepare the Special Power of Attorney then have it signed and notarized by your representative.
- Once notarized, ask your representative to send you the SPA.
- Submit the SPA, along with other requirements, to the Philippine Embassy in Doha and sign the papers at the embassy.
- Pay the corresponding fees.
- The release of the document is two working days after the payment. Return to the embassy for the release of the SPA.
- Send it back to the Philippines so that your authorized representative can sign and complete further transactions on your behalf.
While the Special Power of Attorney (SPA) allows your immediate family to sign and obtain documents on your behalf, keep in mind that it does not give your representative the authority to sell your properties and assets.
Filing Schedule
You can file for the document at the Philippine Embassy from Sundays to Thursdays from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. No appointment is required for filing.
Contact Information
For more information and other inquiries on consular services, you may contact the Philippine Embassy Consular Section through (+974) 4493-0426 or 5527-5123 (hotline).
The Philippine Embassy is located in St. No. 860, Zone 68, Jelaiah Area, Doha, State of Qatar. Below is a map location of the Philippine Embassy in Doha Qatar.
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