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อัปเดตล่าสุดเมื่อ 5 กันยายน 2569
เอ หนังสือมอบอำนาจ (หนังสือมอบอำนาจ, nangsue mop amnat, also POA หรือ letter of authorisation) is a written instrument by which a principal authorises an agent to act in his or her name, governed by the agency provisions of the ประมวลกฎหมายแพ่งและพาณิชย์ from Section 797 onwards. Thai practice recognises general powers for a range of acts and special powers for one transaction. Foreigners use them to complete a condominium transfer while abroad, or to let a lawyer file papers at the สำนักงานที่ดิน, immigration or the courts.
สารบัญ
What the Code requires of an agency
Form follows the underlying act. Under Section 798, if the act the agent is to perform must be made in writing, the appointment must be in writing, and if the act must be evidenced in writing, so must the appointment. A power to sell or จำนอง land, to lease it for more than three years, to make a gift, to compromise a dispute or to sue must be conferred expressly; a general management power does not include those acts (Section 801). The principal may revoke the power at any time, and the agency ends on the death, incapacity or bankruptcy of either party (Section 826). There is no durable power of attorney in Thai law: once the principal loses capacity, only a court-appointed guardian can act.
An act outside the power does not bind the principal unless ratified. Stamp duty on the instrument is 10 baht for a single act and 30 baht for a power covering more than one act.
Where foreigners use one and which form
The Land Office has its own forms. A transfer, mortgage, lease, usufruct or superficies over land is registered with the prescribed ทอร์ ดอร์ 21, and a condominium unit with the อ.ช. 21; a generic power of attorney is usually refused. The form must name the property, the title deed number and the act authorised, be signed before two witnesses, and come with certified copies of the principal’s passport. Corrections and blanks are the usual reason for rejection.
Other authorities have other forms. Courts require the appointment of attorney form filed with the pleading; the Department of Business Development, immigration (for TM30 and 90-day reports) and banks each use their own, and a company’s power must be signed by the authorised directors with the company seal. A power signed outside Thailand must be certified by a notary there and legalised at the Thai embassy or consulate; from 28 February 2027 an apostille will replace embassy legalisation for documents from states that accept Thailand’s accession to the Apostille Convention.
General versus special powers and common mistakes
| พิมพ์ | ขอบเขต | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| General power | Ordinary management acts, but not sale, mortgage, gift, litigation or long leases | Managing a rental property or bank affairs while abroad |
| Special power | One named transaction | Selling a condominium, signing a specific contract |
| Prescribed form (Tor Dor 21, Or Chor 21, court form) | The act named on the form | Land Office registration, court appearance |
A power that is too broad is as dangerous as one that is too narrow: an undated general power given to a property agent hands over real control. A power that omits the exact act, or is signed by only one of two joint owners, will be refused. Because agency ends on death, a power of attorney is no substitute for a will or for guardianship planning.
คำถามที่พบบ่อย
Can a foreigner sign a Thai power of attorney abroad?
Yes. The document is signed before a notary public in the foreign country, then legalised by the Thai embassy or consulate there, and translated into Thai if the receiving office requires it. For a Land Office transaction the prescribed form Tor Dor 21 or Or Chor 21 should be used from the start rather than a generic power.
Does a power of attorney in Thailand need to be notarised?
Inside Thailand, no: a signature with two witnesses is enough for most purposes, and a Land Office officer or district official can certify the signature if the office asks for it. Outside Thailand, notarisation and embassy legalisation are the accepted way of proving that the principal signed.
How long is a power of attorney valid in Thailand?
Until it is revoked, until the act it authorises is completed, or until the principal or agent dies, becomes incapacitated or is declared bankrupt. Many offices also treat a power signed more than a few months earlier with suspicion, so a fresh document is often requested for a property transfer.
ดูเพิ่มเติม: ทอร์ ดอร์ 21, อ.ช. 21, notary (notarial services attorney), legalisation of documents, and our guides on powers of attorney for Thailand และ legalisation at the MFA.
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