How to Prepare a Power of Attorney (Vekalat Name) for Iran from the United States

What Is a Vekalat Name (Power of Attorney)?

A Vekalat Name is the Iranian term for a power of attorney — a legal document that authorizes a named individual (the agent or wakil) to act on your behalf for specified transactions in Iran. Vekalat Names are commonly used by Iranians living abroad to allow a trusted family member, friend, or attorney in Iran to: sell or transfer property, manage bank accounts, handle inheritance matters, retrieve documents, represent you in civil registry proceedings, or conduct other legal and financial transactions that require your physical presence in Iran.

The Three-Step Authentication Process

For a U.S.-notarized power of attorney to be recognized in Iran, it must go through a three-step chain of authentication:

1. Step 1 — Notarization: Have the power of attorney document signed and notarized by a licensed U.S. notary public. The notary verifies your identity and witnesses your signature. The document must be in the correct format — typically drafted in Persian or in Persian and English bilingual form.
2. Step 2 — Apostille: Submit the notarized document to the Secretary of State of the state in which the notary is commissioned. The Secretary of State issues an 'apostille,' which is an international certification that authenticates the notary's signature under the Hague Apostille Convention. Iran is a signatory to the Hague Convention, so apostilles from U.S. states are recognized.
3. Step 3 — Authentication by the Iranian Interests Section: Submit the apostilled document to the Iranian Interests Section at 2209 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007 for final authentication (consular legalization). The Interests Section verifies the apostille and affixes its own authentication seal, making the document legally usable in Iran.

How to Get the Document Notarized

The power of attorney document must be physically signed in front of a U.S. notary public. The notary must be licensed in the state where the signing takes place. To get notarized:

1. Prepare or obtain the Vekalat Name document in the correct format. It is typically drafted in Persian with identifying information for both the grantor (you) and the agent.
2. Bring the unsigned document and a valid government-issued photo ID to a notary public (available at banks, UPS stores, post offices, and notary offices).
3. Sign the document in the notary's presence. The notary will affix their seal and signature.
4. Keep the original notarized document — you will need it for the next steps.

How to Obtain an Apostille

After notarization, submit the notarized document to your state's Secretary of State office for apostille certification. The process varies slightly by state:

• California: Secretary of State's office in Sacramento or Los Angeles — fees apply; allow 5–10 business days for standard processing
• Most states accept mail-in apostille requests
• Submit the original notarized document with the apostille request form and applicable fee (varies by state, typically $5–$20 per document)
• The Secretary of State attaches the apostille certificate to your document and returns it
• Some states offer in-person same-day apostille service — check your state's Secretary of State website

Submitting to the Iranian Interests Section for Authentication

With the notarized and apostilled document in hand, submit it to the Iranian Interests Section for final consular authentication:

1. Prepare your submission package: notarized and apostilled Vekalat Name, photocopy of your Iranian passport, photocopy of your Kart Melli, completed application form, and money order for the authentication fee.
2. Ensure you have an active Mikhak registration (mikhak.msrt.ir) — your Mikhak reference number may be required.
3. Mail or deliver your package to: Iranian Interests Section, 2209 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007.
4. Use trackable mail. Keep copies of everything.
5. The Interests Section authenticates the document and returns it to you by mail.
6. The authenticated document can then be sent to your agent in Iran, who can use it for the specified transactions.

Translation Requirements

If your Vekalat Name is written in Persian only, no translation is required for the Iranian Interests Section's authentication step. However, the U.S. notary does not read Persian and cannot verify the content — they only certify your signature and identity. If the document is bilingual (Persian and English), both versions are notarized together. For use in Iran, a Persian-language Vekalat Name is standard. The agent in Iran who uses the document will work with an Iranian notary or attorney to execute the underlying transaction.

Common Uses for a Vekalat Name from the United States

• Selling, purchasing, or transferring real estate in Iran
• Managing or liquidating bank accounts in Iran
• Representing you in probate and inheritance proceedings in Iranian courts
• Collecting pension or retirement payments in Iran
• Renewing an Iranian vehicle registration or handling vehicle transfer
• Retrieving original documents (such as university diplomas) from Iranian institutions
• Handling civil registry matters (Shenasnameh amendments, marriage registration)
• Managing a business or business registration in Iran

How Iranian Citizen Services Can Help

Iranian Citizen Services (ICS), based in Irvine, CA, assists clients with the power of attorney preparation process — including coordinating notarization, obtaining the apostille, and preparing the submission package for the Iranian Interests Section. ICS does not draft legal documents or advise on the legal scope of powers of attorney — ICS handles the procedural and logistical aspects of the authentication chain. ICS charges a consulting fee; government fees (apostille and consular authentication) are separate. ICS is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.