Egypt lets you get a general litigation power of attorney from home

No queue at the notarization office, no day off work. Egypt's Justice Ministry has launched a first: you can now issue an official general power of attorney for court cases entirely online.

The service runs through the Digital Egypt portal. You apply, pay the fees electronically and receive the document by post.

What does this power of attorney do?

A general litigation power of attorney lets your representative, usually a lawyer, file all kinds of cases on your behalf. They can also defend you in cases brought against you or by you.

They can act for you in many case-related matters too, such as agreeing to a settlement or receiving papers from court bailiffs.

What do you need before you start?

Both parties need a valid national ID card. You, as the person requesting the service, must be the first party, and only one first party can be listed.

The second party must be a lawyer or a relative up to the third degree. If you name more than one person, you must choose whether they act jointly or individually. Keep your request number, because the document is sent by post.

How does it work step by step?

Download the Digital Identity app on your phone and enter the 14 digits of your national ID. Confirm your identity and activate your electronic signature.

Then pick the service "issuing a general official power of attorney for cases remotely" and pay the fees using any available payment method.

Back in the app, you complete identity, eligibility and consent checks. That includes a face scan matched against the biometric fingerprint record held in state databases.

You then sign electronically with a one-time, instant e-signature certificate. Finally, enter your delivery address and details, and Egypt Post brings the document to you.

What's next?

The ministry says the aim is to save time and effort. If it works smoothly, a trip to the notary for this paperwork could become a thing of the past.